Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Despite missing out on a midfielder on deadline day, most of us Chelsea fans are quite happy with this summer’s transfer business.
I am anyway! The club brought in some top players, including Morgan Rogers, who was our top target, according to Xabi Alonso.
“He was the number one target for us,” the Spaniard recently told Chelsea’s official club website and the English media. Yet you cannot help but feel that the Blues were actually crying out for two of his teammates much more.
Chelsea FC Unveil New Signing Morgan Rogers
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Chelsea needed Emiliano Martinez and Maxence Lacroix more than Morgan Rogers
Thankfully, Chelsea were able to bring all three of Rogers, Emiliano Martinez and Maxence Lacroix to Stamford Bridge.
However, for all the quality Rogers possesses, if Chelsea had only been able to sign two of the three, it would have made more sense to choose Martinez and Lacroix.
The goalkeeper position was a long-standing issue, but it has been resolved with the arrival of Martinez, who is one of the best shot-stoppers in the Premier League.
Robert Sanchez was making so many mistakes between the sticks, which includes two howlers against Fulham at the start of the season, and has now paid the price for it. Following Martinez’s move to Chelsea after his latest round of errors, Sanchez has had to join Como on loan to get game time.
Slightly ahead of Sanchez, central defence was also a problem for Chelsea last season. They are still letting in goals right now, but Lacroix is the profile of centre-back that has been missing at the Bridge.
Emiliano Martinez and Maxence Lacroix of Chelsea
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Lacroix is experienced, has leadership qualities and is an all-round good defender. The 26-year-old is quick, aggressive and knows how to clear his lines.
He is a big upgrade on Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile and Mamadou Sarr, who have all left the club.
The above is not to say that Chelsea did not need Rogers, but had the England international not joined the club, Alonso could have experimented with the likes of Estevao Willian, Geovany Quenda and Jamie Gittens in his position. Ultimately, the former Real Madrid boss still had viable options.
The same cannot be said about the goalkeeper and centre-back positions, where it was clear that the players Chelsea had there were not at the required level and were not going to improve individually.
The need to add Martinez and Lacroix to the squad was more pressing than bringing in Rogers.