Reflecting: Chelsea’s Business and Keeping Players Happy

A contribution article by Bruno Brown

Contribution article written by Journalist and Chelsea fan, Bruno Brown (@Bruno14Brown).

On an always eventful January transfer window Chelsea and Todd Boehely have flexed their financial might, spending shy of £300 million pounds in what was a record-breaking January, with £815m spent by Premier League clubs.

In a nail-biting run-up to the deadline, Boehly got his man, his obsession, in World Cup young player of the tournament, Enzo Fernandez, for a British transfer record of £107 million pounds.

A monster price tag for the 22-year Argentine to cope with, however, should his gritty but classy World Cup displays continue in Chelsea blue, Boehly won’t care and will feel this was an exceptional deal.

A question mark could be raised about how necessary this was, with England midfielder Jude Bellingham becoming available in the summer.

But Boehly knew that would entail a bidding war with other European clubs which could get messy. But who is to say Boehly won’t splash out again?

The Enzo deal looked all but collapsed through Benfica president Rui Costa’s stubbornness and willingness to cling on to their midfield talisman.

After all, the Portuguese side has been playing good football this season, topping a Champions League group containing PSG and Juventus and sitting comfortably 10 points clear of the Portuguese league, so it must be understood why they wished to keep their main man Enzo.

Enzo joins a long list of additions who also signed for the Blues in this window:

• Mykhailo Mudryk - Shakhtar Donetsk, £88.5m

• Benoit Badiashile - Monaco, £35m

• David Datro Fofana - Molde, undisclosed

• Andrey Santos - Vasco da Gama, undisclosed

• Joao Felix - Atletico Madrid, loan

• Noni Madueke - PSV, £29m

• Malo Gusto - Lyon, £26.3m

It no doubt should make for a compellingly exciting end to the season as the Blues chase a spot in the Champions League.

But with such an abundance of recruits, I can’t help but wonder how Graham Potter will be able to cope with such high-profile names and astronomic price tags.

Let's not forget that at Brighton, Potter only made eight signings, none of them ‘marquee’ and all for very low fees: Tariq Lamptey, Danny Welbeck, Neal Maupay, Joel Veltman, Leandro Trossard, Adam Webster, Marc Cucurella and Moises Caicedo.

The development of some of these players under Potter cannot be denied. Trossard, Maupay and Cucarella all being sold for big profits, while Caicedo was denied a deadline-day move to Arsenal in what would have been a big profit.

Potter’s record therefore with developing young talent and improving players is unquestionable. It must give us Chelsea fans hope for the futures of Mudryk, Enzo, Madueke, Badashille and Felix (who are all likely to be immediately thrust into the fold).

But keeping stars content and morale high remains to be questioned.

Hakim Zieych’s move to PSG fell through, and with the arrival of Madueke, a player with a similar profile to Ziyech, it looks unlikely he will feature as much as he has been since his World Cup heroics with Morocco.

Havertz must be increasingly worried about his startling position too.

Aubameyang, whose ending at Arsenal shows he has a reputation for losing focus, must be regretting his decision to join the club.

Koulibaliy already looks second fiddle to Badashille.

Pulisic must have given up hope.

Even Chelsea through and through Mason Mount and Connor Gallagher must be concerned.

The list goes on…

So how is Potter going to be able to keep everyone focused, bought into his system and undisruptive in the second half of our season?

Goodness knows.

But what cannot be denied is that Chelsea now has serious strength in depth and Boehly, by tying down his new recruits to massive long-term contracts is demonstrating his vision and ambitions for Chelsea’s long-term project.

There was however one departure to speak about, Jorginho, who loved the club and has been a brilliant servant.

From Sarri ball, to being a leader in a youthful side under Lampard, to Champions League success under Tuchel to good performances under Potter, Jorginho has been a paramount leader and performer, instrumental in how we play.

I don’t think it is fair to say it is snaky from the Italian to join title-chasing Arsenal (though if they do win the league it will be the one honour he never lifted with Chelsea). Chelsea are investing in young talents, and Jorginho, aged 31, has played his best years with us.

The way to look at it is his departure has freed up some bargaining room in regards to Financial Fair Play regulations.

I think Jorginho will prove to be a good bit of business for the Gunners, and it is with regret that I wish him the best of luck.

Written by Bruno Brown

*All views and opinion here are Bruno’s.