It will be tough to replace or replicate the success of Thiago Silva at Chelsea. A 36-year-old joining the Premier League at one of the league's most dominant teams and instantly adapting so late in a career feels like an anomaly, and that in itself reflects the brilliance of Silva.
And even after an impressive first season, it is fair to claim the sequel was even stronger, featuring 48 times across six different competitions in a stacked nine-month period for the Blues.
A contract extension signed in January will keep Silva in west London till 2023, and there are early suggestions he is aiming to go beyond that.
