I think I could probably accept either of Trevoh Chalobah or Marc Guehi coming in if it is genuinely impossible to sign a top new centre back this window and we then follow that up with signing said top centre back in the summer, someone in the ilk of a Ruben Dias just for example [even if I do see that as near impossible even then].
But if you asked me my choices of new centre backs I want in this month to help improve what we have got, neither Chalobah or Guehi would be that high on my list.
I like both players, don’t get me wrong, and I’d sooner have Guehi over Chalobah. But none of them are really what we genuinely need back there. We need an aggressive, aerially and ground dominant, leader of a centre back with top experience. One with confidence to come in and organise the entire team from the back, is vocal all game whether we are winning or losing, and an all-rounder who is good at defending and passing out from the back.
Niether Chalobah or Guehi tick all of those boxes. Guehi does have leadership qualities and is a solid and decent defender, but he isn’t entirely what we need in my opinion. I do like that he is a current captain though and has good Premier League and international experience.
As I say, I’d not be against the signing Guehi or recalling Chalobah as they are both much better than Axel Disasi and Tosin Adabrabioyo, and I’d pick them both over Benoit Badiashile as well. So in my opinion, they would improve what we already have. But in terms of elevating this squad and pushing us forward back towards challenging at the top again, they aren’t the answer. The only way I’d be content with either of them is if we followed that up with a Dias-like centre back signing as soon as the summer window opens.
Decent options for sure, but far from the best options in my view.