Frank Lampard is closing in on the experienced central defender he wanted this summer, and he’s going to do more than just warm the bench.
According to the Daily Mail today Thiago Silva is closer than ever to joining Chelsea, (who translate quotes form Globo in Brazil), Lampard is so keen for him to lead from the front that he’s going to make him captain.
We doubt that the manager is going to take the armband off Cesar Azpilicueta after years of loyal service, but we can imagine Silva being made the nominal vice-captain administratively, but acting as the leader on the pitch.
Azpi can still exchange pennants with the other team, and do the extra media duties expected of a captain, but Silva will be the leader at the back this team was crying out for for large swathes of last season, and in fact some time before that.
Frank Lampard states he wants a player that can command the young players on the pitch and let them understand why they are playing for this team, he claims he needs a leader on the pitch.