Photo by Chen Yongnuo/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images
Photo by Chen Yongnuo/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images
Before Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Australia and Asia, a lot of supporters wanted Tosin Adarabioyo gone!
After Adarabioyo’s performance against JDT on Sunday, that is very unlikely to have changed.
From the 28-year-old’s perspective, an exit this summer would perhaps make sense. With Levi Colwill fit again and Maxence Lacroix now at the club, Adarabioyo is not going to be a starter.
Yet it appears that Adarabioyo is still willing to stay at Chelsea. According to Si Phillips Talks Chelsea, the former Fulham man would be “OK” with being a back-up option.
After signing Adarabioyo from their west London rivals on a free transfer, Chelsea can make pure profit from selling the central defender. However, things are starting to point towards the Blues offering their player a deputy role.
Chelsea have just sold Trevoh Chalobah to Como, while Benoit Badiashile could join the England international in Italy amid interest from Napoli.
Adarabioyo has been much more reliable than Badiashile, so it would also not be a surprise if Chelsea decided to keep the former and sell the latter if it came down to a shootout between the two.
Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile of Chelsea
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Ultimately, if Badiashile does follow Chalobah out of the exit door, that would leave Xabi Alonso a little bit light in the centre-back positions.
The Spaniard would not have too much cover, especially if he uses a back three. Jorrel Hato can play in central defence, but the expectation is that he will compete with Pep Chavarria for the left-back position, while Josh Acheampong may want to go on loan to get regular playing time. Mamadou Sarr does not look ready, and Aaron Anselmino keeps on getting injured.
Unless Chelsea sign another centre-back, then, they could end up needing Adarabioyo. The Club World Cup holders asking him to stay to provide cover sounds very plausible.
Of course, it is something that a lot of Chelsea fans are likely to be against after watching Adarabioyo’s struggles in pre-season and the previous campaign.