Thomas Tuchel has his wish. Chelsea will have a new midfielder at the club this summer and it wasn't a name that many had expected but the importance could be invaluable.
Heading into deadline day the two key areas still to be added to by Thomas Tuchel was a striker, a spot taken by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and central midfield. With late moves made on Wednesday, August 31 to secure Edson Alvarez from Ajax or Ibrahim Sangare from PSV, both deals looked to be off with just hours left of the window.
The stories of panic buying commenced, the memories of Saul Niguez's failed loan resurfaced and the worry that Tuchel might be left with a lack of defensive midfield cover as well as a host of injury prone and flawed options felt very real. In a matter of minutes it all changed.
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Denis Zakaria went from being the next target to having a medical sorted in Italy and before fans could give it much thought, the midfield addition was through the door. Although the Swiss international is still somewhat a risk and an unknown quantity after fading from his initial young star status at Borussia Monchengladbach, he does give Tuchel not only an extra body but also a chance to give consistent minutes to a four man defence.
The key to Chelsea's squad all summer has looked like a physically imposing defensive midfielder, one capable of shielding the back line and passing the ball on to options further forward, even if they are limited on the ball. Chelsea have missed a profile like this since Nemanja Matic and finally there is a new option.
This not only creates tactical flexibility previously unavailable to Tuchel, it could allow positional changes for other key players that the German hopes could unlock their true potential.
With this in mind, here's how the Blues could look in midfield with their new signing.
4-3-3 luxury
Not only does an out-and-out defensive midfield free up less burden on a double-pivot, it means that many of Chelsea's current options for the central midfield role can be freed up in a formation change Tuchel has been desperate to use.
With Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and arguably Mateo Kovacic all best when playing as No.8s, the two more advances spots in a 4-3-3 with a defensive midfielder all suit some of Chelsea's best operators.
It is where Gallagher made his name at Crystal Palace, allowed to roam into the box, where Mount was so impressive under Frank Lampard and in a position that means Kovacic can venture forward with freedom.
Loftus-Cheek likewise had his best goalscoring period under Maurizio Sarri as a more advanced player rather than in a No.6 role, N'Golo Kante has also excelled there with his high pressing too. The only current midfielder it doesn't suit is Jorginho, who either needs a partner in a pivot or to be given help when left in the deeper role on his own.
Alongside this freedom it would allow Raheem Sterling a natural wing spot alongside Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech who both operate better as wide attackers than inside No.10s. It would also mean that Carney Chukwuemeka had more support when given a chance in midfield.
4-2-2-2 options
Alongside the 4-3-3, Tuchel has already ventured into using a 4-2-2-2 with adaptions to make it into a five man defence at times when defending. Zakaria's addition also allows this to happen with Kovacic, Kante and Jorginho all good options to partner him in the double-pivot role at the base of that.
This again allows for attacking freedom with Mount, Loftus-Cheek and Gallagher all given advanced positions to press and spring forward moves.
The Ancelotti
With just a minor movement from the 4-2-2-2 Chelsea could revisit an old formation that served them well under Carlo Ancelotti.
The Italian had a plethora of midfield options including Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Michael Ballack and Joe Cole whilst he was in charge and used a genius diamond system to incorporate all of the Blues' stars into one system.
With a small tweak to the 4-2-2-2 Chelsea could yet move to something very similar under Tuchel. The 4-1-2-1-2 is a lesser used base formation for sides, but due to its flexibility in-game it could become a favourite for Tuchel. It would allow him to use Zakaria at the base of midfield with two other central midfielders - like the 4-3-3 - but then instead of wingers there would be a No.10 behind two forwards. This could similarly be seen as a 4-3-1-2 but at that point it is much of a likeness.
With Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling both playing as makeshift strikers already this season and Armando Broja and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang still to add their stamp, there are options for this movement.
The overload
Much like Tuchel has already tried this season and last, even in a three man defence Chelsea could use a 3-5-2 still, with Zakaria acting as an anchor in front of the defence. This would allow for more wing-back freedom as Zakaria could also drop into centre-back, a position he has previously played on occasion.
This also would allow for the group of No.8s to still be deployed in a midfield overload without being over burdened with defensive work.
Signing a defensive midfielder is primarily with the goal of shifting formation, Wesley Fofana's pace in defence also aids with the shift to a back four, but being creative with options within a currently more familiar three man defence also wouldn't be out of the ordinary for Tuchel.
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