If there is one thing that has been evident from Chelsea’s season so far, it is that Mourinho has a certain style of playing and is keen on dictating the terms at all cost. Every player, whether a midfielder, defender or a striker has a defensive responsibility and when that player fails to do his bit for the team, he is sacrificed.
One such player who has been sacrificed once too often this season, due to his lack of defensive discipline, is David Luiz. The Brazilian center half has struggled to adapt to life under Mourinho and has rarely been given the opportunity to play in his preferred role. So, it was no surprise to see his name being linked with various clubs, including Real Madrid and Barcelona over the course of the season.
Instead of playing at center back, the Brazilian has often found himself on the bench or in the center of midfield, where Mourinho thinks that he is a less of a liability to his team. All of which means that there is a very good chance that Luiz might be on his way out of Chelsea in the summer, after the World Cup.
Whether he leaves or not, Mourinho’s insistence on not playing him at center half means that Chelsea find themselves short on cover at center back. And any injury to either Terry, who is nearing the end of his career, or Cahill could end up costing the Blues. So, Chelsea would surely be looking to add some defensive reinforcements in the summer.
Whilst the arrival of Kurt Zouma from AS Saint Etienne is certainly a big boost, the center back is still very young and is considered by many as one for the future. So, it means that Chelsea are still in search of another center back, one who can fit right in and doesn’t need time to adapt to the style of play employed by Mourinho.
Having considered all of that, it should come as no surprise to see Raphael Varane being linked with a move to Chelsea. The lack of opportunities at Real, coupled with his inability to break the defensive partnership of Pepe and Sergio Ramos means that Carlo Ancelotti might just be willing to let the young Frenchman, should he sign a suitable replacement.
Whilst a £165m buy-out clause in his contract, might scare away most suitors, Mourinho is convinced that he will be able to bring the Frenchman, one of the few players that were on his side during his ill-fated reign with the club, to Stamford Bridge.
So, let us look at whether Varane fits the bill for Chelsea. Strong, quick and powerful, Varane is your archetypal modern center back, who can combine his defensive discipline with an uncanny ability to bring the ball out of the back. Still only 21, the Frenchman has all the attributes to become one of the best defenders of his generation.
Much like David Luiz, Varane is a passer of the ball and is incredibly comfortable in possession. Whether it is bringing the ball out of defense or starting an attack, the Frenchman is capable of doing both with equal aplomb. But, what sets him apart from Luiz is that his decision-making is first-class and is an expert at reading the game.
The timing of his tackles and interception are as good as they come and Varane times his tackles and interceptions perfectly and is an excellent reader of the game. Thanks to his tall but stocky build, he is capable of muscling out strikers and can play the aerial game as well. His reading of the game has led to people comparing him to former France defender Lilian Thuram and if he continues progressing in the way he is at the moment, he is likely to get even better.
All of which means that should Varane find himself at Chelsea, he would be a perfect addition and solve the center back problem, Chelsea might experience in the future.