Reports: Thiago Silva set to sign contract extension at Chelsea
Chelsea are set to offer Thiago Silva the option of extending his successful stay at Stamford Bridge beyond his 39th birthday, as per the latest reports from The Times.
Impressed with his performances on the pitch and attitude off it, the Blues are keen on keeping him in West London as he shows no signs of slowing down.
Silva, signed from Paris Saint-Germain in 2020, has been arguably one of the best free transfers over the last decade. He’s been at the forefront of the Blues defence since joining, and barring Reece James, he’s probably the first name on the team sheet.
The Brazilian legend has won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup in his time at Chelsea. In just under three full seasons, Thiago Silva has amassed a stunning 105 appearances in all competitions for the Blues.
Statistics, consistency and trophies have made him one of the finest defenders in the game, but to do it at this age, week-in, week-out, only adds to the mystique. While Chelsea struggle with injuries and form, Thiago Silva stands tall as an emblem of consistency.
His personality is such that all the managers who have trained him are instant admirers. First Frank Lampard, Thomas Tuchel, and now Graham Potter have been in awe of his influence.
While Chelsea have heavily invested in the likes of Benoit Badashile and Wesley Fofana, Thiago Silva continues to be their main man across the back line. His superlative understanding of the game is already helping them, as suggested by the former.
Ahead of Chelsea’s 0-0 draw against Liverpool and an eventual clean sheet in as many matches for Chelsea, Badashile hailed his centre-half partner, stating “I needed to be calm on my debut. After that, all the team helped me, above all Thiago. He gave me plenty of advice, both before the match and on the pitch as well. It made it easier for me to perform well.”
Thiago Silva, as it seems, will have to pave some extra space in his personal award cabinet for the excessive number of player-of-the-match accolades he’s received this year on the currently underperforming Blues squad.
Imperious in the air, intelligent in covering grounds against pacy attackers, and a player who makes the art of defending look simple, Thiago Silva might have a year or two ahead of him at the top level.
As Chelsea continue to try to right the ship, Silva and co. will next face the challenge of an upbeat Fulham side on February 3rd at home.
-Akarshak Roy
Twitter: @RoyAkarshak
Photo: Fotos Flu. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.