Chelsea ‘bid £34m for Eder Militao’ and Thomas Tuchel has plan for new-look defence

Brazilian defender Eder Militao has caught the eye of Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel as he considers changing his approach permanently to line up with three central defenders instead of two

Posted Monday, November 15, 2021 by Dailystar.co.uk

Chelsea have reportedly bid £34million for Real Madrid centre back Eder Militao as Thomas Tuchel plans to build a new-look defence.

The Blues currently have the best defence in the Premier League, having conceded just four times in 11 matches so far this season, but manager Tuchel is planning a change.

The German is understood to be planning on permanently moving to a three-man defence in the future and wants Militao as part of it.

With Thiago Silva set to leave the club at the end of the season and the contracts of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen currently expiring next summer, the arrival of a new centre-back will be high on the agenda.

Eder Militao is wanted by Chelsea

El Nacional report that Chelsea have already submitted an opening offer to Real Madrid for Militao worth around £34million, but that the Spanish giants are reluctant to sell.

Following the departures of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane in the summer, Militao has become an integral part of Carlo Ancelotti's defence, missing just three minutes of action this season.

As a result, Real Madrid are instead planning to offer the Brazilian a new deal to raise his £74,000-per-week wages and extend his contract further beyond its current 2025 expiration.

It is also unlikely that a bid worth £34million would be able to prise Militao away from Real Madrid, as Los Blancos parted with £45million to bring him to the club from Porto just two years ago.

However, if Chelsea were able to sign Militao, he would likely slot into Tuchel's new-look three-man defence alongside club captain Cesar Azpilicueta.

The Spaniard previously featured on the right-side of a back three during the 2016/17 season as Chelsea won the Premier League under Antonio Conte.

The identity of the third man in the defence remains up for debate, however, with 36-year-old Silva expected to not be at the club next season.

As for Christensen and Rudiger, both players are currently out of contract at the end of the season and Chelsea have yet to agree new terms with them.

This leaves the space open to young defenders Trevoh Chalobah and Malang Sarr to come into the defence or Tuchel may sign another centre back to fill the void.

Chelsea have been strongly linked with Sevilla's Jules Kounde in recent months but face competition from Manchester United for the French defender.