Chelsea Transfers

[Artandur 939]

54 minutes ago, Blues Forever said:

Nkunku is very average as a winger, he should only play as a second striker or a no. 10.

I completely agree, but when we play back 3 we don't really play with traditional wingers anyways. Just as Mount and Kai didnt exactly play as wingers yesterday. Nkunku could easily play that role. Now when we play back 4 with traditional wingers, he should definitely only play 10 or shadow striker, i agree.

[Vesper 28,669]

4 hours ago, Blues Forever said:

Basically a jack of all trades and master of none.

All time single season most goals (35) by a MFer in topflight, top 10 European league history is hardly 'master of none'. Plus 20 assists, and is already at 10 goals this season.

Have you even watched him play to any sort of extensive amount?

[YorkshireBlue 3,122]

1 hour ago, Vesper said:

All time single season most goals (35) by a MFer in topflight, top 10 European league history is hardly 'master of none'. Plus 20 assists, and is already at 10 goals this season.

Have you even watched him play to any sort of extensive amount?

Liverpool reported to be trying to hijack the deal.

[Tomo 21,733]

On 16/10/2022 at 10:57, Reddish-Blue said:

That leaves Declan Rice, let's see how much the new owners are willing to spend...

God that would be depressing, especially for £100m plus, £70m even.

[Tomo 21,733]

3 hours ago, Pizy said:

I’d still love Rice here. He’s basically risk free as he’s already doing very well in the PL unlike some of the super expensive alternatives. He’s a captain, a leader, and a big personality. Also has great relationships with the other English lads in the squad.

The price is of course crazy but he’s the sensible midfield signing we could make. He’s a DM that you can plug into the XI and pair with literally any of our others without worrying.

Wouldn't want him as our next captain over Reece, the latters first words to Koulibaly was "ready to win trophies" while the former is celebrating equalizers against non league teams harder than Drogba in Munich and making excuses for that nations league mess. I know who i'd rather lead us.

He's also far from a sensible signing. Moyes' compact underdog system is known for aiding defensive minded players to look a lot better than they actually are. City and Madrid got duped into buying Lescott and Gravesen respectively because of it and look how much better Zouma looks now compared to how out of his depth he was with the more "complex" tactical responsibilities under TT, Lampard (before he dummed down the system post lockdown) and even Conte. Going from a team happy to cede possession to one that aims to dominate even against City is a gigantic change.

I hope i am wrong but this has all the hallmarks of a Lukaku level stylistic mismatch.

[LAM09 6,731]

4 hours ago, blues.bridge said:

what do you think about Mudryk and kvaratskhelia istead of Leao??

I think we should be in Leao & Kvaratskhelia if we aren't going for Osimhen (only potential WC CF around).

[Vesper 28,669]

3 hours ago, Hermione said:

Will be absolutely embarassing if we end up with that Rice, one of the most mid footballers I've ever seen, people only want him because he is a Chelsea fan his ability alone is Tottenham tier at best.

Hope we get Caicedo if we fail with those 2 and stop this dumb infatuation for that guy.

if we do not buy Rice next summer, or at the absolute latest, 2024, I will rapidly start to lose interest

if summer 2024 comes and goes with no move (almost impossible, ((unless he goes full Hammer perma bitch and renews)), as his contract expires in mid 2025 due to an extra year option) then fuck it, as buying him in 2025 means only 3 sub 30yo seasons left, and he plays A LOT, so that mileage will pile up

I would, obviously, take him on a free in summer 2025, but buy........, not a chance (as if he renews, West ham will surely want close to £150m or so in 2025 (barring major injuries between then and now). as he will 'only' be 26yo) .... only 3 full sub 30yo seasons for a DMF is NOT worth £150m

[Tomo 21,733]

2 minutes ago, Vesper said:

if summer 2024 comes and goes with no move (almost impossible, ((unless he goes full Hammer perma bitch and renews)),

On a slightly related note I always laugh when people make Harry Kane a victim of his trophyless career.

He chose to sign big new deals knowing what Levy is like, no one else.

[Vesper 28,669]

7 minutes ago, Tomo said:

On a slightly related note I always laugh when people make Harry Kane a victim of his trophyless career.

He chose to sign big new deals knowing what Levy is like, no one else.

yep

the big 3 of recent (ie last 5 years or so) EPL long contract stupidity

Kane

Rice

Zaha

[Vesper 28,669]

1 hour ago, YorkshireBlue said:

Liverpool reported to be trying to hijack the deal.

fuck them

[MoroccanBlue 5,290]

14 minutes ago, Vesper said:

fuck them

Daily Mirror. 

[Pizy 18,360]

1 hour ago, Tomo said:

Wouldn't want him as our next captain over Reece, the latters first words to Koulibaly was "ready to win trophies" while the former is celebrating equalizers against non league teams harder than Drogba in Munich and making excuses for that nations league mess. I know who i'd rather lead us.

He's also far from a sensible signing. Moyes' compact underdog system is known for aiding defensive minded players to look a lot better than they actually are. City and Madrid got duped into buying Lescott and Gravesen respectively because of it and look how much better Zouma looks now compared to how out of his depth he was with the more "complex" tactical responsibilities under TT, Lampard (before he dummed down the system post lockdown) and even Conte. Going from a team happy to cede possession to one that aims to dominate even against City is a gigantic change.

I hope i am wrong but this has all the hallmarks of a Lukaku level stylistic mismatch.

I should’ve said most sensible out of all these super expensive midfielders we’re linked with.

Much as I rate Bellingham I’m not so sure he’s the profile of midfielder we’re crying out for at the moment. He’s more of a #8 where we already have Kova, Conor, and a newly resurgent RLC. Plus just spent good money on Carney who plays a similar position. 

We badly need a long term, steady #6 who can actually move about the pitch and not get massacred on the counter. Rice fits the bill perfectly in my eyes. 

[Clockwork 1,794]

Heard good things about Enzo Fernández, thoughts on him? Also huge fan of Bruno Guimarães. Those are some good options for midfield. 

[Clockwork 1,794]

2 hours ago, Pizy said:

I should’ve said most sensible out of all these super expensive midfielders we’re linked with.

Much as I rate Bellingham I’m not so sure he’s the profile of midfielder we’re crying out for at the moment. He’s more of a #8 where we already have Kova, Conor, and a newly resurgent RLC. Plus just spent good money on Carney who plays a similar position. 

We badly need a long term, steady #6 who can actually move about the pitch and not get massacred on the counter. Rice fits the bill perfectly in my eyes. 

Conor for me is more in the Mount mould, which Potter gets. 

[MoroccanBlue 5,290]

2 hours ago, Pizy said:

I should’ve said most sensible out of all these super expensive midfielders we’re linked with.

Much as I rate Bellingham I’m not so sure he’s the profile of midfielder we’re crying out for at the moment. He’s more of a #8 where we already have Kova, Conor, and a newly resurgent RLC. Plus just spent good money on Carney who plays a similar position. 

We badly need a long term, steady #6 who can actually move about the pitch and not get massacred on the counter. Rice fits the bill perfectly in my eyes. 

Doesn't Bellingham have actual creative metrics? Something neither Kova or Ruben have in their locker?

Also if you are talking about a #6, that isn't Rice. 

Edited October 17, 2022 by MoroccanBlue

[King Kante 1,473]

9 hours ago, Vesper said:

if we do not buy Rice next summer, or at the absolute latest, 2024, I will rapidly start to lose interest

if summer 2024 comes and goes with no move (almost impossible, ((unless he goes full Hammer perma bitch and renews)), as his contract expires in mid 2025 due to an extra year option) then fuck it, as buying him in 2025 means only 3 sub 30yo seasons left, and he plays A LOT, so that mileage will pile up

I would, obviously, take him on a free in summer 2025, but buy........, not a chance (as if he renews, West ham will surely want close to £150m or so in 2025 (barring major injuries between then and now). as he will 'only' be 26yo) .... only 3 full sub 30yo seasons for a DMF is NOT worth £150m

Rice isn't signing a new contract. If he was going to do that he would've already done it. West Ham having been trying to tie him down for more than 24 months now and he hasn't signed. That 24 months has cost him real money, as he cannot get that back. 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8825235/West-Ham-ready-double-Declan-Rices-wages-huge-120-000-week.html

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11685/12611298/declan-rice-rejects-west-ham-offer-of-eight-year-deal-worth-83m-but-club-determined-to-keep-midfielder

By doing that he has already lost £6m with the first offer and £3.6m (and counting) with the second offer. 

In particular, not taking the second offer shows he isn't going to stay. £200k is about the best he can achieve per week; although if he gets to a free I guess he can expect a mega signing on fee....(although I am not sure he'll get to that.)

I think with Rice it is abundantly clear he is looking to come back here. Anyone that takes a couple of minutes to watch an interview with him outside of post match will realise a few things; 

1) He loves London and has no intention of leaving. 

2) Has a slightly unhealthy love of Chelsea, considering he is a WHU player. 

His mistake was signing that 5+1 deal in 2019. Who advised him that was a good deal shouldn't be near such an advisory role as it was always bonkers as he didn't get serious money (£60k a week for essentially 6 years) from it and as a young English player with potential he was always going to have options. 

As a result, I think it is clear he is just running down his contract. Next Summer he will get to two years left (1+1) and have turned down the best part of £10m from holding out. As a result, WHU will have to recognise that they'll have to either keep him until the end of his contract or take offers in the £50m-£60m category. I think they'll do the latter as that'll given them some money to play with. If they keep him for another season, then expect that fee to go down to £30m (this is also possible) but at that point he can probably expect a decent signing on fee. 

Either way, next Summer means he will start to enter the territory where he becomes more of a reasonable cost in regard to fee. Whether WHU hold put for another year is up for discussion but they're no longer at the point where they can demand £100m etc. 

[OhForAGreavsie 5,890]

11 hours ago, Pizy said:

Much as I rate Bellingham I’m not so sure he’s the profile of midfielder we’re crying out for at the moment.

For me, Bellingham is the type of player that you automatically take if you can and set things up around him. That said, it's all moot anyway. He isn't coming here.

[Strike 7,212]

50 minutes ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

For me, Bellingham is the type of player that you automatically take if you can and set things up around him. That said, it's all moot anyway. He isn't coming here.

I agree. Unfortunately, the setup at City is far superior and if they offer a squad space - I can see Gundogan making way - then he will head there. Liverpool and Madrid want him too so basically very slim hopes of this.