Kilman to Chelsea? Why the Blues are keen on the Wolves star
Chelsea are aware they'll need to bolster their defence in the summer. Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen are all out of conract at the end of the season, and the trio are not short of potential suitors. The Blues have at least tied Thiago Silva down for another season, so there isn't a mass exodus of defenders on the cards, yet the World Club champions are believed to be earmarking potential incomers in what will be an important summer window for Chelsea.
One of those reportedly on the club's radar is Wolves centre-back Max Kilman, who has been a revelation for Bruno Lage's side. Kilman has played every league minute for a Wolves side that has conceded the joint-second fewest goals (18, level with Chelsea) in England's top tier this term.
Kilman has been an option for the Midlands side since joining from Maidenhead in 2018, yet it wasn't until last season that he began to establish himself as a serious Premier League option for Wolves. Used sparingly by Nuno Espirito Santo, Lage has routinely called upon Kilman and they are all the better for it as evidenced by their superb goals against column.
However, as with any player not plying their trade for a side in European competition, Kilman's form hasn't gone unnoticed with Chelsea rumoured to be keeping tabs on the 24-year-old. While there may be others interested in Kilman, the Blues hold a key advantage in any potential transfer tug of war in that the centre-back is a boyhood Chelsea fan.
Yet it's not Kilman's loyalties that will be a key reason for Chelsea's interest, but rather his excellent form under Lage this term. Of all Premier League centre-backs this season, only Mohammed Salisu (121) has made more tackles and interceptions combined than Kilman (83), reinforcing statistically calculated WhoScored strengths of 'tackling' and 'ball interception'.
Another reason for Chelsea's rumoured interest could well be his versatility at the back. When appointed last January, Tuchel implemented a three-man defence, but has recently reverted to a four-man backline due to injuries to Reece James and Ben Chilwell. With the two wing-backs sidelined, Tuchel sought to work with the options at his disposal and that meant swapping from a 3-4-2-1 to a 4-3-3 system.
Should Tuchel revert back to a three-man defence, then Kilman seems the ideal fit on either the right or the left of the backline. While left footed, Kilman has been operating on the right side with Romain Saiss - pre and post-AFCON - on the left and Conor Coady through the middle. Last season, though, when Nuno did use a three-man defence, Kilman operated on the left and both have been to good effect, which only boosts his reputation, so much so that some quarters of the Wolves fanbase refer to him as 'Kilmanjaro'.
It's an appealing trait for Tuchel as he considers his next defensive options in the market. Of course, Wolves are under no pressure to sell one of their prized assets this summer - he did sign a contract extension in November - so Kilman won't come cheaply should Chelsea firm up their rumoured interest in the defender, but it's easy to see why the Blues are supposedly interested in signing Kilman.
A capable performer with the ball at his feet who can play on either side of a three-man defence and experienced in the Premier League while playing every minute for one of the division's tighest defences, it's surprising that no team has considered a move for Kilman before now. Wolves have been keen to keep Kilman under wraps from prying eyes, and they may yet be able to rebuff efforts to lure the key man away from Molineux should they secure a European finish, but with Chelsea supposedly making their intentions known; it may be that Kilman's time in Wolverhampton is coming to an end sooner than supporters may have hoped.
