Kalidou Koulibaly is officially a Blue. The 31-year-old brings a ton of experience at the center-back role and will no doubt be an immediate starter for the club.
After the departure of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, Chelsea needed a new center-back and there weren’t many, if any, better than Koulibaly in the transfer market.
Here are two ways the Chelsea defence can line up next season with Koulibaly signed.
Option 1: Switch to a back four
Koulibaly has played as the left center-back for most of his Napoli career, operating in a back four. While Thomas Tuchel prefers to play three center-backs, he did revert to the usual four-man defense a few times last season.
Koulibaly and Thiago Silva, on paper, are arguably the best defensive partnership in the Premier League. Their combined experience is definitely far ahead of any other duo in English football.
Reece James and Ben Chilwell need no introduction, as they also form one of the best fullback duos on the planet.
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Option 2: The usual three-at-the-back
Tuchel recently commented on how he felt that Rudiger-Silva-Christensen was the best back three in the world. The manager also added that Chelsea want to sign two more center-backs.
In that case, we are more likely to see Chelsea playing the same three-at-the-back formation, with Reece and Chilwell the wingbacks.
As of now, Trevoh Chalobah is the best man to play the third center-back. That could change if someone like Presnel Kimpembe is brought in.
Regardless of another new defender, however, the core of Silva and Koulibaly is indeed a very exciting prospect – Premier League attackers beware!
