Chelsea have been warned why it could be a mistake to allow Thiago Silva to leave the club.

It was announced earlier this week that Silva would be leaving Stamford Bridge this summer when his contract expires. The 39-year-old has been with the Blues since signing as a free agent in 2020 after leaving Paris Saint-Germain and went on to win the Champions League in his first season with the club.

Silva sustained an injury during his appearance during Chelsea's draw with Aston Villa on Sunday. The Blues will hope that the centre-back returns before the end of the season, but if not it could prove to be his final appearance for the club.

Chelsea currently have seven recognised centre-backs in their squad including Silva. The Blues also have Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi, Trevoh Chalobah and Malang Sarr, and now it remains to be seen if the club play to replace Silva in the transfer market this summer.

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However, Chelsea have been warned by Owen Hargreaves why they would be wise to keep Silva at the club beyond this summer. The former Manchester United midfielder believes Silva's experience would be beneficial to the other players in the squad.

“Chelsea should keep him [Silva] on,” Hargreaves told Premier League Productions. “I think they should. The reason why they are struggling this season is because they have no leaders. No experienced players.

“They need more, not less of them! [Silva] won the Champions League and has been one of the best centre-backs of all time, to mentor all those brilliant young centre-backs they have. [Levi] Colwill, [Benoit] Badiashile and [Axel] Disasi.

“Those guys are priceless in the dressing room to have. A guy like Thiago Silva, who has been there and done it, he doesn’t fold in the big moments.

"He can still play. It’s so important to have mentors when you come through – that guy would be the best mentor ever.”