Nemanja Matic failed to do much of note in his first spell at Chelsea, but since his return to Stamford Bridge in January 2014, the Serbia international has been superb. Matic has established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders not only in the Premier League but in the entirety of Europe. The 28-year-old was a key figure in Chelsea winning the Premier League titles in 2015 and 2017, and it is hard to imagine him leaving the Blues anytime soon.
However, that is exactly what could happen in the summer transfer window. Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho may have refused to publicly express his interest in Matic, but the midfielder has been strongly linked with a switch to Old Trafford this summer. The fact that the former Benfica star has also been left out of the Premier League champions’ 25-man squad for their pre-season tour of China and Singapore has added further fuel to the speculation.
Matic may have been a key figure in the Chelsea midfield over the past two-and-a-half years, but the signing of Tiemoue Bakayoko in the summer transfer window suggests that his days at the Blues are numbered. Bakayoko cost Chelsea as much as £40 million in transfer fees to sign from AS Monaco, and it would not make sense if manager Antonio Conte did not make him a regular starter. The France international is only 22 years of age and is one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe. The youngster’s partnership with N’Golo Kante, who is two years younger than Matic, could prove to be one of the most formidable midfield combinations in Europe in years to come.
From one perspective, it does make sense for Chelsea, who are 7/2 to win the Premier League title next season according to football betting odds, to sell Matic. After all, following the signing of Bakayoko, the Serbian would not get into the starting lineup. Conte could still use the former Benfica star as a substitute and rotate him, but would he be same player if he is used sporadically and plays only the final 30 or so minutes of a football match? Would Matic himself be willing to fight for his place in the team? After all, until now, the Serbian has been more or less assured of starting when he is fit.
Matic could also fetch a lot of money. The Serbian is only 28 years of age, and given his playing style, he could last at the very top level for around seven or eight more years. Chelsea could easily get over £30 million for Matic in today’s transfer market and make a decent profit – the London club paid Benfica £21 million to sign the midfielder in January 2014. It would be a great piece of business for the Blues, but the question is whether they should sell the midfielder to Manchester United.
United may not have finished in the top four of the Premier League last season, but the Red Devils will start the 2017-18 campaign as strong contenders for the title. The signings of striker Romelu Lukaku and defender Victor Lindelof will have enhanced United’s chances of winning the Premier League title next season, and a midfielder of Matic’s ilk and quality could just be the final piece of the jigsaw. It was Mourinho who signed Matic for Chelsea in 2014, and selling the midfielder to a direct title rival would be a mistake from the Blues even if they get a lot of money for him.
