Chelsea's best value starting Xl of the Premier League era
The Blues have picked up some bargains in recent years, here we select our best 'cheapest starting Xl' of the Premier League era
Watching a 36-year old Thiago Silva become one of the best and most important players for Chelsea this season has prompted me to look back and check out some of our other bargain buys we’ve made during the Premier League era.
Silva cost nothing, which is crazy. Here is a starting Xl of Chelsea bargains that has SO much quality in it. Imagine this team with all it’s players in peak condition!
TOTAL COST = £51.4m
GK - Petr Cech (£7m from Rennes)
Cech has always been Chelsea through and through and was a member of the ‘old guard’ of the 00s, a group of players that achieved so much here and will always be considered ‘legends’ of the club.
He is now working in Chelsea’s board room looking for similar absolute bargains to what we paid for him back in 2004 (Silva!).
Don’t forget also he is still registered as a Chelsea player for the second time in his career, but has only made one appearance for the under-23s so far.
Ashley Cole - £5m (plus William Gallas from Arsenal)
£5m for Ashley Cole was just daylight robbery, even if it did include Gallas.
What a player he became for Chelsea, and like Cech, he was also a member of the historical ‘old guard’ during the clubs most successful era so far under Jose Mourinho in the 00s.
Thiago Silva - (FREE agent)
As mentioned above, Silva has already become a super important player for Chelsea, truly proving to be world class this season.
Marcel Desailly - (£4.6m from AC Milan)
Notched up almost 200 appearances for Chelsea and he was a great mentor for John Terry coming through the ranks at the club.
Chelsea didn’t even pay £5m for this world class and experienced centre back.
Cesar Azpilicueta (£7m from Marseille)
Mr Reliable himself. The man they call ‘Dave’ is already a Chelsea legend having spent the last eight years at the club.
He is the current club captain and will be held dearly in Chelsea fans' hearts for many years to come.
Ruud Gullit (FREE Agent)
Yes he was in his early 30s when he signed, but Chelsea were getting a world class player who had seen it all and made the game look so easy.
He went on to make over 50 appearances for Chelsea and became a player manager.
When he arrived it was at a time where Blues fans were not used to such world class global stars at The Bridge, the beginning of the ‘new normal’ at the club.
Michael Ballack (FREE Agent)
Another superb international star arriving at Chelsea, and Ballack went on to make a real positive impact and implant himself in the successful history of the club.
Still talked about affectionately by Chelsea fans to this day, superb player.
Frank Lampard (11m from West Ham)
Super Frankie Lampard, the Chelsea legend.
Of course things haven’t ended well recently for him as manager at the club, but Lampard as a player was the real driving force behind the most successful times this club has seen so far and of course guided them to a Champions League victory in 2012.
11m for Lampard was a total bargain.
Gianfranco Zola (£4.5m from Parma)
The little Italian genius came and stole the hearts of Chelsea fans back in 1996, and he went on to make well over 200 appearances for the club.
Zola was very much pinnacle to the 90s transition era helping create a Chelsea to challenge for all honours.
We didn’t even pay £5m for him, the definition of a bargain.
Arjen Robben (£12m from PSV)
When you think of the player that Robben went on to become, £12m was a real bargain.
He was a great player for Chelsea notching up over 100 appearances and scoring 19 goals. We all wish he stayed longer and became a legend, but he bought a lot to this club at a time when his flair and pace on the wing was much needed.
Tore Andre Flo (300k from Brann)
Flo was only at Chelsea for three years but he was influential during his 100+ appearances.
Chelsea instantly made their money back on Flo who came up with some highly important goals when it mattered. Still involved working with the club now as well as a youth coach.
Honourable mentions to Gary Cahill (£7m) and Branislav Ivanovic (£9m).