Inside Europe: Monaco’s Benoit Badiashile a rough diamond ahead of Chelsea move – ‘Too early for him’
Eurosport France’s Jean-Baptiste Duluc is not convinced that Benoit Badiashile is ready for Chelsea yet, but says the player from Monaco has talent.
Reports in England suggest that Chelsea have agreed a deal worth around £33 million for the 21-year-old central defender, as part of a winter transfer window that might also reward manager Graham Potter with Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid, and Enzo Fernandez, who has a £106m released clause at Benfica.
Chelsea lost defender Marco Alonso, Antonio Rudiger and Antonio Christensen in the summer and brought in Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella, and the club have wanted to recruit a left-sided central defender. Thiago Silva, 38, is also likely to leave the club in the summer.
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Speaking to Eurosport UK, Duluc believes that Badiashile has improved, but not rapidly this season.
“The season has been average to good,” he told us. “He has progressed compared to last year but it is more Axel Disasi who is the boss of Monaco’s defence.”
Duluc also thinks that Badiashile has a number of weaknesses that he is working on, along with skills that mean he is a player with potential.
He added: “He lacks consistency and concentration but has worked to correct that. He makes good passes, he has a precise left foot.
“One of his strengths is his ability to win many aerial duels. Not only an athletic player but surprising technical skills given his size.
He certainly has a lot of potential but still suffers a lack of concentration.
“Too often, he doesn’t defend the spaces in behind him too well. Still, he was selected by Didier Deschamps last September, ahead of Clement Lenglet.”
Comparing him to a former Monaco youth player, Aurelien Tchouameni, Duluc beileves Badiashile is more raw.
“He’s not as ready for high level as Tchouaméni was,” he explained. “It seems a little too early for him.
“It would be a surprise that he will take the leadership of the defence right away.
“Overall, he looks like Gabriel of Arsenal, same weakness, but he’s taller and has better technical skills.”
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