Chelsea must sell to be able to capture summer targets
The pandemic is still playing a big part of clubs finances and could effect how Chelsea operate
In my view, Saturday’s heavy defeat to West Brom just reiterates what I, and many other fans have been saying and thinking for some time now. If Chelsea want to be the best again and challenge for all titles, they must invest in at least four new players this summer.
Regardless of the manager, Chelsea still need to buy class players in the centre back, defensive midfield, attacking midfield, and striker positions. There is also a good case for a new goalkeeper, with Kepa Arrizabalaga expected to leave (although I struggle to see who will invest in him).
They need to add a more solid, experienced, and quality spine of the team.
But to do this, we need to sell players, and during these uncertain times in the pandemic, potential buying clubs will be few and far between, and that could create problems for Chelsea’s plans of investing big this summer.
Buying clubs will largely be looking at free agents and loan deals, with the exception of some. This isn’t saying that clubs will not be spending at all this summer, because they absolutely will. But they will be working extra hard to get fees down, and to find bargains.
As we know, Chelsea can be notoriously stubborn when it comes to getting the highest fee possible for their player, but this is a strategy that they might need to be more flexible with this summer if they are to land the players they need to improve the squad and getting challenging again.
Players like Ross Barkley, Chelsea cannot expect to be getting a large fee on, but clubs are interested. Then you have Danny Drinkwater, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Michy Batshauyi, Davide Zappacosta and others out on loan who Chelsea must just try and get as much money for as possible. Get them off the wage budget, try and make some cash on them.
However, to sign a new defensive midfielder for example, would depend on Jorginho and whether they want to try and sell him this summer, and whether suitors can afford to buy him.
This is a similar situation to the centre backs, for one to come in, there must be one or two leaving.
I understand that Chelsea have been eyeing a number of free agents including David Alaba and Sergio Aguero, due to the financial situations across the board right now having a knock on effect.
We know Chelsea are one of the few clubs still doing very well financially through the pandemic. However, if funds are not coming in from player sales, then free agents could be the way they operate to a certain extent.
Written by Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport)