Chelsea are not far away from another Premier League crown after a sensational campaign under Antonio Conte has seen them climb the success ladder quickly following the debacle of last season. With the transfer window opening soon, the Blues could sign a few players to add more freshness to their side.
English tabloids have linked Chelsea with numerous summer targets as the Blues are looking to improve an already strong squad with Conte eager to make his team competitive in Europe next season.
Real Madrid centre-back Pepe is being linked with a move to Chelsea this summer with the robust Portuguese defender being available on a Bosman transfer as his contract expires after June.
He has attracted attention from the Major League Soccer and the Chinese Super League but the 34-year-old is still a capable player and can still play at the highest level.
If the Blues need an experienced defender at the back there aren’t many better options than Pepe but Chelsea don’t need him at the moment. They already have two senior centre-backs in the form of Gary Cahill and John Terry who have bags of playing experience under their belt.
It is agreed that Chelsea need one or two reinforcements in defence to bolster their bench for the European games next season, but they have enough talent who are currently out on loan.
David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta have been stellar this season with the likes of Nathan Ake, Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen waiting in the wings for their chance. Lest we forget, Zouma was heralded as a future superstar last season prior to a horrific knee injury. He has taken some time to get back but is a very capable player who already has decent experience.
Even despite all the options, if Pepe does arrive at Stamford Bridge in the summer, he may find it tough to adjust to the pace of English football. Adding to that, the Portuguese centre-back has little to no experience of playing in a back three which Chelsea have employed since Conte took over. The settling time will be another issue considering Conte hasn’t shuffled his team too many times.
Although Pepe will add vital experience to the team, his shelf life isn’t that great and Chelsea will probably have to look for a replacement soon. Instead, they can focus on the players they’ve got since they are clearly a young bunch and are the future of the club.
