Benfica have reportedly begun a tentative pursuit of Chelsea centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo, with head coach Marco Silva having identified his old Fulham target as the perfect Antonio Silva replacement. The Blues have also attracted interest from at least one other Premier League club for the 28-year-old.
Tosin was initially eager to stay longer in West London, but he is still open to exploring other options. The pull of a return to Silva, the manager who coaxed his best football, is thought to be a distinctly alluring proposition.
Adarabioyo enjoyed three productive campaigns working together at Craven Cottage between 2021 and 2024, with the centre-back racking up 98 appearances and five goals under the Portuguese boss. He made 16 appearances for Chelsea last term, scoring two goals and maintaining a 90 per cent passing accuracy.
His reduced profile at Stamford Bridge is hardly a coincidence. Chelsea have brought Maxence Lacroix in from Crystal Palace for £52m, Trevoh Chalobah has moved to Como, while Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile are expected to depart before the window slams shut. Xabi Alonso has indicated he would like to work with just four or five senior centre-backs, and with the Blues having about 10, Tosin’s exit looks to be on the cards.
One potential impediment is Benfica’s preferred architecture: the Portuguese giants are angling for a loan arrangement with an option to purchase. However, with Tosin arriving on a free transfer, any permanent sale would be pure profit for Chelsea, which would be an attractive proposition as BlueCo work to meet Premier League and UEFA financial requirements.
Xabi Alonso Confirms More Activity Before Deadline Day
The Spaniard inherited a cumbersome squad when he arrived in July. Chelsea currently have 41 contracted senior professionals, so as many as 16 exits may be required to distil the group to a manageable 25. Ahead of Chelsea’s pre-season opener against Western Sydney Wanderers, Alonso told the media in Australia that the summer still felt distinctly unfinished.
“We need to know that probably there will still be some movements. We need to be flexible and quick to act. The main thing is that we have a clear idea, a clear plan that we have built. Probably it will change until the last day of the market being open.”
That frank admission has obvious implications for Tosin, whose sizeable wage and peripheral role make him an eminently logical candidate for sacrifice. The hierarchy has become open to offers for the defender as Chelsea trims the squad and frees up resources.