Could this centre-half be Chelsea’s next summer signing under Antonio Conte?

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Although John Terry was granted a one-year contract extension, it is imperative that Chelsea start making plans to bolster their defence in anticipation of his retirement. They already have the extremely promising Kurt Zouma, who was making steady progress until suffering a knee ligament injury.

With new manager Antonio Conté favouring three centre-backs and two wing-backs as his defensive platform, Chelsea will need at least five centre-backs; or at least players capable of playing at centre-back, to ensure there is adequate cover. It seems as if Napoli defender Kaildou Koulibaly is very much on the radar.

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Koulibaly started 32 Serie A matches last season, as Napoli put together an excellent campaign to grab second place and automatic Champions League qualification. The Senegalese international is an imposing, six-foot five physical specimen and at 25, is hitting the age when defenders hit their peak. His rugged style of defending has won many admirers, and Koulibaly won 82 interceptions, 125 clearances and 21 blocks last year.

No team has won the Premier League title playing a back-three, and it is a system that requires a certain type of defender to thrive within it. The ‘wide’ centre-halves in the back three are expected to take possession of the ball in tight spaces and handle it with care. They are also expected to be able to defend one against one with attackers in wide areas.

In order to do this, it helps if those centre-backs are mobile. The Italian national team and Juventus have shown that this is not a necessity, however. Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini are not the quickest, but are so tight to the opposition’s attackers and win so many duels early on in the build-up, that their pace is rarely tested.

Pace is a genuine asset among Premier League defenders however, and Koulibaly possesses pace and athleticism in abundance. With more and more teams placing stock in counter-attacking football, having defenders who can cope with sharp movements in behind them is very important. Many assume that Conte’s philosophy is based upon strict defensive organisation, and of course that is true.

However, many wrongly assume that ‘organised’ defences are deep-lying defences. Conte’s mission has been to prove to the Italian commentariat that this isn’t so – a defence can be well-positioned and coherent whilst pushing up the pitch and squeezing space. That there’s more to Italian defending than catenaccio. Conte said after Italy knocked Spain out of Euro 2016:

“Xavi gave us the best compliment, as he said Italy remind him of a mix between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. It proves those who play football understand.”

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How Conté carries forward this idea at Chelsea will be fascinating, especially given Terry’s continued presence at the club. When Andre Villas-Boas tried to implement a high-line at Chelsea in 2011-12, Terry looked extremely uncomfortable and picked up more bookings that season than any other due to his increased exposure.

Koulibaly has the tools to thrive in this style of defending, that combines collective organisation with a trust that defenders can also cope in isolation.

Featured Image: All rights reserved by Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht