FRANK LAMPARD reportedly wants Thiago Silva to take a captaincy role once the veteran defender joins Chelsea.
With a medical set for this week as the Brazilian completes a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, attention has turned to what sort of role he will play at Stamford Bridge.
Thiago Silva is set to join Chelsea after his PSG contract expiredCredit: Handout – Getty
At 35, the Brazilian is said to harbour ambitions of playing at the 2022 World Cup and will expect a reasonable degree of first-team action.
And Lampard is planning on giving Silva an extra set of responsibilities once he lands in West London.
According to Brazil-based outlet Globo Esporte, the Chelsea boss wants the new signing to take the armband.
Silva has captained PSG, AC Milan and his country during an illustrious career but such a move would be a surprise.
Cesar Azpilicueta has held the job at Chelsea since last summer and the 30-year-old does not appear to be leaving the club any time soon.
Reece James, Marcos Alonso and incoming full-back Ben Chilwell may well be ahead of the Spaniard in the pecking order next season, however.
Therefore Lampard may see Silva as a regular at centre-back, allowing a more consistent leading voice on the pitch.
Last season, the Blues boss gave the armband to N’Golo Kante, Willian and Jorginho in Azpilicueta’s absence.
Officially, the Italian midfielder is the club’s vice-captain with Lampard praising him last year as “a big character and a driver for us”.
Silva is expected to be Chelsea’s third signing of the summer after Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.
Yet they will not be done there with Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell set to arrive – with plenty of cash in the Stamford Bridge bank.
Roman Abramovich gives Chelsea green light to mega £150m transfer splurge on Chilwell, Havertz and Rice
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
