Chelsea should save on a centre back to fork out for Erling Haaland – Talk Chelsea

Now I know exactly what you are thinking here, ‘you have been a strong advocate for Chelsea bringing in a new centre back this summer’, and you’re correct, I have been.

However, over time I have realised that a new centre back is much lower down the list of our priorities than a new striker. Also, as long as both Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger sign new contracts, then there is absolutely no reason at all to sign another defender, especially with there being no indication that Kurt Zouma wants to leave yet, and if he does, Marc Guehi is more than capable of being the fourth choice centre back.

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The form of Christensen, Rudiger, and Thiago Silva has been incredible after Christmas, so there is no way we should be looking to drop or replace any of them next season.

This could give us a boost in our pursuit to sign Erling Haaland, freeing up the £30-£60m we would probably budget on a new centre back.

Haaland (or a same level striker) is an absolute must for Chelsea this summer; it has been obvious that a goal scorer and a proper number 9 has been our missing link all season, so this must remain our priority. And if Dortmund don’t want to sell unless it’s big money, then pay them what they want.

Say for example that is £130m, which is what I believe it would realistically end up being around there or there about. Our rumoured transfer budget for the summer is £200m.

This would leave us with around £70m to sign a defensive midfielder, and it also happens to be the fee that I believe would be enough to sign Declan Rice from West Ham.

Signing Rice and Haaland I believe would still be on budget, and we wouldn’t need any other players to add than them in my view. Rice can also play as a centre back, just as an extra option.

Tino Livramento is more than good enough to back Reece James up next season, and I have no doubt he would prove me right if given the chance, and there are no other pressing positions we need to strengthen in, in my view.

On budget, by adding those two players makes us title challengers in my view.

Get it done, Chelsea!