DYC.

I smell a flop.

I'd much rather have him than Manolas. If the Koulibaly transfer doesn't go through, I'd love him. At least as talented for me. And I love saying his first name.

Well, I think I can answer that first question. Sit deep in front of the box, remain compact and contain. The players I've bolded are responsible for the build-up play. It will take ages for them to reach the attacking players, meaning they won't receive the ball in dangerous positions. And they don't provide much of an element of surprise with the ball at their feet. Mostly predictable short passes to the nearest players and back-passes. The fullbacks offer very little going forward as well so all the creative burden falls on the attacking three. And the attacking three are dribblers and ball-carriers, which slows down play. The balance is off.

You know Mikel is going to be Chelsea's longest serving player ever, right? Chelsea and Mikel is a love story for the ages. Regardless of whether he Matic goes or stays, a new midfielder has to join. I'd sell Matic tbh. Not because he's a bad player but because he can command a big fee and isn't necessarily crucial for a new Chelsea. A midfield consisting of Fabregas, Matic and Kante is too light on skill, intelligence on the ball and attacking prowess for me. Take Cesc out, which isn't hard to do, and midfield will struggle. Let's say Nainggolan joins. Sell Matic and buy a big midfield prospect to replace him. But again, it would depend on the money as there is no real need to sell him.

Desperately hoping he'll develop into one of the major candidates to make a claim as third best CB behind the kings Boateng and Hummels and I hope he'll actually want to return. None of the top CBs in football play for Chelsea and all are out of the club's reach. And I hope he's gained weight or is gaining weight. He's not quick and nimble so him being lightweight doesn't help at all. He doesn't have to turn into Hummels but he needs to become more powerful and commanding in duels.

You could very well be right. I'm no expert on Allan but from what I've seen, I think he's a Napoli player. At home at that level. But I could easily be wrong. Fair enough. But he was also dropped. I'm not saying that says a lot but it says something. I think he'll do fine though and I hope he'll do great.

I'd love em all in Chelsea Blue. Morata doesn't seem to be going anywhere so if Conte still wants a striker, I'd go for Laca. Better than Morata and I've always wanted him at the club. Fabregas, Kante, Matic, Tolisso, Neves, Loftus-Cheek. I'm salivating at the thought of that.

Good signing. Energy, athleticism (speed!) and defensively solidity were all sorely lacking in midfield and Kante provides those qualities. Question remains whether he'll still be such a defensive force in midfield in a far more dominant team and having to deal with less support. I think he'll do just fine but at worst he's a very solid defensive midfielder. Michy and Kante are good signings but far from enough. A centreback, a fullback and a centre midfielder are still highly necessary imo. Made up a 5 man list a while back and Chelsea actually signed two out of five. Koulibaly, R. Rodriguez, Kante, Nainggolan, Batshuayi. Read Rodriguez is available for 25 mil. He's easily worth whatever gamble is involved for that price. Worst case scenario is he flops and you sell him for the same price or for a bit less because of his age and experience in the Bundesliga and for Switzerland. And if not Radja, try Matuidi. If that doesn't work as well, give that Joao Mario guy a try I guess. I'd prefer Lyon's Tolisso, absolute gem.

In English. Well done, sir.

Some transfer fees still make sense. Excellent business from Barcelona with the Umtiti purchase. At least as talented as Stones (60 mil), Laporte (40-50 mil) and Marquinhos (40 mil+) but so much cheaper at 25 mil. Astute business from Juve yet again. Loan for 3 mil with an option to buy for 17 mil. You'd think Arsenal and Utd would be all over Benatia but instead he's joining Juve as a stand-in. Crazy but maybe they weren't willing to invest in a player with a dodgy fitness record or maybe he only wanted to return to Italy. Wouldn't even have minded him at Chelsea tbh. Ibe to Bournemouth for 18 mil (!). I wonder how much the likes Baker, Loftus-Cheek, Solanke etc. would bring up. Chelsea need to get some of this funny money as well.

One of Napoli's top players joining Everton makes no sense whatsoever. I don't care how much money is involved. A high profile club capable of challenging for trophies will always trump money (excluding the extreme of course). I don't know why things have gone so quiet but I really do hope he ends up joining. The only attainable and ready to perform alternatives I can think of are Dortmund's Sokratis and Valencia's Mustafi. The likes of Stones and Marquinhos have potential but need time to master the craft. Van Dijk would make an interesting gamble but it's probably best to see how he performs in his second season. But then again, I thought the same of Alderweireld and he did very well for Spurs (think the praise he received was a bit much though). Besides, he lacks the athleticism I'd like to see in a new CB purchase.

Ramires if he drank his milk and ate his vegetables. Ramires was exactly the same with those rare performances here and there in which he would be an absolute menace. But most of the time he'll frustrate for the most part. Doesn't cut it as a centre midfielder so you end up using him as a winger as some kind of tactical ploy (to mark an opposition player or to provide support to the right fullback). Would I take him? Why not... it's not the worst idea. But I don't really see the point of with Hazard, Willian, Pedro, Cuadrado (Traore and Kenedy as well) in the team. Moussa himself is better off joining a team like Southampton or Everton and play a big role for him his team. Very good last night though. That turn in the box in the first half was brilliant. Too bad he didn't smash it in.

Morata has played for two of the biggest clubs of the world but he was a back-up and rotation option for both those clubs, which is a testament to his quality. He has scored goals in big games but that doesn't mean much when you don't score regularly imo. Ideally, you want a striker who scores in both 'small' and big games but as a top side you play a dozen genuine big games in a 45-60 games season. He did become Spain's starting this summer but that's basically by default though. His competition is Costa, who has been joke for Spain really and Aduriz, a 35-year-old poacher with a limited skill set. Then there's the likes of Torres and Paco but the lesser said about them, the better. I don't have a problem with the fee but I just don't get it. And I can't help but smell desperation and I'm sure Real smell it too. Because I wonder what other clubs are so willing to pay 50 mil+ for him? Utd? Nope. City? Don't think so? Arsenal? Haha. Or is Chelsea competing with the likes of Crystal Palace and West Ham?

Completely different cases. Morata doesn't possess Gudjohnsen's technique and vision, let alone Bergkamp, a player who lifted the level of his entire team. Morata is a Torres-type striker without the goal-scoring touch, at least not yet. If spending ridiculous money on Morata doesn't mean a lack of reinforcements in midfield and defence (and offloading Costa) I'm all for this. How he commands such a fee and how any club would be willing to pay that fee I will never understand. Up there with the Sterling transfer or the infamous Stones valuation.

Koulibaly R. Rodriguez Kante Nainggolan Batshuayi

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Must be the only one who likes it when a player is actually saying what's on his mind. The political correctness and soulles robots bore me to tears, which is why I haven't watched player interviews in a looong time.

I've seen similar things said and I don't understand it. Radja and Kante are different type of players. Radja is a true box-to-box player, offering qualities both offensively and defensively. Kante covers a lot of ground but is a defensive player, excelling at winning the ball. He doesn't offer much going forward and in the attacking third though because of his average technique and lack of vision. Both Kante and Radja should be targets this summer imo. Kante as a holding midfielder and Radja further forward with Cesc. If not them, alternatives with the same profile.

Exactly. And since that isn't happening, I can only hope these are mere rumours. The stupidity of this potential move (Diego out, Morata in) is actually riling me up. Chelsea aren't in a position for a cute experiment like this, placing such faith in young and unproven strikers. Finishing outside the top 4 again could turn out to be catastrophic. Costa is the only, literally the only, consistent source of goals in the entire team. If you sell him, you better bring in someone who is better or at least as good. Selling Costa for 40 mil and buying Morata for 50 mil would be a joke as well. Go fix areas that acutally need fixing and leave the striker situation as it is (for now).

He's got potential. But he's nowhere near a £40 mil striker at the moment (that's the fee I last remember reading). He's big, fast and possesses decent strength. He has a bit of a young Torres about him (bar the finishing of the Torres of old). Very direct style of playing and likes to run at players with the ball at his feet. His skill is decent and he's decent in the air as well. Not very intelligent in his movement and decision-making and his finishing is mehh. He was a back-up and impact sub at both Madrid and Juventus. He could become a very good striker but I personally have doubts about him. I think young strikers like Batshuayi, Icardi, Origi, Embolo are easily as talented and I rate strikers like Kane, Martial and Lacazette higher.

I'll be his best friend forever if he adds Zola to the staff.

Looking at the links and what not, Koulibaly, Ricardo Rodriguez (can't pass that opportunity up for 25 mil euro), Kante, Radja, Batshuayi would be great. GK: Courtois, Begovic (HG), Amelia DEF: Koulibaly, Christensen (U-21), Terry (HG), Cahill (HG), Zouma; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic; Rodriguez, Kenedy (U-21) MID: Kante, Ake (HG); Fabregas (HG), Nainggolan, Matic, Loftus-Cheek (U-21), Baker (HG) ATT: Costa, Batshuayi, Traore (U-21); Hazard, Willian, Cuadrado/Pedro, Boga (U-21)

Chelsea's aerial game improving with Alex in for Carvalho... come on, Tomo. My pet kangaroo could tell you that. Still think you're exaggerating. I just checked WhoScored and while their ratings aren't gospel (not at all), he scored a 7.16 compared to Terry's 7.24 in 09/10. Just saying. Tactical defenders usually score on the low side. Riccy was never below average for me. We'll never agree on this. I'll say it again, he'd never have joined Real if that was the case. I remember him impressing immensely for Real in his first season as well. But after that year his fitness went downhill.

Morata is a good prospect. But he's still very much a developing player. Describing him as hot and cold would be generous as he's mostly cold. Great impact sub though. £40 mil is a massive fee. Expectations would be high. It's better than paying 60 mil for Lukaku though. Rom is further in his development but I think Morata has the heigher ceiling because of his superior technique and mobility. But I'm not sure whether Morata is a true world-class prospect. He's almost 24 and he has a lot to learn from a tactical perspective.and he's far from refined technically. There's a reason why Real are (apparently) looking to sell a Madrid-born youth product. But players like Suarez and Aubameyang prove players can still book a lot of progression at relatively late stage of their development though. So it can go either way. As long as possibly spending so heavily on Morata won't affect strengthening actual key areas I support this signing.

What? Seriously disagree with you there, Tomo. Carvalho was never a liability. A 32-year-old liability joining Real Madrid after 09/10 doesn't make sense either. His fitness was waning though. Alex was fantastic, yeah. But he was very underrated and still is. Comfortably better than Cahill and Luiz.