Chelsea considering Burdisso to offer experienced defensive cover
Published:Nicolas Burdisso has emerged as another target for Chelsea as they look to increase their options in defence.
Ricardo Carvalho’s move to Real Madrid has left Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti short of experienced central defenders as the club look to successfully defend the Premier League while chasing a first ever Champions League success.
Benfica star David Luiz appeared to be the chief target, but the Portuguese champions are said to want at least €40m for the 23-year-old.
Therefore, Chelsea are set to turn their attentions elsewhere, with versatile Argentinian Burdisso potentially available from Inter Milan.
Inter technical director Marco Branca has noted that there has been English interest for the 29-year-old, who can play anywhere across the back four.
Burdisso spent the whole of last season on loan at Roma, meaning that he missed out on featuring in Inter’s run to the Champions League final and subsequent victory over Bayern Munich.
But any hopes of a permanent deal to remain in Italy were scuppered after a fee could not be agreed.
Branislav Ivanovic is the only experienced cover for John Terry and Alex at the heart of Chelsea’s defence, with promising youngster Michael Mancienne currently the next available back up.
Chelsea are 13/8 to win a second successive title, but Ancelotti himself has stated that given the choice he would choose to win the Champions League over anything else this season.
Nicolas Anelka’s miss cost them victory in the 2008 final against Manchester United and they are 6/1 to go one better this season.
Chelsea’s current campaign got off to a promising start with a 6-0 rout of Premier League new boys West Brom on the opening day of the season with Didier Drogba helping himself to a hat-trick.
It is 9/2 that this season’s Champions League final will be an all-English affair.
