Chelsea midfielder next? Thierry Henry completes first major Monaco signing

Thierry Henry has completed his first major signing as Monaco manager, bringing Brazilian defender Naldo from FC Schalke.

Naldo joined Schalke in 2016 and leaves having made 80 appearances for the club during that time, joining 18-year-0ld South African striker Lyle Foster, signed from Orlando Pirates, as the new arrivals at the Principality.

Will Fabregas be following Naldo to Monaco? Five key things to know…

1. Naldo becomes Henry’s first major signing at Monaco, after bringing 18-year-0ld Lyle Foster from Orlando Pirates.
2. No defender scored more goals than Naldo (seven) in Europe’s top five leagues last season.
3. Recent reports suggest that Henry is also looking to reunite with Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, with the two playing together at Arsenal between 2003 and 2007.
4. Maurizio Sarri is only happy losing Fabregas if he can sign a replacement in his position.
5. However, it is thought that Fabregas’ friendship with Henry, as well as his thirst for first-team football, will leave Sarri powerless to stop a potential move.

The former Wolfsburg man won the second-most aerial duels (167) and made the second-most clearances (193) in the Bundesliga last season, while his seven Bundesliga goals last season was the highest of any defender in Europe’s top five leagues.

36-year-old Naldo leaves Schalke for a reported €1.2m fee and said (via the club’s Twitter page): “I will always have fond and fantastic memories of my two and a half years at Schalke, including some big moments.”

DONE DEAL: Naldo has joined @AS_Monaco from Schalke 04 for a reported fee of €1.2m. pic.twitter.com/1vovKJT3sj

— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) January 3, 2019

Monaco vice president, Vadim Vasilyev, believes Naldo’s leadership and experience can help steer the club out of danger.

He told the club’s official website: “Welcome to Naldo, a defender with great experience at the highest level and noted for his leadership qualities. We are convinced that his profile will be an important asset in our desire to rapidly strengthen the workforce.”

Naldo joins Henry; Fabregas next?

With Monaco languishing in 19th in the Ligue 1 table, Henry is understandably keen to reinforce his squad and keep the 2016/17 title-winners in the French top flight.

And one name that has been banded around as a potential January recruit is Chelsea midfielder, Cesc Fabregas, who has only started one Premier League game all season.

Henry played with Fabregas at Arsenal between 2003 and 2007, and reports suggest that the two could be reunited once again in France.

However, Maurizio Sarri has stressed that he will only let the Spain international leave if he can sign a replacement, seeing Fabregas as the only viable back-up to Jorginho in the deep-lying midfield role.

“In this position, we have only two players, Jorginho and Fabregas, so for me, it would be really a problem without Cesc,” Sarri said.

“I want him to stay, I don’t know the final decision of Cesc and the club of course.

“But for me, it’s very important and if Cesc will go I think that we need to buy another player, and it’s not easy because, technically, Cesc is a very important player.

“And I think that in the market it’s very difficult to find a player with his characteristics.”

The Evening Standard, however, reckon that Henry and Fabregas’ friendship will mean Sarri is powerless to stop the midfielder leaving Chelsea as he seeks more first-team football.

The post Naldo becomes Henry’s first major Monaco signing amid reports Fabregas will follow appeared first on Squawka News.

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