Why Chelsea must tie up Gary Cahill with a new deal

Brazilian international David Luiz finished the 2012-13 Premier League season as one of the league’s top defenders and a certain star to watch in the year ahead. Yet the only watching that the defender-cum-midfielder has been involved in is his own; forced to watch as veteran John Terry and underrated star Gary Cahill have become regulars at the back for Chelsea this year — consigning Luiz to the sidelines and down to third in Jose Mourinho’s central defensive pecking order.

Despite being one of the most controversial managers in the game, there’s no doubt that Jose Mourinho’s rewards have merit, and that Cahill has earned his spot in Chelsea’s starting team this year. The Englishman’s improving combination of pace and strength at the back has allowed Chelsea to continue their reputation as one of the strongest defensive teams in the league, and has become a vital element in the Blues’ surge towards the top of the table.

So much so, in fact, that talk of a new deal has begun to emerge for the 28-year-old, who is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2017, according to the Daily Mirror. And despite the fact that a new deal would be more symbolic than anything else — given the length that he is still under contract at the club for — it’s still one that the Blues would be wise to make this summer, ensuring they hold on to one of the more underrated defenders in England.

Only once this season has Cahill delivered a sub-zero Defensive Score (in the 3-2 defeat to Stoke City) with his Total Performance Score the fourth-highest at the club so far this year. Between he and Terry (who is unsurprisingly ranked with the second-highest Performance Score), the duo have formed a dynamic partnership and have ensured that the likes of Luis Suarez, Alvaro Negredo, Robin van Persie, Olivier Giroud and Wayne Rooney have all gone goalless in their respective encounters against the West Londoners.

Cahill is a strong tackler (winning above 50 percent of his tackles attempted) but has shown to be incredibly effective in the air, where he’s won 72 percent of his aerial duels attempted. Over the course of a season, the 28-year-old has averaged eight defensive actions per game (second behind Terry with nine) and has solidified his spot in the Blues’ starting team.

What Cahill is most, though, is reliable. Mourinho knows that he can start the Englishman and assume solidity at the back, and he’s been proven correct so far this season. While Luiz can be more of a match-winner with his determined forward runs, the Brazilian can also be a bit haphazard in defense and that’s cost the Blues from time to time.

Cahill offers composure and solidity, and those two strengths have made him such a pertinent part of Chelsea’s squad that they can ill-afford to lose him any time in the near future.

Especially with Luiz continuing to be linked with a move away every single transfer window and Terry not getting any younger, keeping Cahill for the long-term could be huge for the Blues if they are to continue their long-term assault on the Premier League title.