No Premier League club came close to matching Chelsea’s January activity: the Londoners spent more than £323 million on eight players, including World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez, who was signed on deadline day for a British-record fee of £105 million.
Chelsea spent a lot of money in the January transfer window, but they are still negotiating a new contract with one of their most important players.
Chelsea and Thiago Silva are close to reaching an agreement on a new contract, according to the defender.
The Blues’ primary focus in recent weeks has been on acquiring some of Europe’s best young talent on the transfer market, but talks with Silva, 38, have continued in the background.
No Premier League club came close to matching Chelsea’s January activity: the Londoners spent more than £323 million on eight players, including World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez, who was signed on deadline day for a British-record fee of £105 million.
Surprisingly, the Blues are now nearing an agreement with Silva, who has quickly established himself as one of the club’s most influential players since joining from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2020.
The Brazilian defender has made over a century of appearances since joining Chelsea, but he is set to become a free agent in the summer.
Chelsea are eager to extend one of their most consistent performers’ stay in the capital, and Silva revealed that the two parties are getting closer to an agreement.
“We are negotiating,” he told ESPN. Everything will most likely happen in the coming days. My intention, as well as the club’s, is to stick together. I’m aware that the club requires my assistance right now.
“I am here to be able to help, they are young players, anyway. I know that, with my experience, I can contribute to the rebuilding of the club; I’m here for that and eager to help; however, I recognise that my responsibility is enormous.”
Chelsea manager Graham Potter has only been in charge since September, but the former Brighton manager quickly realised how important the former AC Milan player is to the Blues.
Potter admitted shortly after his arrival that the final decision on an extension would most likely be made by Silva. He did, however, express his desire to keep the “incredible” centre-back at the club.
“I think the decision is Thiago’s,” Potter said in October about Silva’s future. I’ve been here for about three or four weeks. I recognise his qualities. He’s a fantastic person and a fantastic player. The level he can play at, the level of performance he can achieve, and the respect he has earned through the game are all incredible. All I can do is try to help him enjoy his football here and be a part of a winning team; the rest is up to him and the club.”