It will be really difficult for Chelsea to find a player like Azpilicueta, with the club captain serving the Blues whenever he was needed. Azpilicueta has played in multiple positions for Chelsea and done his job well. But the 32-year-old has only a few years left in his career.
Following this, Chelsea are interested in signing Jules Kounde for €85 million. However, they can avoid spending all that cash and still get a good player. Jonas Hofmann has been sensational for Monchengladbach and Germany this season. The 29-year-old played as the right wing-back in Germany’s recent victory over Armenia. While he also managed to get on the scoresheet for Germany in the 64th minute.
Azpilicueta got into every manager’s playing sheet at Chelsea. He has been a very good example of a great club captain. It will be difficult for anyone to fill his shoes at the club. However, Hofmann has some similarities with Azpilicueta that can help him succeed at Stamford Bridge.
Although there are no talks or rumors around the club for signing the 29-year-old, however, it wouldn’t hurt if the deal goes through. Hofmann can play as a center-back and also as a left wing-back if needed. His kind of versatile players are needed in the squad to win titles consistently.
How can Hofmann replace Azpilicueta at Chelsea?
Jonas Hofmann is a great versatile player, he can play in three different positions like Azpilicueta. He can play right wing-back, left wing-back, and centre-back very much like the Spanish defender. This signing can even profit Chelsea financially as their interest in Kounde can cost them a lot compared to Hofmann. Even though he won’t be ahead of Reece James, but he will be a solid rotational player in that position. Kounde has also played as a right-back before, but Hofmann is more versatile than the Frenchman.
There isn’t much talk about Hofmann in Europe, but he has got 4 goals in 10 appearances this season. He also registered 8 goals and 13 assists in 33 appearances last season. Germany plays a very similar system to what Chelsea plays and he can get adapted even more quickly with the system at Chelsea.
There won’t be much time before his talent goes unnoticed. Chelsea should shift their sights towards Hofmann and try to get his signature as soon as possible. He has only one more year left on his contract and will be more than affordable instead of Kounde. However, clubs like Bayern Munich can also generate their interest in Hofmann and therefore Chelsea will have to be quick and smooth with the transfer. The question for Azpilicueta’s replacement will be answered in a few years if the transfer takes place.
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