Chelsea Transfers: Tactical Implications of the Blues Signing Thiago Alcantara

He's wowed the coaching staff at Barcelona for what seems to be a long time, and after a superb showing at the European Under-21 Championships in Israel, Thiago Alcantara is a wanted man. 

The 22-year-old silenced critics who labelled the midfielder as a luxury player with some stunning displays, and he scored a marvellous hat-trick in the 4-2 victory over Italy in the final. 

It appears that the visiting scouts have been taken aback by the highly-rated playmaker's maturity in the Spain midfield, starring alongside fellow wonderkid Asier Illarramendi in the centre of the park. 

But there are a couple of grey areas which fail to explain why Barcelona are seemingly content to let the youngster leave the Camp Nou when he is poised to have a bright future in the game.

A contractual blunder from the Catalan club means Italian-born Thiago can leave for just £15.4 million after failing to reach the minimum amount of games which would consequently raise his release clause to a whopping £90 million.

Despite the array of options in midfield for Tito Vilanova, the young coach will know that the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta will not be available for much longer. To then let a homegrown player with Thiago's calibre and ability leave would be an ill-fated decision.

Why? Putting aside his obvious quality, the fact that his Spanish teammate Isco, who was nicknamed "Golden Boy" for his incredible showings in the tournament this summer, is valued at around £30 million by his club Malaga would suggest a similar fee could be demanded for Thiago.

That has alerted Europe's elite to his availability, with the Daily Mail claiming Manchester United are heading the queue to sign him, while ESPN reports that Chelsea and Manchester City are also chasing the talented box-to-box midfielder, who is the son of Brazil World Cup winner Mazinho.

Signing him for Chelsea would be viewed as something as a coup for Jose Mourinho, considering the other clubs who are also interested. But the Portuguese coach would need to be wary of the events that could transpire if he were to arrive.

Thiago is a midfielder who prefers to drift around the centre of the midfield, and his favoured role is behind the striker in the trequartista slot.

However, we've seen another side to his game which surrounds the defensive aspect of being a midfielder.  It's unusual to view him as a ball-winning midfielder, given his technical ability, attacking position and his general laid-back approach.

But according to the statistics provided by WhoScored.com, Thiago was a key part of Spain's defensive strategy, as well as an aid to the team in the attacking sense. The fact that no player won possession more times in the middle (26) or the attacking third (5) than Thiago suggests the captain played an integral role in Spain's ball retention tactic. 

Of course, possessing that attribute is certainly a positive one, and clubs who have a player in that shape tend to control possession for large periods of the game. On the other hand, statistics on their own do not tell the whole story.

Watching Spain in the Under-21 Championship, you would rarely have seen Spain chasing the ball due to their dominance. But when they did, it was usually Illarramendi who would close down the opposition, with Thiago and Isco picking up the loose ball afterwards.

Mourinho is a manager who demands physicality, work rate and passion from his players. He is not a man who cares for merit, value or how much money a player may cost, and Thiago's attitude perhaps needs to improve if he wants regular football at a club like Chelsea.

After all, the 50-year-old knows that tireless midfielders such as Ramires and John Obi Mikel will chase nonstop, and with a central midfielder, that is what Mourinho would expect.

The problem with Thiago is that his stamina and work rate is of a sufficient level, but not quite the same standard as the Chelsea pair, and inevitably, this would see Ramires favoured as the ball-winning midfielder.

Also, there is the issue surrounding Frank Lampard. A player known to be valued by Mourinho, the 35-year-old has just signed a new one-year deal with the club, and to dislodge him from the starting lineup would be a massive shock.

Of course, as the deep-lying playmaker, it is a role that would suit Thiago immensely. And while the Spain international could be playing there for many years in the future, for now it's Lampard's place to lose.

The only place which could be up for grabs is Juan Mata's playmaker spot. The Spaniard's future has been placed under threat due to Mourinho's arrival, and should the 25-year-old swap London for La Liga, Thiago would be an ideal replacement.

Either way, his arrival would see the Blues play at a slower tempo. Thiago likes to have time on the ball, something of a rarity in the Premier League, and perhaps his occupying position as the spearhead of a midfield three in the 4-3-3 formation would work well for him.

Wherever he plays on the pitch, there is no doubt that Thiago Alcantara can become a success at the club he decides to join.