Niklas Süle: The defensive juggernaut that could take Chelsea to the next level, and why we should be excited. [Thread]

Chelsea are beginning to do well under Thomas Tuchel. The team is working harder, the players are responding well to the tactics and results and performances are looking up.

In recent games, Chelsea have moved away from their traditional back 4 and have transitioned to a back 3 of typically ball playing centre-backs, with Rüdiger Thiago Silva and Azpi preferred over the last 4 PL games.

And it has yielded results. With that trio, Chelsea have averaged 67.5% possession, only conceded 2 shots on target over 3 games, and kept a clean sheet in all three of the games they started together.

While it does seem like the defence is sorted, a look beyond the surface reveals cracks. The preferred defence has an average age of 31 years old, and despite the depth Chelsea have this season, only Christensen has the capabilities of a natural ball-playing centre-back.

However, Christensen is still developing. He's adapting to the physicality of the league and has often come second best for both strength and pace, despite having a good range of passing and solid tackling ability. He's been exposed a bit, most notably against Liverpool.

In the games that Christensen has had to deputise for the injured Thiago Silva, the side has lost the composure they had while he was in the side. Untidy passing, timidity on the ball, the signs of a young squad. An avoidable own goal against Sheffield is the culmination of this.

An ageing backline combined with insecure depth creates a disconnect within the defence. The clean sheet without Silva was more luck than good a performance. Against Barnsley the defence was vulnerable to the press and would have been punished against a better team.

Despite captain Azpi being on the field, the backline need another composed, commanding character that suits the ball-playing style of Tuchel and the demanding physicality of the league. Mr. Niklas Süle.

At a towering 6'4" and a mammoth 98 kg, Süle would have no problem with the aerial duels, as shown by his 62% success rate in the air. He also averages 2.9 tackles + interceptions a game and is only dribbled past once every 2 games. Up there with being solid.

Furthermore, despite his massive frame, Süle has clocked recovery run speeds of up to 34.8 kph, putting him in the top 1 percentile for european footballers and only behind Kingsley Coman and Alphonso Davies at Bayern. Unintimidated by the likes of Salah and Auba.

He's good technically too, averaging 73.3 touches, 56.9 passes and 5 through balls (chipped included) per game this season, as well as a 92% pass accuracy. The aforementioned necessary composure is evident, having only made a singular error in his last 81 Bundesliga appearances.

He's also not rattled by the big occasion, playing his part in UCL, German Supercup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup winning finals over the course of the last year, only being dribbled past once in those games whilst averaging 91.5% pass accuracy.

It would make sense financially as well. Per @FabrizioRomano, Dayot Upamecano is set to join Bayern this summer, and Süle already struggling for minutes may take the opportunity to leave at a cut price 40m Euros with just over a year left on his contract.

There are concerns around his injury issues however. He's been out for 272 days through injury since the 17/18 season, suffering a major knee ligament injury in October 2019. That wasn't even his first occurrence, having a similar injury at Hoffenheim in December 2014.

At just 25 years of age, Süle is the dream blend of size, skill, speed and composure. He would offer the relaxation needed at the back and would completely lock up the defence for the foreseeable future, should he stay fit. The links with him are very exciting.

End of thread, Likes and RTs always appreciated.