Thiago Silva hopes to extend Chelsea stay but club put off by David Alaba's wage demands

[ASFN Admin]

Thiago Silva is hoping to extend his Chelsea contract past this season, but any move by the club to partner him with Real Madrid target David Alaba will rest on the Bayern Munich defender lowering his eye-watering wage demands. Brazil international Silva, who is currently out injured, has less than six months remaining on his contract that includes the option for a further 12 months. Silva is understood to be keen on taking up that option to stay at Stamford Bridge next season and the expectation, barring unforeseen injury problems or a change of heart, is that Chelsea will extend the 36-year-old’s stay. A popular figure at the club, despite not speaking fluent English, Silva has been a big influence on and off the pitch at Chelsea this season. His experience is highly valued, along with his professionalism, in what is a young squad. Thomas Tuchel’s busy schedule since being appointed successor to Frank Lampard as Chelsea’s head coach means the German is unlikely to have considered the contract situations of his players yet. And the forthcoming fixture list will become even more congested, with Chelsea travelling to Barnsley in the FA Cup on Thursday and the Champions League restarting with a last-16 trip to Atletico Madrid later this month. But, given he tried to persuade Silva to stay at Paris Saint-Germain, it would be a surprise if Tuchel advised keeping Chelsea’s most experienced defender past this season. A decision on Silva’s future is unlikely to change Chelsea’s plan to try to sign a new central defender in the summer window with Alaba, who is wanted by Real Madrid, high on their list of targets. Alaba is set to be available on a free transfer from Bayern, but, apart from the fact Real have been leading the race for his signature, the 28-year-old’s wage demands could provide a major sticking point. Telegraph Sport understands that clubs have been informed that Alaba wants to be paid £20million-a-year, which is just short of £400,000-a-week and has put off a number of interested parties. That figure will need to drop significantly for Chelsea to sign Alaba, as it is around £100,000-a-week more than top earner N’Golo Kante is currently paid at Stamford Bridge. Other than Alaba, Chelsea scouts have watched RB Leipzig central defender Dayot Upamenco, whose £38m release clause could be attractive, and Jose Gimenez, who has so far proved too expensive. Tuchel’s arrival has also coincided with links to another Bayern defender, Niklas Sule. Chelsea hope to find out this week where the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Atletico on February 23 will be played. Spanish sources claim Bucharest has been lined up as a potential neutral venue if coronavirus travel restrictions prevent it going ahead in Spain.

Continue reading...