It is no secret that Chelsea need to add some experience and proven quality to their squad this summer. Those two traits have been overlooked over the four seasons under BlueCo. And it is safe to say that the Blues are not in a better position than they were before the takeover. Now, it remains to be seen if they have what it takes to turn things around.
Xabi Alonso’s appointment was the right step. The club deserve credit for getting it done swiftly as well. A few weeks on and Liverpool might have been right in the mix after sacking Arne Slot.
Now, it is about getting the squad fixed. One of the areas in particular need of attention is defence. Chelsea have needed a centre-back or two for more than a year but for some reason, never addressed the issue. The results were as you would expect.
There were many calling for Antonio Rudiger to be brought back. His contract at Real Madrid was set to run out this summer. But a reunion no longer seems to be on the cards. According to Fabrizio Romano:
Toni Rüdiger signed new deal last week, on Thursday evening. To be announced soon.
Rudiger signs new deal, Konate not being considered
So, that is another proven centre-back Chelsea won’t be signing this summer. Of course, it is believed that they have pulled out of the race for Ibrahima Konate already.
Konate is set to be available as a free agent this summer, having failed to agree on a contract extension with Liverpool. And many had hoped for Chelsea to make their move.
He is a Premier League winner. He has also taken his team to the Champions League and World Cup final. So, when it comes to proven talent, he certainly falls under that category.
But it is believed that Chelsea were not willing to meet the financial demands that it would take to pull off the move. If the Blues are able to do that for someone who is available as a free agent, what chance do they have of signing those who are settled at their clubs.
Will Chelsea really sign proven talents this summer?
The word that has been underlined time and again is ‘proven’. But what does that even mean when you think about it?
Someone who is 21 years of age could have 100 or more Premier League appearances under their belt. But would that player be considered ‘proven’? More importantly, would they be capable of solving Chelsea’s current problems?
By the metric, Alejandro Garnacho should have been a good signing for Chelsea. He had almost 150 times for Manchester United and was considered one of the brightest talents in Europe at one point. Yet, we all know how it has played out at Stamford Bridge. And even worse, it was almost expected to play out this way.
Football, at the end of the day, is more than statistics and numbers. What Chelsea need to do this summer is go out and sign players who are considered amongst the best in the world without having to look through charts full of data.
Sourav Mahanty
Sourav Mahanty has covered teams like Chelsea, Celtic, Real Madrid, Manchester United, PSG and more over a career that has now lasted a decade. His work has been featured on Sports Illustrated, Athlon Sports, SB Nation, FanSided, The Sportster and aggregated through Bleacher Report and NewsNow. Outside of football, he is also interested in basketball, cricket and professional wrestling.
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