Chelsea Transfers

[Vesper 28,769]

17 minutes ago, King Kante said:

Not a fan of Sterling but he he does graft which is important for our type of play, otherwise you have a Lukaku situation where the player just stands around (which you can only get away with if your peak Hazard on the ball.) 

That said, of all the City players who are a possibility Jesus is the one I would want as he is the type of CF we actually need rather than the type people imagine we need. 

if we signed Dembele, Sterling, Jesus, Koulibaly, Gvardiol, one LB (Borna Sosa or David Raum), plus RB Djed Spence I will do a fucking naked jig on Hornsgatan

I do not see (assuming we miss out on Tchou) how we address DMF this summer, and IF we did all above, I doubt the money is there for Nkunku

[Blues Forever 1,232]

 

[Pizy 18,368]

Gvardiol has probably the most impressive YouTube highlights I’ve seen of any CB in recent years. He’s got the exact same sort of aggression and force that Rüdiger has but then has ridiculous skills on the ball as well. He looks as good as an attacking midfielder in possession.

He’s picture perfect as a Toni replacement. Really hope we get him. He’s the sort of profile that Pep or Klopp would sign for sure, so we need to move this summer while those sides don’t need another CB.

[Superblue 6,370]

If Kounde and Gvardiol end up being the two main centre back targets we are getting a much younger profile of player, especially considering the age profile of some of the players most expect us to rebuild around.

It could be the start of a more patient building plan with a longer term in mind.

[chelsea_4_eva 1,157]

Also given their age, playing along side Thiago Silva will surely help them improve.

[DDA 9,690]

This Gvardiol fella looks unreal. Yes please.

 

[Superblue 6,370]

Regarding Sterling I think he'd potentially be an excellent signing, the main reason being the way he has been drilled by pep the last few years to attack the goal and especially the back post. 

In the wing back formation someone whether it's the attackers or the wing back should always be attacking the back post and its something our players don't seem to do well enough. Our players prefer to drift wide where there's more space whereas Sterling has a knack of staying on the fringes of a game then suddenly come alive when an opportunity arises.

With the way we play I think we'd benefit so much from a player capable of doing so and there would probably be a fair few 'easy' goals available to them. He isn't the best player but he could be a very good fit.

[milka 3,344]

Aurélien Tchouaméni has signed for Real Madrid on a 5 year contract. The transfer would be around €80million plus bonuses. 

The one of our targets is gone .

[Blues Forever 1,232]

Aurelien Tchouameni has chosen Real Madrid. Transfer will cost €80m + add-ons.

Tchouameni has already announced to his Monaco team mates about his decision.

Edited May 24, 2022 by Blues Forever

[OhForAGreavsie 5,890]

5 minutes ago, Blues Forever said:

Aurelien Tchouameni has chosen Real Madrid. Transfer will cost €80m + add-ons.

There's a shock!

[Vesper 28,769]

40 minutes ago, milka said:

Aurélien Tchouaméni has signed for Real Madrid on a 5 year contract. The transfer would be around €80million plus bonuses. 

The one of our targets is gone .

and West Ham have went full bonkers and want £150m for Rice, so that is not happening

Boubacar Kamara is off to Villa

so the top 3 DMF targets are washed

 

more on Rice

 

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/declan-rice-transfer-manutd-Chelsea-27031825

Declan Rice won’t quit West Ham this summer despite massive interest in him from Manchester United.

The 23-year-old’s refusal to sign new terms at the London Stadium has thrown his future into doubt. But Mirror Football understands there is no great desire from the player for him to quit the Hammers ahead of a season which will be busy enough with the World Cup in Qatar in November.

United have made Rice one of their top targets as Erik ten Hag looks to start his overhaul of the playing squad at Old Trafford. However, the player is understood to be willing to give West Ham another season before looking to make the move to one of the Premier League ’s really big boys.

Boss David Moyes and co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold have been adamant that Rice would not be for sale this summer and there is a growing feeling around the club that the player is on the same page.

Rice himself recently hinted he was ready to rebuff approaches from elsewhere, with his full focus remaining on ‘going again’ after suffering Europa League heartache at the semi-final stage. "We've proved that we can play in big European games and our fans and our stadium have shown we can handle those big European nights, and that's what we want more of,” he said earlier this month.

"I'm proud of the lads because we're not the biggest of squads, so to go week in, week out again and again and again, training and playing Thursdays and Sundays, away from home and away from families has been tough, but in the end we've had a great year and we're ready to go again.”

[Pizy 18,368]

Well at least it’s not Liverpool. 

I guess now unless we get creative we’ll be sticking with Kante and J5 again next season. Should we try for Bissouma? He’s a beast and maybe the closest thing to Kante out there in terms of playing style. Premier League ready and wouldn’t cost mega money.

[Superblue 6,370]

38 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Well at least it’s not Liverpool. 

I guess now unless we get creative we’ll be sticking with Kante and J5 again next season. Should we try for Bissouma? He’s a beast and maybe the closest thing to Kante out there in terms of playing style. Premier League ready and wouldn’t cost mega money.

I'd be willing to take a punt on Bissouma making the step up but his current legal situation would make me assume no one would be willing to risk buying him currently with that hanging over him.

Ironically I think he has a year left now so if he doesn't move this summer he could be a great pickup on a free.

[King Kante 1,474]

I honestly don't see a need for a out and out DM if we continue with 3atb. For sure, we need to freshen up CM, but unless you're getting a Rice calibre player, then I don't see the need. 

For me, in a 3atb system, you really need No.6 types rather than No.4 types as otherwise it can quickly end up with 4 back the whole time and we already don't score enough. 

Personally, I have very high hopes for Gallagher. I think he'll slot in nicely here as he can take 25-30 games which means we can wrap Kante in cotton wool and wheel him out when needed and not continue to run him into the ground. Now don't get me wrong, that still isn't perfect but with the other issues we face it is secondary. 

I say this as the following issues at:

CB

CF

The lack of goals from AM

The depth issues at WB

As a result, a big name CM or DM is a long way down the list; especially as we need to get real and acknowledge that we aren't going out and buying 6+ players for mega money i.e. £35m+. 

At this point, the absolute priority is that we get at least one decent CB. If we don't get that, then regardless of other players in other areas we're going to be in for a rough ride. That means premium dollar being spent here. Gvardiol looks decent and I think he is someone who could transition to the PL, however I do have a worry about Bundesliga CB's transitioning to the PL.

After that Colwill is also someone I have faith in, maybe not for 50+ games but certainly for 20+. There really isn't a need to see another young boy with potential go elsewhere yet again so I want him back in the squad next year and given an opportunity.

Obviously in an ideal world we would get 2 CB's that are ready to replace Rudi/AC but equally I really don't want to be spunking £30m+ plus on someone who gets called a dreg after 6 mouths again. There is part of me that thinks owing to circumstances we should just go for Romagnoli as a low risk option as long as his contract demands aren't too much while that would allow Dave to leave as it appears he wants to do so. 

Then we come to WB, which for me, is actually a major, major concern. I have been one of Alonso's biggest supporters down the years but his legs have lost a yard of pace he already didn't have. For sure, Emerson can come back but let's face facts. There is a reason Alonso got picked ahead of him whenever he got more than 2 games to show what he is about.

Then we come to Chilwell, who we have absolutely no idea about what condition he is going to return in. Now I do not want this to come across as being uncaring (especially as I know personally what depression is like) but Chilwell's injury concerns me more from his mental position than his ACL.

At the start of last season he didn't start pretty much due to him being depressed about what happened with England, his form dropped off massively at Leicester in his last five-six months due to him admitting mental health issues and in general in his first 18 months he was up and down with his performance levels (which I think was mentally adjusting to playing for a club like Chelsea.) As a result, I have major worries that an ACL that cut him down, especially when he was flying, is going to have had a big impact on him. That is also before we get to the implications of a ACL on a player with his running style and reliance on pace. 

That leads me to think we need to get someone like Cucurealla. However that would require a sizable fee which won't be offset by Alonso and Emerson going. Gaya only has a year left at Valencia and is someone that I think we maybe should also look at. Either way, I think we're going to have to do something at LWB/LB and not just pray Chilwell is ok and that Emerson can string some form together. 

Then we come to RWB. James is obviously No.1 but what do we have behind that? Not much, especially if Dave leaves. Now there may be a case for Sterling but that is a risk, however equally I am not sure we can persuade anyone more than half decent to sit behind him, unless we pay through the nose. 

CF is a position I don't even know where to start. Lukaku was obviously always a disaster to anyone that knows about football and now we're lumbered with him. Kai, I think will have a big season next year but we still require more options. There is of course Broja but after thinking about it more, I do not think I have seen a CF benefit from sitting on the bench too much. Hence, I am leaning towards him having another year at Soton or somewhere else in the PL. However, that places all our hopes on Kai, which is too much risk. Personally, I would really like Jesus as I think he could slot in nicely, even if I don't think he is great, but I cannot see him coming here to take up a position that far divorced from the one he has at City. CF for me is a conundrum but whatever happens I don't want to see Lukaku taking up too many minutes. 

Lastly there is AM. On one hand, I actually don't mind all of our AM's individually but as a unit they just don't work. That means we need to get one in to mix things up and sell one or two so not to have too many bodies. Dembele has been linked but I am not keen on him as he is injury prone and he strikes me as someone that only turns up when he knows he needs a new contract, not sure we need to take that risk. Raphina is probably were I would look to go as he knows the league but he'll be difficult/in demand. After that, I am not so sure as I haven't watched enough football outside of Chelsea this year but what I do know is that a decent AM always costs a lot. 

So, yeah. Not sure of the need to spend shed loads of money on a DM when we have all the above issues. 

[MoroccanBlue 5,296]

High hopes for Gallagher to be a success in a two man midfield when his success at Palace came at the ability to have free roam in a midfield 3, whereas in Tuchel's system the 2 central midfielders have to be disciplined. 

If we don't get a DM this summer then we will yet again continue to look frail in midfield. 

[Nero 1,838]

 

[MoroccanBlue 5,296]

Can't cap off the Roman era without an another shit decision from the club. 

[Pizy 18,368]

Just saw someone point out on Twitter that Koundé is in the La Liga team of the season (for the 2nd straight year) and that Gvardiol is in the Bundesliga team of the season at just 19/20 years old.

We’d be setting ourselves up for the very long term if we can get both. They can lock down those left and right CB spots and give us such a different dimension than what we’ve been used to. And if both can get a season under their belts it’ll make getting Silva’s long term replacement in the middle spot easier next summer.