Contenders to replace Cesar Azpilicueta as Chelsea captain
By Sean Walsh
Two years ago, Chelsea were crowned champions of Europe for the second time in their history.
Thomas Tuchel had inherited an underperforming and soft-bellied team from Frank Lampard, but he quickly turned the Blues into one of the most formidable and feared sides on the planet.
A top-four finish looked well beyond Chelsea's reach, but Tuchel managed to achieve both that and win the Champions League, marking one of the most incredible half-season stretches by any manager in the history of the game.
But Stamford Bridge has fallen down since. The Todd Boehly era began in 2022 and it has brought nothing but chaos.
Very few of that Champions League-winning cohort remain and several more players from that side are expected to depart this summer - 90min understands that club captain Cesar Azpilicueta is on the verge of joining Inter.
So who could replace the versatile Spaniard as skipper? Let's run through the options...
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Thiago Silva
This seems to be the most obvious choice.
Thiago Silva is already vice-captain. He's the most experienced player in the dressing room. Chelsea are crying out for maturity and leadership at all levels and he is the perfect mouthpiece for incoming head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
The only red flag against Silva is he turns 39 in September and players of his age can fall off a cliff in terms of ability quite drastically.
An injury to Benoit Badiashile means Silva is likely to begin the season as a starter, but don't be too surprised if he's a reserve option come the end of the campaign.
Reece James
Reece James probably isn't the first name you think of when trying to pick a new Chelsea captain, but that's partly because a lot of his colleagues who are seen as more natural leaders are leaving the club (looking at you, Mason Mount).
But the right-back is a worthy candidate having come through the Blues' youth ranks at Cobham and survived the dreaded 'loan army'.
At his best, James is one of the best right-backs in the world. The problem is keeping him fit and healthy.
Kepa Arrizabalaga
I can already feel the anger from Chelsea fans reading this. I can sympathise with them, too.
But here's the case for Kepa Arrizabalaga to get the armband - with it increasingly unlikely that a new goalkeeper will arrive this summer and Edouard Mendy heading to Saudi Arabia, the Spaniard is going to be a guaranteed starter.
You can't say that about too many others in this bloated squad. Kepa might just land the armband by default.
Raheem Sterling
Sure, Raheem Sterling's only been at Chelsea for one season and he was rather underwhelming, but there are few players at the club who have been through what he has, won what he's won, fought against what he's had to fight.
He was a well-respected voice at Manchester City and during his time as a regular in the England camp. It wouldn't be a far-fetched choice.
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On this edition of Son of Chelsea, part of the 90min podcast network, Daniel Childs reacts to the news that the latest Chelsea transfer news, including Kai Havertz's move to Arsenal & Man Utd's interest in Mason Mount. If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!