Andreas Christensen could leave if Thiago Silva signs extension
According to Football.London, Andreas Christensen is unlikely to sign a new contract at Chelsea if the Blues decide to hand veteran teammate Thiago Silva an extension at the end of the season.
Silva has established himself as one of the mainstays of Chelsea’s backline this term after coming through the door on a free transfer from PSG this past summer.
The Brazilian initially put pen to paper on a one-year contract at Stamford Bridge with the option of extending his stay by a further 12 months.
The Telegraph (h/t Metro) recently reported that Silva is keen to extend his stay at Chelsea. The veteran remains a key part of new manager Thomas Tuchel’s plans and is seen as a leader on and off the pitch due to his vast experience.
Meanwhile, Chelsea could also have a big decision to make on Christensen’s future at Stamford Bridge. The Dane’s current deal is set to expire in the summer of 2022.
With the 24-year-old entering the final 12 months of his contract at the end of the campaign, the Blues could be forced to cash in on him to avoid losing him for free.
Christensen established himself at Chelsea during the 2017-18 campaign. He reached great heights under former boss Antonio Conte, who brought the best out of the Dane by utilising him in the middle of his back-three system.
However, Christensen has never really looked comfortable playing in a back-four system. That’s one of the main reasons why his stocks plummeted under Conte’s successors, Maurizio Sarri and Frank Lampard. Despite featuring regularly under Lampard last season, the Dane had his fair share of inconsistencies.
The 24-year-old has found himself down the pecking order following the arrival of Thiago Silva at the club. Tuchel’s inclination to use a 3-4-2-1 system has opened up a window of opportunity for Christensen to rediscover himself. But Silva’s presence remains a big obstacle in the Dane’s quest for regular game time.
With Antonio Rudiger and Azpilicueta also very much in the mix, Christensen remains the fourth-choice option for Tuchel. Hence, if Silva ends up staying for another season, the Dane could well be forced to seek greener pastures.
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All in all, Chelsea’s contract decisions over Christensen and Silva are very much intertwined. It remains to be seen whether the Blues manage to convince the Dane to sign a new deal even if they opt to persist with Silva, who is still one of Europe’s most reliable centre-backs at 36.