Signing an experienced and proven centre-back has to be at the top of Chelsea’s wishlist in the summer. We have seen them try to bring in Jeremy Jacquet in the winter. But he did not quite fit that criteria. What the Blues right now is someone to come in and marshal their backline. They need a leader in their who will make those around him better and raise the bar of the whole defence.
We seen the Blues being linked with a few different centre-backs in recent times. Names like Murillo of Nottingham Forest, Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton and Jan Paul van Hecke of Brighton & Hove Albion have been doing the rounds of the rumour mill over the past week.
They are all Premier League-proven centre-backs. But there is another name that falls in that category. A player Chelsea had reportedly tried to sign in the winter as well. And someone who might be back on their radar this summer.
According to Matteo Moretto, Marcos Senesi is about to choose his next team. His agents are in close contact with Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester United. The rest of the teams are much further away.
Chelsea named amongst frontrunners to sign Marcos Senesi alongiside Man Utd and Tottenham
So, it looks like it has come down to a three-way race to sign Senesi. Alongside, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are also involved. It remains to be seen which one of them comes out on top.
To be honest, someone like Senesi could be a very good addition to this Chelsea team. He is proven in the Premier League. And he is a full Argentine international as well. On top of that, some of his numbers make for very good reading.
What do the numbers say about Marcos Senesi?
Senesi is one of the most adventurous passers in the Premier League when it comes to centre-backs. He is in the 100th percentile when it comes to assists, expected assists, accurate long balls and chances created. He is in the 98th percentile for big chances created and 97th percentile for successful crosses.
Of course, many will point to how that is down to Bournemouth’s playing style and him having the license. His completion rate is not that brilliant. That being said, he is still putting up Premier League-best numbers in multiple categories.
On the defensive side of things, Senesi is pretty good as well. He is in the 100th percentile for recoveries, interceptions and defensive contributions. He is in the 98th percentile for blocked shots and clearances, and in the 96th percentile for tackles.
So, on paper, it does not get much better than Senesi. At 28 years of age, he is in the middle of his prime. And if all of that was not enough, he is going to be available as a free agent. One could argue that Chelsea should have gone out and signed him in January. Now, they find themselves competing with Man Utd, who have a much better chance of qualifying for the Champions League, which could give them the edge in this race to sign the Argentine.
