Chelsea are reportedly lining up a summer swoop for Real Madrid star Casemiro as Thomas Tuchel looks to bolster his midfield options.
The Brazilian international, 29, hasn’t delivered consistent performances this season and is no longer considered ‘untouchable’ within the Real Madrid squad under Carlo Ancelotti. The defensive midfielder’s form has raised doubts to President Florentino Perez, who is open to selling him next summer.
According to Catalan outlet El Nacional, Thomas Tuchel has requested Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich for the signing of Casemiro. The Blues are among several clubs interested in the 29-year-old and will have to splash upwards of €60 million to tempt Real Madrid into selling him, the report adds.
Casemiro is widely rated as one of the best defensive midfielders of this generation, having gone from strength to strength at Real Madrid. The Brazilian hasn’t looked back since enjoying his breakthrough with the Los Blancos in the 2015-16 season, registering 30 goals and 27 assists in 307 appearances across all competitions to date.
However, Real are considering the idea of cashing in on the defensive midfielder following a series of poor displays in the first half of the current season, even though he has always maintained ‘he feels at home in Spain’.
Casemiro to Chelsea – A fantastic midfield option for the Pensioners?
Chelsea’s interest in Real Madrid star Casemiro is reasonable despite an array of midfielders available at Thomas Tuchel’s disposal. Jorginho and N’Golo Kante are Tuchel’s first-choice midfield pairing, but the latter has endured another injury-hit campaign at Stamford Bridge along with Mateo Kovacic.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek has enjoyed a mini-resurgence of late. But with Ross Barkley expected to be sold next year and Saul Niguez’s loan deal unlikely to be turned permanent from Atletico Madrid after his failure to break into the starting XI this term, Tuchel is right in demanding the Chelsea board to sign another midfielder.
Casemiro’s tough-tackling and robust style of play would certainly suit that of Tuchel’s, and instead of using him as a lone holding midfielder, the manager can deploy him in a double-pivot with Jorginho. A solid passer, the 29-year-old also excels at reading the game and snuffing out dangers before it grows. He is a clever player who will provide more security to the Chelsea backline.
The Brazilian international has been one of the best in his position for a number of years now, and his volumes of experience, top pedigree and winning mentality would instantly improve the Blues squad. Considering €60million is not a massive fee in today’s market, Chelsea must try to bring him to Stamford Bridge.