Chelsea have had their fair share of players that have come and gone from Stamford Bridge without making too much of an impact. The Blues are well-known for adding a considerable number of players to their first-team squad in the last ten years, which has seen them come in for criticism from some other clubs’ supporters.
There aren’t many first-team players out of contract heading towards the end of the 2023/24 season, but there is one notable name on the list whose future remains unclear at this moment. That player is Thiago Silva, who will be approaching 40 if he agrees a new deal with Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Age hasn’t been an issue for Silva in recent years, with the former Brazilian international playing at a high level in the Premier League on a weekly basis. He made his name with AC Milan and PSG mainly in the last 15 years, but has proved to be a strong player for Chelsea in the top-flight. There will be doubts as to whether he can cut it at Chelsea for another season at the age of 39, with some supporters potentially favouring some of the younger options in the Chelsea squad.
However, you have to look at the bigger picture at Stamford Bridge, as Maurico Pochettino has a relatively young squad available to him, and Silva’s experience can certainly help aid the development of some of those players that are looking to force themselves into the starting XI on a consistent basis.
In an interview with MyBettingSites, former England international John Barnes issues his thoughts on Silva’s future, and was impressed with what he’s seen from the central defender.
“We know the age he is and the wages he’s on. If they feel he’s still capable of playing at the highest level and is good around the training ground then possibly.
“He may not start every week but he’s been fantastic for Chelsea.”
Chelsea have some promising youngsters coming through their ranks, and some might feel as though they’re better off being given a chance than having Silva in the team on high wages. A complete reset is needed at Chelsea, and they need to look towards a potentially more sustainable future financially, and that’s more likely than not going to be without Silva.
There will be questions about his ability heading into next season, although it remains to be seen as to whether he’ll take the decision out of the club’s hands by hanging up his boots, but only time will tell on that front. First and foremost though, he’ll be keen to play his part for the Blues this season, especially since they’ve found it difficult to put together a positive run of results heading towards the potentially season-defining festive period.
