Chelsea are already planning for the summer window and a major priority will be sorting out the club’s options at centre-back. AC Milan giant Strahinja Pavlovic has emerged as a key target.
Liam Rosenior’s 19-game reign as Chelsea manager has shown that Chelsea lack real quality in the middle of the defence. With Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill out, Chelsea are without the leadership required.
If conceding goals to Leeds and Burnley wasn’t enough to prove that, then the eight goals to PSG over two legs should have done the trick. Even more so, Chelsea’s defending on Saturday against Everton.
What position would Chelsea be in NOW if Enzo Maresca was still in charge?
Be honest!
It simply isn’t good enough. Todd Boehly’s approach to sign young and develop isn’t working and has failed to do so for a while. Chelsea need an older head, a leader. Step forward, Strahinja Pavlovic.
Chelsea plotting ‘huge’ bid to sign Milan’s best defender Pavlovic
Chelsea and Milan have an excellent working relationship. It currently sees Milan boast a whole host of ex-Chelsea stars including Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Christopher Nkunku and Christian Pulisic.
Now, one player could make the opposite move. According to Italian outlet CalcioMercato, Chelsea are preparing a ‘huge’ offer to sign Milan’s best and most consistent defender in Serbian giant Pavlovic.
FBL-ITA-SERIEA-MILAN-TORINO
Photo by Stefano RELLANDINI / AFP via Getty Images
There have been murmurs that Chelsea would change their approach in the transfer window this summer, and Pavlovic would be a prime example of that. Now 24, Pavlovic is already one of Serie A’s best players.
A player with more than 50 caps and north of 200 club appearances. The report claims Milan want to keep Pavlovic but Chelsea are plotting a bid of around £35m to convince Milan to sell their Serbian ace.
Max Allegri highlights Pavlovic’s growth in a Milan shirt
Before his move to Milan in 2024, Pavlovic endured a tricky few years that saw the centre-back grow up. Two years at Monaco resulted in just 12 senior appearances and three loan moves away, until 2022.
He joined Salzburg after loans at boyhood club Partizan, Cercle Brugge and Basel before. In Austria, Pavlovic finally turned potential into quality and it convinced Milan to sign the colossal defender.
What do you make of Wesley Fofana in a Chelsea shirt? Is he good enough?🤔
Everton v Chelsea - Premier League
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Pavlovic has quickly earned a reputation as one of Serie A’s best defenders. Recently, Max Allegri said: “He has character, soul, and he defended well in open play. He is growing significantly and I am delighted.”
If Chelsea want to sign a centre-back to solve their problems, to install leadership, aerial ability, body-on-the-line type defending, a modern version of John Terry, then Pavlovic will go some way to doing that.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox