Defender's contract with Paris Saint-Germain finished following Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich
Monday 24 August 2020 12:31, UK
Chelsea are close to signing defender Thiago Silva on a one-year deal.
The Brazilian centre-back, 35, became a free agent following PSG's Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich on Sunday.
Silva, who spent eight years with PSG after joining from AC Milan in 2012, will become Frank Lampard's third signing of the summer following the arrivals of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner.
With Chelsea keen to strengthen having been banned from signing players last summer, the London club could also complete deals for Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell and Bayer Leverkusen forward Kai Havertz before the start of the new season.
SIlva won seven Ligue 1 titles during his time in France, but leaves the club having failed to achieve the European success desired most in Paris.
Despite sealing a fourth-placed finish and qualification for next season's Champions League, Chelsea struggled defensively throughout Lampard's debut campaign in charge at Stamford Bridge.
Sky Sports' Ben Grounds:
Having conceded 54 Premier League goals last season, the worst record in the top half and 21 more than champions Liverpool, it was clear that Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard was not going to end his transfer business with Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.
Strengthening his defensive options was always on the agenda and Silva showed there is still value in bringing the 35-year-old to Stamford Bridge with an assured display in the Champions League final, despite his side falling short.
Chelsea may have to offload one of their four senior centre-halves in order to raise funds: Fikayo Tomori has been linked with a loan move to Rennes, there has been talk of Kurt Zouma heading in the opposite direction while Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger are entering the final two years of their current deals.
But for those who stay on next season, Silva would offer a wealth of experience and will aid the development of the highly-rated 18-year-old defender Xavier Mbuyamba - the Dutchman signed after cancelling his contract at Barcelona and dubbed the 'next Virgil van Dijk'.
Lisbon didn't provide the perfect send-off for the PSG club captain in his 315th and final game, but the centre-back did impress against Europe's top marksman Robert Lewandowski and marshalled the back four superbly for an hour before the breakthrough.
His important block to deny Kinglsey Coman a second with the shackles off the Bavarians kept his side in the game.
In his eight years in Paris, Thiago won seven Ligue 1 titles, and he showed his leadership again as the defensive pivot on Sunday - completing more passes (38) and having more touches (57) than any other team-mate, while his six clearances was also a game-high contribution.
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