Fansided

5 players Chelsea should sign this summer

By Harvey Cruz

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Chelsea's Gary Cahill lifts the trophy during the Emirates FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on May 19, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Chelsea's Gary Cahill lifts the trophy during the Emirates FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on May 19, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
French defender Djibril Sidibe controls the ball during the friendly football match between France and Ireland at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on May 28, 2018. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)
French defender Djibril Sidibe controls the ball during the friendly football match between France and Ireland at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on May 28, 2018. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images) /

4. Djibril Sidibe

Let’s just take a moment to discuss the brilliance of Cesar Azpilicueta. The Spaniard has been at Chelsea since 2012, excelling in both full-back positions before playing arguably the best soccer of his career as right center-back in a back three. In a season of disappointment, he was one of Chelsea’s few reliable performers.

However, Azpilicueta’s move to a more central role has left Chelsea with a hole at right-back, where Victor Moses has struggled after an excellent 2016-17. Moving Azpilicueta back to right-back is a solution, especially if a new manager switches to a back four, but the Blues will eventually have to find cover for him anyway.

That’s where Monaco come in. The Ligue 1 side finished second despite selling the stars of last season’s title-winning squad. All credit goes to Leonardo Jardim, who will be at a big club before the decade is over. One of the stars of this season and last was Djibril Sidibe, a marauding right-back who’ll shine for France at the World Cup.

He and Benjamin Mendy formed one of the most fearsome full-back tandems in Europe last season, now they’ll do it in Russia. With two goals and seven assists this season, Sidibe’s the kind of full-back teams want on their team, capable of getting forward but also solid at the back. It feels like a no-brainer, especially since Monaco seem willing to let go of their stars, knowing they can make a big profit and replace them with more young talent.

Home/Premier League