Photo by ANP via Getty Images
Photo by ANP via Getty Images
It’s deadline day, and Chelsea find themselves with plenty of business to do before the 11pm deadline is upon us. The Blues could still wave goodbye to four or more players, while making one signing.
Two of those five could end up at Tottenham. Mykhailo Mudryk is joining Spurs on loan, a move which sees him reunite with his old boss Roberto De Zerbi. He once said Mudryk could win the Ballon d’Or.
Chelsea's possession vs Brighton
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Tosin Adarabioyo is set to follow Mudryk to Spurs permanently, while Marc Guiu is in Germany ahead of a permanent move to Leipzig. Then there is Robert Sanchez, who is closing in on a loan move to Como.
More could follow Tosin, Mudryk, Sanchez and Guiu out the door. Aaron Anselmino, Jamie Gittens and, of course, Enzo Fernandez could depart in the final hours. But there is one signing Chelsea have to make.
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All the signs suggested Lamine Camara would leave Monaco for Chelsea before the deadline. But talks have cooled, and some reports suggest that agents have requested a bigger fee to get a bigger payoff.
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Monaco have been desperate to keep him, with Filipe Luis urging his side to hold onto the Senegal ace before the deadline. In response, Chelsea are supposedly reigniting interest in Roma player Manu Kone.
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Kone has impressed since moving to Roma, but with the Italian club in need of cash, Roma could be open to a late sale. Reports suggest Roma would be willing to do business if Chelsea tabled €50m [£43m].
At the World Cup, Patrick Vieira said Kone is France’s best midfielder: “He’s had a really good season with Roma. For me, he is the best midfielder in France. I put him ahead of Tchouameni and ahead of Rabiot.”
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Sunday’s win over Brighton proved the need for a midfielder
On Sunday, Alonso was forced to start with Malo Gusto in midfield. Jordan Henderson is injured, Valentin Barco is not yet trusted to start in the Premier League, and Moises Caicedo has picked up another injury.
Even if Enzo Fernandez stays, his head is elsewhere. Chelsea need to sign a midfielder, and Kone would be a top signing – but more importantly, Chelsea need a big midfielder signing. Kone ticks a lot of boxes.
Why Manu Kone now suits Chelsea more than Enzo Fernandez
Alonso’s 3-4-2-1 system means Chelsea need a midfielder a whole lot more defensively reliable than Fernandez to go alongside Caicedo, who is first choice when fit. The double pivot needs to be solid.
They are not players who can play with freedom and join the attack. They are players who need to be excellent in transition, physically imposing, and able to do a bit of both. Kone is exactly that player.
Chelsea need a player that has the technical ability to feed Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro, but the defensive intelligence to cover the wing-backs when they’re forward. Kone or Camara are ideal.