Chelsea Transfers

[Jype 6,398]

One thing to remember with Saul is that he offers something no current midfielder in the team (or any other player for that matter) does, which is a threat from long range shots.

Kante, Jorginho and Kovacic can't shoot dangerous shots from outside the box if their lives depended on it but Saul has a more than decent scoring record, or at least he did before the 2020/21 season.

[Pizy 18,503]

19 minutes ago, chelsea_4_eva said:

Hopefully our good relationship with Atleti will help us.

Dealing with Atleti won’t be a problem at all. Convincing the player might be trickier. At United he’d be competing with shit players like Fred, Matic, and McTominay so would easily displace all of those. Here he might find game time more difficult to come by.

If we pull it off it’s a very sensible deal, though.

[NikkiCFC 8,066]

4 hours ago, ulvhedin said:

So, current situation with players:

1st team players (Azpi, James, CHO positions are of course fluid):
GK: Mendy, Kepa, Bettinelli
LWB: Chilwell, Alonso
RWB: James, CHO
CB: Rudiger, Zouma, Christensen, Silva, Azpilicueta, Chalobah
CM: Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic
AM/CF: Mount, Lukaku, Havertz, Pulisic, Ziyech, Werner

Out of these players there are still 2 uncertanities: Zouma, Chalobah - of course much depending on Kounde signing. 

Players who might end up with some role with 1st team:
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Ethan Ampadu
Faustino Anjorin

With covid and rumored new CM it's hard to predict what are current status of these 3.

Players who were part of 1st team preparation but wasn't part of the official games and most propably won't be part of 1st team:

Lucas Bergstrom (GK)
Abdul Rahman Baba
Malang Sarr
Jake Clarke-Salter
Dujon Sterling
Davide Zappacosta
Ross Barkley
Danny Drinkwater
Tiemoué Bakayoko
Lewis Baker
Charly Musonda
Ike Ugbo

Out of these players Zappa and Ugbo are basically sold, Bakayoko propably will be loaned out, Bergstrom will propably stay with DEV team. That still leaves us with 8 players that has nothing to do, and with no rumors of any clubs being interested in them (maybe 7 if Musonda is still not match fit).

 

Edit: Emerson is already loaned out

JCS is also loaned. 

[MoroccanBlue 5,320]

27 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Dealing with Atleti won’t be a problem at all. Convincing the player might be trickier. At United he’d be competing with shit players like Fred, Matic, and McTominay so would easily displace all of those. Here he might find game time more difficult to come by.

If we pull it off it’s a very sensible deal, though.

He gets back to form he'd displace Kovacic easily. 

[Nero 1,847]

33 minutes ago, Jype said:

One thing to remember with Saul is that he offers something no current midfielder in the team (or any other player for that matter) does, which is a threat from long range shots.

I remember his "wonder goal" against Bayern. Can Jorginho/Kante/Kovacic score like this? 

 

Edited August 24, 2021 by Patrick Bamford

[Jype 6,398]

13 minutes ago, Patrick Bamford said:

I remember his "wonder goal" against Bayern. Can Jorginho/Kante/Kovacic score like this? 

They probably can't but I don't think Saul has done anything like that in a while either. The clip is from 2016. 😆

Either way, he's better going forward than any of Jorginho/Kante/Kovacic. Could be a great option to have for games against the lower sides because I recall plenty of times we've all been screaming for a more attacking minded option in the midfield two. Playing the likes of Havertz or Mount there isn't really an option because it sacrifices too much in the defensive side of things, but Saul is more than adequate and he has plenty of experience in shutting down opposition having played years in a Simeone team.

I'm all for the signing if it happens. Worst case scenario we lose the loan fee (surely less than 10M) and pay star player wages for the season for someone who only ends up filling the numbers as a squad player, but best case scenario we strike a bargain and get a 26-27yo world class player for a cheap price. The very definition of a low risk -high reward in my books.

[Blues Forever 1,232]

Zouma is very close to joining West Ham. Agreement between the two clubs for an estimated transfer of around €30m. Zouma is very close to reaching an agreement with West Ham on a 5 year contract.

[milka 3,358]

Some say Saul is going to United ahead  of Chelsea 

 

Others say Chelsea are ready to take it and even the offer is on the table

[Pizy 18,503]

34 minutes ago, MoroccanBlue said:

He gets back to form he'd displace Kovacic easily. 

They’re essentially the same player. Saul undoubtedly is better when he gets a sniff in front of goal but in general play they are extremely similar.

 

[Special Juan 27,496]

Romano just confirmed Zouma to WHU is nigh on done, last details and completed 30ME. We are working on official bid for Kounde once the Zouma joins WHU

[Nero 1,847]

Obligation to buy... hard pass for me. There is a reason why Atletico not reluctant to sell Saul

Edited August 24, 2021 by Patrick Bamford

[Pizy 18,503]

Who are some other midfield names that could be a short term loan possibility? 

[Blues Forever 1,232]

 

[Jype 6,398]

23 minutes ago, Patrick Bamford said:

Obligation to buy... hard pass for me. There is a reason why Atletico not reluctant to sell Saul

It only says Atletico would want an obligation to buy, not that they would actually get it.

If there are no takers for a straight transfer or as a loan with buy obligation, they might well be persuaded into accepting a loan with a buy option as long as the loan club pays a good enough loan fee and full wages. We've seen the same many times when dealing with other clubs for players we want to move on, and if no club is willing to agree to the terms Marina wants the terms will be renegotiated.

I don't think it would be a disaster for Atletico to allow for a loan without an obligation. Saul has five years left on his contract so unless he has the worst season of his career he'd still retain his value for a potential sale later on to another club, and with the 'sizeable loan fee' they'd already have got some chunk of profit for him.

That said, if they are holding really firm with the buy obligation I would pass as well. I'm intrigued with the idea of trying Saul in the team to see if he can get back to his best in a new team, but also recognize the risks involved so a loan with an option would be ideal. The worst I would go for is a loan with a conditional obligation to buy if certain performance clauses are triggered (ie. the team winning title/UCL this season or Saul starting a set amount of league games) because if that happens he'd have likely been a success and would probably be bought anyway.

[ZAPHOD2319 4,537]

 

[Blues Forever 1,232]

 

[Fernando 6,496]

2 hours ago, Special Juan said:

Romano just confirmed he is ready to leave Atleti. We opened talks days ago, there is official bid on the table, loan with option to buy.

United in the race in last 24hrs, he's in the list with Camavinga...player is ready to move to the PL

I would love Camavinga but we have so many young players at this moment that Saul a season player will be better for this season. 

That being said I'm surprised Atleti will loan him? What's up with that picture? 

[ZAPHOD2319 4,537]

Loan with an obligation to buy at this point if the reporting is true.