Chelsea take transfer U-turn on 22-year-old starlet’s future after Chilwell news

Thomas Tuchel reacts to Ben Chilwell surgery by blocking loan moves for Chelsea centre-back Malang Sarr

According to Goal (h/t The Mirror), Thomas Tuchel has responded to the news regarding the surgery of Ben Chilwell by blocking potential loan moves for Chelsea centre-back Malang Sarr in the January transfer window. The latter had struggled to get minutes this season, and a temporary departure was on the cards before this update.

The Blues have decided that Chilwell will undergo surgery for the knee injury he sustained back in November. That would see him miss out on the rest of the season, putting them in a precarious situation. That has also prompted Tuchel to block any loan transfer that would have happened next month for Sarr.

Italian clubs like AC Milan, Napoli and Inter Milan have shown an interest in signing the 22-year-old, but this could spoil their plans of getting him. The winter transfer window is just up ahead, and it remains to be seen how the situation would pan out in the coming days.

Right decision from Tuchel?

The Frenchman could cover in the absence of the England fullback, but it would be a glaring task to replicate what the latter has done. It may also force the German manager to change the backline to four defenders to suit the former’s abilities. However, the Blues coach could still decide to continue with the current system if he believes that is the best decision.

Marcos Alonso is our only natural option in that role, whereas others like Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi could play as a makeshift wing-back. Ideally, we would want to have someone whose primary position is similar to what we need currently.

As such, keeping hold of the Chelsea outcast may not be the right decision moving forward. We should look to bring in reinforcement when the transfer window opens next month as this situation could affect our chances of attaining titles this season.

The French centre-back has been sidelined for most of the current season, and it would not be wise to depend on him for the rest of the term. He would have to play out of position, which further makes the point that a signing should be made.

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Alonso has also not been consistent enough, adding to the list of reasons why we should look into the market. We need someone who could challenge the Spaniard and be a great asset to us in our pursuit to achieve silverware. It is doubtful that Sarr could provide the performances, and a loan move would be best for his growth as well.

But if he has plans to play Sarr in a back four somehow, then it would still make some sense to keep him until at least the summer.