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Chelsea announced the signing of Saul Niguez in August on a loan deal until the end of the season. The Blues were evidently in the market for a midfielder, seemingly to add another pair of legs and distribute the workload.
With Mason Mount, Jorginho and N'Golo Kante usually starting most games, Chelsea only had two backup options in Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mateo Kovacic. Although all players are quite capable of holding their own, the Chelsea management felt the need to add an additional player in the same position.
Chelsea were linked with several midfielders throughout the window, ultimately opting to go for Atletico Madrid's Saul Niguez. The transfer, however, made little sense to the average fan: Saul didn't seem like a substantial step-up to any of the existing options.
While it is still quite early to determine the success of the transfer, it is without a doubt that there are a few midfielders who better fit Chelsea's profile requirements in midfield. Let's take a look at five players Chelsea could've signed instead of Saul.
#5 Aurélien Tchouameni | Monaco
Aurélien Tchouameni has emerged as one of France's best young midfielders.
Representing Monaco in Ligue 1, Tchouameni has enjoyed a remarkable rise to fame of late. He came up through the youth system at Bordeaux, where he spent two years before signing for Monaco in 2020.
Since then, Tchouameni has become one of the club's most important players. Operating in a central midfield role, he is capable of adding value both offensively and defensively.
Tchouameni recently received a call up to the French national team and went on to win the UEFA Nations League with his country. It's fair to say that the youngster has a lot of attention on him from the world's top clubs.
Currently only 21 years old, the youngster has a bright future ahead of him.
#4 Marcelo Brozovic | Inter Milan
Marcelo Brozovic is another player Chelsea could have snapped up this summer. Brozovic represents Inter Milan at club level after being signed from Dinamo Zagreb in 2015. Used as a box-to-box midfielder, Brozovic possesses all the qualities of a top-class footballer.
Capable of playing anywhere in midfield, Brozovic displays great tenacity and skill on the pitch. He is also a key member of the Croatian national team, lining up alongside the likes of Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic.
Chelsea have reportedly shown interest in Brozovic recently and with his contract expiring next year, a move is not completely out of the question. There is no doubt Brozovic would be a formidable addition to the Chelsea midfield.
#3 Yves Bissouma | Brighton & Hove Albion
Yves Bissouma has quickly developed into one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
An integral part of the Brighton squad, Bissouma has thrived in central midfield for the Seagulls under Graham Potter. Known for his accurate tackles and his knack for being in the right place at the right time, Bissouma has become quite the coveted commodity in the Premier League.
Bissouma's stats are world-class: The Malian topped the charts for tackles and interceptions last season. Several clubs showed interest in signing him, but a move did not go through.
Still only 25, he certainly has a very high ceiling. Chelsea will consider themselves lucky if they manage to beat the competition and tie the Malian down to a long-term deal.
#2 Declan Rice | West Ham United
Chelsea have been linked with Declan Rice for quite a while now.
The youngster was famously a part of Chelsea's academy for a long time, before making his professional debut with West Ham in 2015. In the six years since, Rice has emerged as one of the best midfielders in the league.
Known for his relentless pressing and ball-playing abilities, Rice has built quite a reputation for himself in England. His performances even caught the eye of Gareth Southgate, who called him up to the English national team in 2019.
Rice was a regular in England's UEFA Euro 2020 campaign, where they ultimately finished runners-up. Chelsea reignited their interest in the Englishman this summer but failed to work out a suitable deal for both parties.
With Rice staying at West Ham for at least another few months, there is no doubt Chelsea will try once again to sign their target.
#1 Eduardo Camavinga | Real Madrid
Eduardo Camavinga was one of the most sought-after players during the summer window.
Part of a formidable Rennes side, Camavinga has caught the eye of many over the past couple of seasons. The French youngster spent two years with Rennes in Ligue 1 before ultimately signing for Spanish giants Real Madrid on deadline day.
Widely renowned as one of the best young midfielders in the world, Real Madrid faced stiff competition from the likes of Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain. At one point, it seemed almost certain that Camavinga would move to PSG, but a move ultimately fell through.
Camavinga has shown his maturity and class at the tender age of 18. Being good enough to attract Real Madrid's attention says a lot, costing Los Blancos a reported €31 million.
The Frenchman has been touted as one for the future. Highly rated by players and coaches alike, Camavinga is another exciting midfielder Chelsea could have snapped up instead of Saul.
