Chelsea Transfers

[Blue Armour 4,436]

2 hours ago, OneMoSalah said:

Cant afford another year with no regular source of goals though. Or we might as well kiss goodbye to any opportunity of finishing top 4/6.

Although at this rate its going to be tough to do anyway because realistically we seem to be just intent on chasing wingers and right backs when we lack a CF, CMs and GK.

The lack of CMs is a concern for me. When we were going to drain the swamp, I had hoped for a 'collective drain' rather than one focused solely on our midfield players. We don't even have RLC to call on for depth, and despite all his problems, he was still a utility player that could be deployed in different positions if we were short on options.

I'm biting my lip and not ranting about it because there are still weeks to go before the close of the window.

That being said, I think it's a must that we get one of the primary targets (Caicedo most likely) early in our preseason., if not before the first preseason game.

[Blue Armour 4,436]

1 hour ago, Vesper said:

JACKSON's FIRST DAY at the Bridge! 🔵 | Chelsea FC

 

Speaks confidently. Hope his play is the same.

[Vesper 30,085]

6 hours ago, Blue Armour said:

The lack of CMs is a concern for me. When we were going to drain the swamp, I had hoped for a 'collective drain' rather than one focused solely on our midfield players. We don't even have RLC to call on for depth, and despite all his problems, he was still a utility player that could be deployed in different positions if we were short on options.

I'm biting my lip and not ranting about it because there are still weeks to go before the close of the window.

That being said, I think it's a must that we get one of the primary targets (Caicedo most likely) early in our preseason., if not before the first preseason game.

well, watch this list, I posted it before, it is quite expansive

bold are my main options

CMFs

by valuation

Frenkie de Jong (pipe dream)
Nicolò Barella 
Alexis Mac Allister
Mikel Merino   
Sergej Milinković-Savić 
Matheus Nunes  
Vitinha  
Rodrigo de Paul   
Nicolò Fagioli 
Marcos Llorente 
Gabri Veiga (PSG will likely get him, grrrrrr)
Manu Koné  
Ryan Gravenberch 
Orkun Kökcü 
Carlos Soler 
Seko Fofana 
Eljif Elmas  
Youssouf Fofana 
Maxence Caqueret
Fabio Miretti
Luka Sucic

youth

João Neves

Hugo Larsson

next summer (as he is only 17yo now) Warren Zaïre-Emery

 

DMFs

by valuation 

Aurélien Tchouaméni (extremely unlikely)
Moisés Caicedo
Manuel Ugarte    
Sandro Tonali 
Amadou Onana 
Martín Zubimendi 
Roméo Lavia
Khéphren Thuram 
Teun Koopmeiners  
Sofyan Amrabat 
Manuel Locatelli 
Danilo 
Guido Rodríguez  (probably too old now)
Florentino  
Alan Varela

youth

Arthur Vermeeren  
Lesley Ugochukwu 

 

Edited July 5, 2023 by Vesper

[Blue Armour 4,436]

1 minute ago, Vesper said:

well, watch this list, I posted it before, it is quite expansive

bold are my main options

CMFs

by valuation

Frenkie de Jong (pipe dream)
Nicolò Barella 
Alexis Mac Allister
Mikel Merino   
Sergej Milinković-Savić 
Matheus Nunes  
Vitinha  
Rodrigo de Paul   
Nicolò Fagioli 
Marcos Llorente 
Gabri Veiga (PSG will likely get him, grrrrrr)
Manu Koné  
Ryan Gravenberch 
Orkun Kökcü 
Carlos Soler 
Seko Fofana 
Eljif Elmas  
Youssouf Fofana 
Maxence Caqueret
Fabio Miretti
Luka Sucic

youth

João Neves

Hugo Larsson

next summer (as he is only 17yo now) Warren Zaïre-Emery

 

DMFs

by valuation 

Aurélien Tchouaméni (extremely unlikely)
Moisés Caicedo
Manuel Ugarte    
Sandro Tonali 
Amadou Onana 
Martín Zubimendi 
Roméo Lavia
Khéphren Thuram 
Teun Koopmeiners  
Sofyan Amrabat 
Manuel Locatelli 
Danilo 
Guido Rodríguez  (probably too old now)
Samuele Ricci  
Florentino 

youth

Arthur Vermeeren 
Alan Varela  
Lesley Ugochukwu 

 

If we get Caicedo, along with one of Lavia or Kone, that would be decent to go with next season.

With less games next season, that might be enough.

Ideally we should be going after at least 3 more. An AMF like Veiga would have been a treat.

[Vesper 30,085]

11 minutes ago, Blue Armour said:

An AMF like Veiga would have been a treat.

He is more of a CMF, has played there pretty much exclusively since November

he scored 9 of his 11 goals as a CMF, and 3 of his 4 assists came from CMF

all of his goals and assists were in La Liga

 

Edited July 5, 2023 by Vesper

[YorkshireBlue 3,264]

@Vesper could you not sleep last night 🤣🤣

[FrankLampard007 15]

31 minutes ago, YorkshireBlue said:

@Vesper could you not sleep last night 🤣🤣

Haha i thought the same after reading all his entries. 😃

[Vesper 30,085]

30 minutes ago, FrankLampard007 said:

Haha i thought the same after reading all his entries. 😃

her

[Vesper 30,085]

1 hour ago, YorkshireBlue said:

@Vesper could you not sleep last night 🤣🤣

yep, woke up and couldn't sleep, lol

[Vesper 30,085]

Who could be leaving Chelsea next?

https://caughtoffside.substack.com/i/133134440/who-could-be-leaving-Chelsea-next

We’ve seen so many players leave Chelsea this summer, and I have further updates on some big names who could follow the likes of Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante, Kai Havertz and Kalidou Koulibaly out of Stamford Bridge.

I’ll start by saying that Christian Pulisic is really, really tempted by Serie A. AC Milan asked about Pulisic one year ago when they spoke to Chelsea about Rafael Leao, but then the Portuguese forward was, and remains, untouchable. Still, talks are ongoing - Pulisic is in the club’s plan and he’s pushing to join Milan, but Chelsea want €25/30m so I expect Milan to bid again soon.

Conor Gallagher has been on Newcastle’s list since May. Of course, after signing Sandro Tonali they are now discussing internally about how to spend money in the next weeks, but Gallagher has always been appreciated by West Ham and Newcastle, these two clubs. Ben Jacobs has reported on Chelsea’s stance on Gallagher here.

At the moment, the situation is quiet around Hakim Ziyech after his move to Al Nassr fell through. For sure all parties will try to find the best solution together in the next days. As he’s hinted on social media, Ziyech believes that many stories in the recent days were not correct, I’m sure he will clarify his position soon.

As many of you will have seen, Mount also finally said his goodbyes to Chelsea fans in a video message last night, and he’s now set to be officially unveiled as a Manchester United player today.

[Vesper 30,085]

Real Madrid launch bid for Arda Guler

https://caughtoffside.substack.com/i/133134440/real-madrid-launch-bid-for-arda-guler

Last night, Real Madrid submitted an improved proposal for Arda Guler. They are offering a guaranteed €20m to Fenerbahce, which is more than his release clause, and also a 20% sell-on clause. There would also be add-ons, so it’s a big package, and an agreement is really close, even if not 100% completed yet.

Real Madrid now believe Arda Guler will be their player, they think the deal is going to be done. It’s a crazy story because many clubs wanted him, but Real Madrid are now in a strong position to make it happen. They feel he wants to go there, and it’s just about final details now.

[Vesper 30,085]

Declan Rice - here we go!

https://caughtoffside.substack.com/i/133134440/declan-rice-here-we-go

It’s an historic day in English football because Arsenal have finally got their man - Declan Rice to Arsenal, here we go! The agreement is done between Arsenal and West Ham, things were finalised late last night and now it’s complete - the fee, the payment terms, everything.

Rice will now undergo medical tests with Arsenal this week, probably on Friday, that’s the plan for all parties right now, and then an official statement. Rice will be an Arsenal player, the most expensive English player in the history of the game, and the most expensive signing in the Gunners’ history - £105m. This is a very important moment, and I want to share some more behind-the-scenes details of this story.

Mikel Arteta and Edu, they never lost their patience at the key points in this story. When Manchester City entered the race, Arsenal didn’t panic, they decided to wait and then send in their best proposal - the strategy was very clear. They decided back in January that Rice would be their top target, and now they’ve got their man after long and complicated negotiations.

I’ve also been saying in the last couple of weeks that if Rice becomes an Arsenal player, it’s going to be thanks to Arteta - behind the scenes, he’s been pushing, and explaining to Rice just how crucial he’s going to be to the project, on and off the pitch. Rice was really attracted to the plan. Arteta also pushed internally with the directors and owners to give him this signing.

This also means Arsenal can now give the green light to Granit Xhaka to join Bayer Leverkusen as they were waiting to finalise the Rice deal. And after that, an agreement with Ajax for Jurrien Timber is very close, and now that Rice is done, the focus will be to complete the signing of Timber.

[YorkshireBlue 3,264]

33 minutes ago, Vesper said:

yep, woke up and couldn't sleep, lol

Well I woke up an hour before my alarm, so atleast you kept me entertained this morning 🤣

[FrankLampard007 15]

26 minutes ago, Vesper said:

her

I am sorry for that. Cheers

[Reddish-Blue 2,489]

39 minutes ago, Vesper said:

Who could be leaving Chelsea next?

https://caughtoffside.substack.com/i/133134440/who-could-be-leaving-Chelsea-next

We’ve seen so many players leave Chelsea this summer, and I have further updates on some big names who could follow the likes of Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante, Kai Havertz and Kalidou Koulibaly out of Stamford Bridge.

I’ll start by saying that Christian Pulisic is really, really tempted by Serie A. AC Milan asked about Pulisic one year ago when they spoke to Chelsea about Rafael Leao, but then the Portuguese forward was, and remains, untouchable. Still, talks are ongoing - Pulisic is in the club’s plan and he’s pushing to join Milan, but Chelsea want €25/30m so I expect Milan to bid again soon.

Conor Gallagher has been on Newcastle’s list since May. Of course, after signing Sandro Tonali they are now discussing internally about how to spend money in the next weeks, but Gallagher has always been appreciated by West Ham and Newcastle, these two clubs. Ben Jacobs has reported on Chelsea’s stance on Gallagher here.

At the moment, the situation is quiet around Hakim Ziyech after his move to Al Nassr fell through. For sure all parties will try to find the best solution together in the next days. As he’s hinted on social media, Ziyech believes that many stories in the recent days were not correct, I’m sure he will clarify his position soon.

As many of you will have seen, Mount also finally said his goodbyes to Chelsea fans in a video message last night, and he’s now set to be officially unveiled as a Manchester United player today.

I just don't see Gallagher leaving, feel like he would suit Pochettino's pressing tactics and we could use the depth heading into new season.