Vegetable

Blandest game from City against us since a long time

I don't like our players injured, but I have nothing against Potter being forced to play youth if he is not keen doing it by will.

We've been in this place where physical staff was totally neglected/incopetent, what resulted in ridiculous number of muscle injuries. If this is starting again, it must be mitigated asap, otherwise we are done.

This smells of prime Lampard. Hospital all the way.

Dunno, but I always thought point of buying wonderkids is because they are rough but promising you get them young and reasonably priced. If we have 130 mil to burn painlessly and expect immediate effect, maybe it's better to take a part of this sum and call De Bruyne whether he didn't left anything in the locker room at Cobham?

Respect to disagree Are we even sure this is what happened? There were reports of him being offered pay rise he declined like 4 days before being supposedly done deal and even when it supposedly collapsed for the first time it was reported "Collapsed, but Benfica still open for a new offer" so only thing I know is english-speaking sources know shit and as much as Benfica has right to pull out, Boehly also had right to change his mind and come up with more reasonable offer, take it or leave it 100% agree on this, but that's what business risk is. Take lower prize or gamble and win or lose. A lot can happen in half of season. I'm mainly concerned because PSG, Real and so on are doing better business than us and if they were 100% sold on him, they would go for him now. If they decide to gamble and wait, they have a reason or different approach to risk assessment. And actually yes, I see him as a fringe player. If I knew he can deliver season to season in top 4 league, I'd have a completely different approach. You don't always get what you want, either cash or players, that's life in all it's glory

Apparently they are holding the talks on the main square in Lisboa and provide live coverage to all interested 16 years old journalists on Twitter, just like every football transfer works. To add, both sides are so "mad" and "disrespected" they will finish off with a gun duel on the same square in two days.

I do support our new ownership, but if I only find out they've used profanities in the meeting room and missed the church on sunday, I'm out! Like seriously, this is getting straight ridiculous, when our own fans are fuming with the board because they dare to negotiate instead of shutting up and stuffing truckloads of cash into whoever's demands mouth 😆 If all this twitter drama is clickbait, than our board is a fool for not having a PR team in place. If it's deliberate leak by Benfica, then the sole asspain is worth this whole ordeal. Can only speak for myself, but I'd say because it's insanity to pay 127 million Euro for an unproven player who played 8 decent WC games, and in six months time can be worth twice the current price or 1/5th of it. I see Havertz, Pepe, Werner, Zyiech, Sancho, Ndombele and bunch of more taught fans nothing. It does - it only shows how far away from the realm of reasonability this sum is. I'm not really sure if You are replying directly to me, as my opinion seem to be opposite of what most of people here think, but anyway. Again, Benfica is a club that needs to flip players, like 99% of clubs and I see zero offence in this. It's Benfica's right to put up ridiculous pricetag on players, Boehly's right to take it with a smile and offer what he sees more fit and Benfica's right again to take it or decline and again I see no drama in it. Don't get what's the whole "disrespect", big club, small club emotionality is about - that's how transfer market work. Benfica would be fools not to try to capitalize on current situation, but Boehly would be just as foolish and desperate to fall for it. For one final time, I just can't get why people went absolute apeshit for a player they didn't know existed two months ago and demand to overpay few times for him, especially given there is no Madrid, City and PSG in line, just two sides of negotiation. He does great for Benfica, but for any other club he is a total gamble.

Don't really understand what are You trying to prove - I am just as informed as Transfermarkt is, don't know any more credible source. As I said, I have zero problem with Benfica not willing to sell nor any other business decisions they make. Actually, I'd say I'm highly skeptical of paying more than his 55 milion TM valuation and has zero problem with deal being off, the only problem I have is people getting riled up here, because our board is reluctant to throw 130 million (which is like 1/3 of his entire team's valuation) for a player with zero track record in European top football, as my memory lasts longer than 14 days and I've seen tens of transfers of wonderkids, exceling for a season in their home clubs, including such transfers done by Chelsea, and I know it ends with nothing good more often, than not. If the deal can't be secured on reasonable terms, too bad.

I can't get rid of the feeling that people holding actual negotations give less shit about this whole operation, than some people, who got agitated by some twitter drama with zero reliability account here.

And his numbers, compared to Enzo's + two years of playing in Europe make it look much more safe and reasonable deal. Is unproven player worth twice the price?

Bad faith? Probably not, financially delusional, probably yes. Sport matters aside, can't deny selling guy for 127 million euro would be insanely good business for Benfica (yet hardly realistic) and not so great for the buyer. Your previous record transfer was 80 mil, next one 16 mil, so is Enzo really worth 130? And I dare to say that club that needs to flip players to support it's functioning isn't in position to turn their back on sum of either 127, 120 or even 80 million. Someone decided to take a gamble, keep him in the team and try to sell him for a heftier sum in the summer, again, I see not much problem in this except for people bashing Boehly for not turning his head down and pay whatever is demanded from him and then some.

Thing is, Your perspective is full of emotions, whereas there just isn't a place for them. High value business is often done with people you absolutely despise, yet have to smile and go on, because in the end it's all about money. Unless you are someone in position of De Laurentis, being angry, offended, lied to or whatever doesn't really matter - if he'd sell in summer for 80 instead of accepting 85 now just to be petty that's still 5 million + inflation + players wages loss and in some countries he would have a public prosecutor on his back for this. Stick has two ends - Enzo is hot and probably in his peak value after WC. Waiting is a risk, there can be a bidding war for 200 in the summer or he can be long forgotten by then and sold for 30. Is this risk worth it, each to their own mind.

So what is the problem in particular here? That Chelsea tried to buy a player or that Costa already thought he mugged Boehly and counted money in his mind, when the London team had flipped the table and it fell apart? Benfica don't want to sell, no other club want to buy, so no harm done to anyone I guess. Thousands of transfers fell apart this way and thousands more will. The bold part sounds like a very common happening in football and, be it good or bad, mostly works, as the team can't do shit with a player who doesn't want to play there.

Just a sidenote, but if You are guys shaken by the fact, that someone promised to pay asking price and then started to negotiate better terms and think this is some scandalous, dishonorable move (whereas it pretty much how negotation process works), better not even let your mind wander to think of how and what kind business did Abramovitch conduct throught his entire live…

You really do rate this guy like he had 10 ballon d'ors under his belt, don't you? I pointed it out yesterday, the clause is 120 mil, wich is ridiculous, we could pay & go or negotiate, but negotiating OVER this clause would be just crazy of a bad deal. The clause worth in installments would be the absolute max of what Chelsea could reasonably do and it would be a borderline bad business. It's really not like Benfica is in position of endless power here - club of this size lives of selling players and there is, I repeat, ZERO interest from other clubs on this guy, so it's basic business they put up more realistic proposition. Benfica can take it or leave, no harm done. Business. That's how transfer market works, sorry. Actually, I couldn't care less for Benfica selling him or not, the clause is so ridiculously high to prevent it I guess. The only outrage I have is some people here crying for us to 10 times guys worth and, if any of the reports are true, tolerate some weird tantrums, when the right time to walk away from the deal was like yesterday's morning already. Some of you guys are bringing up some knight-code matters of honor and dignity, whereas there is just normal business operation being done, somehow apparently livestreamed to dummy twitter reporters, lol. No one is kept at the table by force, either they sell or not, either we buy or not, end of story.

It indeed has a pricetag and I know no person alive who actually paid this sum. Also, I have no big doubts that Liverpool would get this guy for 27 mil, not 127 and Benfica would also include flowers and chocolates in the deal.

Sorry to lay it down to you, but he is a businessman and billionaire because he is NOT stupid. This is how business work - asking prices are asking prices and reality is reality. Ever tried to buy a house or car from someone? There is literally no interest for other clubs, Benfica is clearly playing hardball on us, he would be idiot paying 127 million for player, who literally didn't exist in November, from team that isn't even worth this much as a whole company. They don't want to sell, they can fuck off and try their luck somewhere else, that's how it works. And expecting someone to pay LEAGUE RECORD for some random just because he got twitter hype after wc is ridiculous - after 15 or so years I see that kind of fans we were ridiculed for when Roman took over actually exist.

Again, the same gripe I had with TB when he took over - he either has a plug in team or is very naive. I know no other serious team, that allows it's transfer activity to be a media reality show for days and it all comes to letting ourselves be humiliated. Maybe less, than with Raphinia circus, but still. It should be said clearly in the beginning - if something leaks, the deal is over. And now we are apparently hanging on the thumb up from some Don Corleone Rui Costa as he would have much to say here, because he is offended we freaking dare to negotiate for his rando fella. Some of you guys must be taking a piss here. 120 million is a shitload of money. Bohely would be far better off adding another 50 and buying entire Benfica as a feeder club, because that's whats they are actually worth, now just trying to capitalize on havoc freaking Real Madrid caused by paying 50 milion euro for literal children. Maybe some of you are young and think money is some fifa coins with no reflection on economy as a whole, but just look what kind of players 100 milion gives to other teams and what it brings us. This must stop and Bohely has my back if he is assertive. Plus, an honest question to those most agitated with Bohely out, who think we neeeeedd Enzo as they apparently have him mixed up with prime Zidane and think that if we will put him in the plane in next 30 minutes, we will batter City today: Were you guys even aware of this fella existence like 60 days ago, not to mention him being key player to rebuild Chelsea as it stands? Just chill, this is a story like tens of others we've had, that drags for way too long, you just letting yourselves to be fired up by clickbait.

Oh don't worry, being crybabies is part of negotiation as well. Funny to see people stoked like kindergarten kids when normal business being conducted. No, noone will pay 130 million for some one hit wonder because "they made his head crazy", get real or get out.

I wonder what does the dressing room thinks of it. The supposed fall apart of some players with Tuchel was caused by lack of rotation, yet nothing changed in this departament. I know we managed to reduce the dressing room to mostly people who hardly care for anything bar paycheck, but are they able to actually respect GP? Especially given his pressers of "it's difficult, it's hard, we don't deserved, we are worried, we are suffering". Can't shake off the feeling that if we'd still have Broccolihead on books, there would already be a prime shithousery going on there.

Geez, 90% of stuff he says in the pressers is straight off criminal. Juxtapose with TB's "exciting project" spiel and it all comes to WTF. Most nonamerican appointment possible by TB and opposite of mentality we need to impose here.

I understand the frustration, but the immaturity of some people here calling owner names, because after overpaying for everyone previous window he is not turbo keen on paying Belingham sort of money for an half-anonymous fella, who did well in 8 WC games is beyond me. We often say the board doesn't seem to learn, but some people aren't better. Not long since another Fernandes guy from Benfica was supposed to be worth all the money in the world to save us and now he is fighting for his place in Besikatas, just like most of those world saviours from year ago, who can't make bench in much worse teams now. I was literally abused when I was questioning who the hell is Raphinia, as he is certainly no Hazard, yet people were more then desperate with fact that he would change our team. Didn't change Barcelona too much so far, eh? Enzo has a talent and right profile, but we need to be reasonable with transfers and seriously, he isn't making the team 5 times better the minute he leaves the plane.

Cristiano Ronaldo mixes up South Africa and Saudi Arabia after Al Nassr move Ronaldo apparently didn't look at the map too closely before move, what a madman

I know we watch this like a TV sitcom, but from reasonability standpoint - even IF sides decide to leak something for a handicap, they will leak it to someone they have connection with, just like in real world, not provide live negotiation coverage to some random children on Twitter on other side of the world. It's all either clickbait or pure speculation, based on other speculation and rewriting reliable sources, who also somewhat speculate.