Chelsea Transfers

[Vesper 31,108]

10 hours ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

A really encouraging factor in the calculation about whether to chase him or not.

Do you remember if this the same Russian kid we were linked with previously? I watched some videos of that player and remember feeling that there was something there though I don't think I felt as positive as this. I'll take another look

Very encouraging

Very, very encouraging.

yes, the same one

[Vincent 403]

In a recent interview Edson Alvarez mentions his upset about his failed transfer to Chelsea last summer. I'm curious what people here think of him. To me he's a decent player but the good kind of decent, he really knows his strength and weakness altough I'm personally always very skeptical with rated Eredivisie players.

[Superblue 6,372]

5 hours ago, Vincent said:

In a recent interview Edson Alvarez mentions his upset about his failed transfer to Chelsea last summer. I'm curious what people here think of him. To me he's a decent player but the good kind of decent, he really knows his strength and weakness altough I'm personally always very skeptical with rated Eredivisie players.

I think he's a good player but like a lot of players, I just don't think he justifies the price tag Ajax will want, and particularly when he's unproven in a league stronger than the Eredivisie.

His profile as a DM is something we're missing, but his passing isn't anything special and I worry in particular about that part of his game in a league that is played at a quicker tempo. He'd provide us with a much more solid defensive base within the midfield and also add a physical presence in there, but I think people would quickly become frustrated with him being able to 'play' to a high enough level.

I begrudge spending the sort of money West Ham will want for Rice but if we're comparing the two, I see a more rounded player in Rice who can do both sides of the game (granted we're not talking playmaking ability, but he is capable of driving with the ball and passing through the lines). 

The longer-term outlook has to be finding players like Alvarez earlier in the process when he's £5, 10, 15m. I think if the ownership can get a couple of European clubs into the 'group' they're looking to build, a team or two in places like Holland and Portugal will hopefully provide a base to be able to look at heavily scouting areas such as North and South America without worrying about work permits. We can just park these players for a couple of years until they develop hopefully to a quality to play for Chelsea.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

9 hours ago, Vincent said:

In a recent interview Edson Alvarez mentions his upset about his failed transfer to Chelsea last summer. I'm curious what people here think of him. To me he's a decent player but the good kind of decent, he really knows his strength and weakness altough I'm personally always very skeptical with rated Eredivisie players.

He is the exact type of player zakaria is but slower. There is absolutely no point in exchanging the too if there apparently is no room for either 

[Superblue 6,372]

13 hours ago, Magic Lamps said:

He is the exact type of player zakaria is but slower. There is absolutely no point in exchanging the too if there apparently is no room for either 

I think the club has to be very careful with the January window. The urge will be there to buy a midfielder, but realistically which ones are out there who we'll be looking at potentially being starting quality in this side for years to come? When we're talking the ones which could become long term lynchpins within the team - Rice, Bellingham, potentially someone like Enzo Fernandez, they are not moving in January.

I'd like to hope that Zakaria gets a start in the Dinamo and City games before the break. Just simply to be able to see at the very least what we might have with him. My feeling is that we should try and soldier on to the end of the season with what we have. The hope is there is something there in Zakaria to at least provide a useful squad role for the rest of the season and at the very least staying fit so far in training has to be some sort of positive with him given some of his injury issues recently. There is the possibility of also getting at least something out of Kante perhaps from around February onwards in the season run in (and bear in mind he'll be looking to play for a contract here or elsewhere).

The other possibility is that I've seen we've been linked a few times with Laimer at Leipzig on a free transfer next summer. Given the surgery likely needed to our midfield where we may need 2 or 3 new signings, I wouldn't be against bringing him in on a free transfer. He's not a world beater but he's a good player, like Alvarez is (albeit different profile), but he's not someone we'd be taking a £40-50m chance on. If he didn't work out, we'd be able to easily move him back to Germany in a year or two without concerned about trying to recoup money on a huge investment.

I guess the possibility if we get him signed to a pre contract agreement is to see if Leipzig would sell him 6 months early to us for a few million?

[Vesper 31,108]

highlights

 

https://sbanh.com/ocfl71cinl2x.html

[MoroccanBlue 5,399]

We sign Alvarez in January, or if we sign him at all, I will lose all faith in the direction these 'date driven' recruitment team are taking us. 

Saw his metrics back in August. He's a sideways passer and his progressive passes are a  minimum. Jorginho embarrasses him in progressive passes and that is utterly pathetic. Look at his performance against Liverpool and Napoli. His first touch is reminiscence of Bakayoko and was completely out paced. He's slower than my nan. 

Yeah. We buy him in January we have a lot to worry about moving forward. 

[DDA 10,241]

Whoever we do buy, it is essential that we buy quality accompanied by ENERGY and DETERMINATION.

I'm sick of watching these clowns who think they don't need to work hard.

 

[Thor 2,819]

Nkunku is pretty much a done deal, correct? 

 

This is a step in the right direction. He is quality. We do need a front man though, as I see Nkunku switching between winger and up front. 

 

Midfield should be the entire focus. Havertz and Sterling can be made to look good if we build the midfield. They are quality players, and the reality is we aren't great in the middle of the park. 

[ZAPHOD2319 4,954]

 

[ZAPHOD2319 4,954]

 

[MoroccanBlue 5,399]

Good on them not rewarding inconsistency. 

 

[Vesper 31,108]

4 hours ago, ZAPHOD2319 said:

 

yet another target who, if we buy them, will yield ONE full sub 30yo season for us

smdh

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

41 minutes ago, Vesper said:

yet another target who, if we buy them, will yield ONE full sub 30yo season for us

smdh

He is a good player currently in the form of his life but I doubt he will be able to play with the same freedom here even with GP as coach. Also this might very well just be a purple patch. If he is the calibre of player we are going for in the future, I will be deeply disappointed. He adds nothing new except hitting the target atm (a skill which rapidly deteriorates in every attacker who joins us) and solves none of our problems in offense.

[OneMoSalah 9,104]

Sanctioning a move for Trossard would be idiotic…. Unless he’s been a target for a while which I doubt. Mainly for 3 reasons:

1) the guys in a good patch but this happens every time a player does well at a smaller club in the PL and all of a sudden their linked with club X, Y and Z, then fizzles out

2) our names in there because he has played under Potter before,

3) he likely isn’t any better than any of the others we have in that position that aren't good enough ie Ziyech and Pulisic. 

Plus he’s just gonna end up playing as a wingback like he mainly did under Potter at Brighton at the beginning of the season, isn’t he? This would be even more unacceptable. I mean we have two good LWBs as it is who aren’t being played there because of some braindead decision to utilise Sterling there. It is baffling.

Since moving to an attacking position under their new manager, he’s scored more goals. So any sort of reunion - would be ill fated in my eyes. For both player and manager. 

[Reddish-Blue 2,676]

6 hours ago, OneMoSalah said:

Sanctioning a move for Trossard would be idiotic…. Unless he’s been a target for a while which I doubt. Mainly for 3 reasons:

1) the guys in a good patch but this happens every time a player does well at a smaller club in the PL and all of a sudden their linked with club X, Y and Z, then fizzles out

2) our names in there because he has played under Potter before,

3) he likely isn’t any better than any of the others we have in that position that aren't good enough ie Ziyech and Pulisic. 

Plus he’s just gonna end up playing as a wingback like he mainly did under Potter at Brighton at the beginning of the season, isn’t he? This would be even more unacceptable. I mean we have two good LWBs as it is who aren’t being played there because of some braindead decision to utilise Sterling there. It is baffling.

Since moving to an attacking position under their new manager, he’s scored more goals. So any sort of reunion - would be ill fated in my eyes. For both player and manager. 

Might just be a depth signing (Trossard in, Ziyech out) to help get a good deal for Caicedo in the process!    

We've done it before with Drinkwater & Kante from Leicester

[OneMoSalah 9,104]

4 hours ago, Reddish-Blue said:

Might just be a depth signing (Trossard in, Ziyech out) to help get a good deal for Caicedo in the process!    

We've done it before with Drinkwater & Kante from Leicester

Yeah and look how Drinkwater turned out. Useless. Big wages. Took how long to shift him? If thats part of the logic then its even more laughable. 

We shouldn't just sign players for the sake of it. Its not FIFA, or FM, its real life and making transfers that aren’t strategic or won’t contribute on the pitch is idiotic to say the least. Why do you think we have been so far behind Liverpool and City as it is? It would just continue to make Todd Boehly look clueless in the eyes of a lot of people - myself included.

If the club and manager want Caicedo - just go and buy him. Its that simple. We already have Cucurella and Graham Potter in the building so going for another Brighton player (who wouldn't improve us anyway) is just a waste of time, effort and money. 

Edited November 2, 2022 by OneMoSalah

[ZAPHOD2319 4,954]

 

[MoroccanBlue 5,399]

35 minutes ago, ZAPHOD2319 said:

 

Only player we should be breaking the bank for next summer, assuming Nkunku will be 50-60 million which is fine. 

Attack and CMs should be smart and carefully scouted options. 

 

[ZAPHOD2319 4,954]

38 minutes ago, Hermione said:

Considering Europa League looms closer, no chance.

 

I see us only getting better. The WC will also effect some teams in the second half of the season adversely. Hopefully not us.