Chelsea’s defensive problems are no secret. Centre-back might be the one position that is in most urgent need of strengthening when it comes to the Blues. Levi Colwill has been out injured since pre-season and one can only hope that he can rediscover his best level when he returns to the pitch eventually. ACL injuries can change the course of careers.
As for the rest of Chelsea’s centre-backs, they don’t seem to be good enough. That is the unfortunate truth. Enzo Maresca had asked for reinforcements in the summer and was ignored. In hindsight, that was a major mistake, just like sacking the Italian is proving to be.
BlueCo need to put it right in the summer. They need to bring in a quality centre-back. It did not look like they pushed for Marc Guehi in the winter and he is proving to be phenomenal at Manchester City. Another error.
In recent weeks, it has been suggested that Jan Paul van Hecke of Brighton & Hove Albion is on Chelsea’s radar. That should come as no surprise after the number of players they have signed from there since the BlueCo takeover. But where do the Seagulls think about the Dutch international’s potential exit in the summer?
Brighton set Jan Paul van Hecke asking price amid Chelsea interest
According to talkSPORT, Brighton are braced for a summer battle to keep Van Hecke. But if he is to depart, the Seagulls expect to recoup at least £50 million.
That is significantly higher than the figure that Brighton paid to sign Van Hecke. He was brought in from NAC Breda for around £2 million.
Of course, Brighton need to be careful, not to set the asking price too high. Clubs might just choose to wait it out, just like what happened with Guehi. Van Hecke’s current deal with the Seagulls runs out in the summer of 2027.
What does Van Hecke bring to the table?
At 25 years of age, Van Hecke is heading towards his prime. But he is already playing at a high level. The Dutchman might not be world-class but he is better than most of Chelsea’s options at centre-back.
Van Hecke’s biggest strengths are with the ball at his feet. He is extremely comfortable under pressure and has a range to his passing as well. In fact, he might be the most progressive passer in the Premier League when it comes to centre-backs.
On the defensive side of things, Van Hecke might not get enough credit. He wins over 60% of his duels and 56.1% of his aerial duels. There is room for growth there but if you put him alongside an aggressive centre-back, the combination could work brilliantly.
To cap it off, he has been viewed by many as a future Brighton captain. Chelsea could do with that kind of leadership at the back. Something they have been missing since Thiago Silva left.
Chelsea are not the only club interested in signing Van Hecke. He is also wanted by the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.
