LDN Blue

You're on a football forum, so.. Absolutely

Well I was going to say someone to fill Oscar's void - But looks like the Brazilian is staying. But yeah a striker for me. Costa's eventual retrospective bans will put us in a delicate situation, I hope Michy isn't spending too much time on the bench so when he is called on he'll have no match confidence/fitness.

There's a little French guy playing in Spain, rather good at getting goals, who has the same release clause.........

But you missed my point. What I replied to was the money factor and what seem to see as "reasonable" or whatever. It doesn't matter who it is, the fact that we didn't attempt to go for Stones who Everton let leave without issue who is about £7m more than what we've bid for Koulibaly baffles me. When one was so ready to go, not to mention we would've been in pole position after last season's theatrics with Everton & Stones. I'm sure at some point Napoli will be more willing to sell, but if it doesn't happen this summer then once again the board wasted everyone's time (more specifically those in management of the team) by not going for any alternatives in that time.

It's not hard to imagine it played out exactly like that..

And what do you render reasonable? We got lucky with Kante because he didn't sign any contract extension prior to winning the PL with Leicester which is why it was so easy to get him, but you're quite mistaken if you think that's not a one-off. Can you also say that the £40m that's being rumoured regarding Koulibaly is really more of a bargain than the £7m more City paid for Stones? Most on here don't even know who this kid is, let alone know how he's going to adapt to the league. The reason United & City have received so much credit is because they've done their business early. It's not about how much they paid or who got the best deals, because the long-term ambitions are as clear as day. They're reinforcing in spite of what the market prices are because at the end of the day you need to spend such sums now to have a title winning squad. That's what City and United currently possess, a squad that's got a mix of world-class and very good players. The only world class player we've got right now is Hazard and it would be far too flattering to call the rest 'very good players.'

It's easier to agree with you when good players aren't getting signed day-in-day-out now and we're making no headway. United, as Mourinho does, finished business early.. Identified areas of weakness almost immediately and went a long way to rectify them. They've signed a defender, attacking midfielder, striker and now Pogba. Much like 2014, if you give the managers their targets quickly and efficiently then it makes for better preparation. We're almost approaching our first game of the season and our only first team signing has been Kante. Don't think Michy's going to be starting anytime soon ahead of Costa, hell I'm half expecting Moses to start lol! I worry for this coming season a lot. It's not about spending for the sake of it, it's spending to actually make Chelsea title contenders. I look at rival squads, particularly that of Manchester's and they've bought who/what they needed, whereas we arguably addressed the smallest area of our problems on the pitch. In 3 weeks the transfer week closes and imo we're still 3 players short of where we should be if we're going to challenge. Instead we'll make a panic buy in Lukaku and that'll be all she wrote. Poor Conte lol.

It's okay, when he's made into a DM he'll have loads of spare time #DareToObi

I was thinking 'where do I start with this one', but soon came to the same conclusion.

Seems blown out of proportion.. https://streamable.com/widb

Was there racial abuse? Bloody hope not..

I don't know. I know it's not the best indication of how well a footballer is regarded by seeing who's actually after him, but the fact only AC Milan seem to be in contention for him does say a lot. Isco is one of these players whose continued to be linked abroad for the better part of 2/3 years now and there's not seemed to be any concrete proof he's leaving. Arsenal have always been linked but it's unlikely they're going after any AMs this window with Ozil and Sanchez already occupying these attacking roles. Other than that, I'm yet to see a 'big club' have any interest in him. It's like Ricardo Rodriguez. This forum absolutely loved him during the 2014 World Cup but interest in him outside of his was heavily muted and now he's still Wolfburg without any indication he's on the move. Just continuously linked with Man Utd, but even they don't need him because they have Luke Shaw. So it's a dead rumour.

Inb4 @Tomo replies I don't think the decision to sell Mata was a bad one at all, at the stage we were reaching we needed a different kind of number 10 than Mata is/was. That doesn't excuse the unconscionable treatment he's suffering at the hands of Jose still, but it was understandable at the time to sell him. Now if we'd chosen KDB to be that AM instead of Oscar, no-one would have complained. So it's not so much Oscar over Mata or anything to do with those 2 players period, it's just rather peculiar that Jose is choosing to be so public in his treatment of Mata.

I like to think he's saying that to appease the fans who crave John Terry at Chelsea. It's an absurd statement and if Terry is here in a playing capacity into his 40's then I give up . However I do think he'll be here in a coaching capacity at least. It was JT himself who said his contract states a "different role" when he was offered. Conte attempted to backtrack on this, but it was clear as day at the time what it meant.

While it's all well and good pointing to Mahrez, let's see how he follows up. Leicester will struggle this season, even if they keep Mahrez, so using him as an example isn't really the best. His dazzling form came from nowhere and the same can be said about Willian. But again, no-one's arguing Willian isn't world-class. Of course he's not and yes he's limited in what he can do on the ball in the final third, but to anyone who saw Willian pre-2014 will know that's what you get with him anyway . Average is also harsh, he's very good as @DYC. is making the point of and as such he's useful considering the lack of world-class right wingers in the game let alone available right now!

What's more concerning, if all this Twitter nonsense is true is that we don't seem to have a plan B should we not be able to sort this out. It feels like the whole John Stones debacle all over again where we then sign a random player - designed to be put into our loan-for-profit system - but get forced to believe he's actually signed to compete

I wouldn't bite. He lost when he suggested De Bruyne would still be here, we all know the reason why KdB isn't. However if you care to recall @Vybz Kartel, we signed Salah, Cuadrado, Schurrle, etc all in a bid to find a world class winger on the right. Willian outstayed them all, so what does that tell you?

Ah man, didn't watch the game but to hear what just happened truly does leave a sour taste in one's mouth. Ridiculous from Mou, to prove what point? He's already ousted Schweinsteiger but at least that wasn't so public, if he doesn't want Mata is it really so difficult to oust him to the reserves privately and allow him to go on in a dignified way. I don't know what the agenda is with Mou, there was that infuriating rumour he doesn't like Spaniards after his time at Real (which, imo, is still quite far fetched and ridiculous) but someone's clearly got into his ear about Juan. I hope Mata moves on to a CL club, away from this god forsaken country. He should go somewhere that'll allow him to showcase his talents again, Sevilla or someone like that.

Yeah but that's why I also hope he develops that goal instinct that's been missing from his game. From the Euros and the few pre-season game he's played for us he looks like he's willing to find the back of the net more than another player. Considering you're point that's exactly what need from the Belgian. Who knows where Costa's head is at. Far too much smoke about him wanting to rejoin Atletico without there not to be some fire behind it and if we don't cash in then we need him to be up for the cause, otherwise what's the point? Conte needs to take the Shankley approach, if they don't want to play for Chelsea and all of us then sell them and bring someone who will. The last thing we want is another season of retrospective bans, enough of that pettiness. I like the second-striker position Conte's experimented with him for, but even if he's out wide cutting inside, I hope he'll continue this goal finding form. The runs he was making v Tottenham on the back of last season to do just that was wonderful. If he and Costa can get their chemistry right then we won't have to make Lukaku the fifth most expensive player in the world

Video to Tweets ^

As far as I know, the red is a tribute to the Chelsea Pensioners. So I really didn't mind it to be honest.

I doubt anyone would disagree. Overall consensus is, no-one wants Lukaku

Problem is the cost. Lukaku, if the sale happens, becomes the 4th most expensive player in the world. That mean he's almost an automatic starter

I'm sure it's not that simple. Image rights play a huge part of transfer deals lately, well in the player contract negotiation. I'm sure it's the same with sponsorship deals with kit manufacturers etc.

K, I'll bite.. At £200,000/week you want to sign a bench player? Mate, you can't just think players will automatically walk in and be leaders. This is a new football club he's going to, it's not Bayern, he won't be a leader straight away as you believe so. Not when he's the new guy, coming off a disappointing domestic season. He's got something to prove, should've moved to England years ago.