Chelsea have already identified Thiago Silva replacement after emotional transfer decision

Chelsea confirmed on Monday that Thiago Silva will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

While it was not a shock to anyone, Silva sent an emotional message to Blues supporters after deciding to end his almost four-year stay at Stamford Bridge. At 39 years old, though, this day has been coming for quite a while and Chelsea have not waited around for it to happen, it seems.

The club have been scouring the transfer market for a while now for alternative centre-back options to replace Silva when he does end his role in west London at the end of his contract. Chelsea have looked at – and scouted intensely – Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP.

The 20-year-old is widely regarded as one of the top central defenders of his age in European football. Diomande still has over three years left to run on his contract with the Portuguese club but there is said to be an expectation at the Estadio Jose Avalade that there will be interest and potentially offers for the Ivorian this summer.

Arsenal and Liverpool have too been linked alongside Chelsea. There are rumours Diomande has a £68million release clause in his contract at Sporting but Chelsea would try and sign him for considerably less than that should their interest turn to a bid in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Marc Guehi, the man who was sold by Chelsea to Crystal Palace in the summer of 2021 for around £18million, is also a target for the Blues. Chelsea have monitored Guehi and his progress since moving to Selhurst Park and he remains an option ahead of the summer.

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