Chelsea are reportedly prepared to shell out £25 million in order to trigger Benfica defender Victor Lindelof’s release clause.
Since taking over the reins at Stamford Bridge, manager Antonio Conte is beginning to implement his own ideas at the club. After adding Michy Batshuayi and N’Golo Kante, the Italian is now ready to rope in his third signing of the transfer window.
According to Portuguese outlet Record (h/t 101 Great Goals), Benfica centre-back Victor Lindelof has been made Conte’s priority transfer target. It is reported that the Chelsea boss is ready to trigger Lindleof’s release clause of £25 million.
This has been a good year for the Benefica defender as he managed to break into the Portuguese club’s first team, and was handed his first international cap in March. Within a couple of games, his performances saw him become a regular for both club and country.
The Sweden international started in all three of his side’s games at Euro 2016, and put in a decent shift in all of them for the Blågult. According to WhoScored, the 22-year old averaged a resounding 5.2 clearances per match, and maintained a pass accuracy of 80 per cent. He was also decent at causing breakages in play, making 2.7 interceptions and 1.4 tackles per 90 minutes.
Where would Lindelof play at Stamford Bridge?
Primarily a central defender, Lindelof can fill in anywhere across the back four, and can also be deployed as a holding midfielder. He has a composed presence on the ball, and rarely suffers from lapses in concentration. The Swede is also a decent passer, and could fit straight into the philosophy Conte plans to implement at the Bridge.
However, paying such a steep price for someone who was outstanding for only half a season may seem to be a bit of a gamble. Given the defenders Chelsea already possess, shelling out an additional £25 million for a player with zero Premier League experience also makes little sense for them.
Secondly, Andreas Christensen — a young and promising centre-back — is already a viable option for Conte, who recently rejected a bid of £14.2 million from German side Borussia Monchengladbach for the defender. He is set to continue his loan spell for another season, but come the 2017/18 campaign, Christensen may be taking centre stage on a weekly basis for Chelsea.
Chelsea are reportedly prepared to shell out £25 million in order to trigger Benfica defender Victor Lindelof’s release clause.
Since taking over the reins at Stamford Bridge, manager Antonio Conte is beginning to implement his own ideas at the club. After adding Michy Batshuayi and N’Golo Kante, the Italian is now ready to rope in his third signing of the transfer window.
According to Portuguese outlet Record (h/t 101 Great Goals), Benfica centre-back Victor Lindelof has been made Conte’s priority transfer target. It is reported that the Chelsea boss is ready to trigger Lindleof’s release clause of £25 million.
This has been a good year for the Benefica defender as he managed to break into the Portuguese club’s first team, and was handed his first international cap in March. Within a couple of games, his performances saw him become a regular for both club and country.
The Sweden international started in all three of his side’s games at Euro 2016, and put in a decent shift in all of them for the Blågult. According to WhoScored, the 22-year old averaged a resounding 5.2 clearances per match, and maintained a pass accuracy of 80 per cent. He was also decent at causing breakages in play, making 2.7 interceptions and 1.4 tackles per 90 minutes.
Where would Lindelof play at Stamford Bridge?
Primarily a central defender, Lindelof can fill in anywhere across the back four, and can also be deployed as a holding midfielder. He has a composed presence on the ball, and rarely suffers from lapses in concentration. The Swede is also a decent passer, and could fit straight into the philosophy Conte plans to implement at the Bridge.
However, paying such a steep price for someone who was outstanding for only half a season may seem to be a bit of a gamble. Given the defenders Chelsea already possess, shelling out an additional £25 million for a player with zero Premier League experience also makes little sense for them.
Secondly, Andreas Christensen — a young and promising centre-back — is already a viable option for Conte, who recently rejected a bid of £14.2 million from German side Borussia Monchengladbach for the defender. He is set to continue his loan spell for another season, but come the 2017/18 campaign, Christensen may be taking centre stage on a weekly basis for Chelsea.