Photo by Marc Atkins/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
Photo by Marc Atkins/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
Chelsea’s decision to loan Alejandro Garnacho to Aston Villa may well cost them a permanent transfer fee next summer, but also already damaged their chances of signing a new midfielder.
Unai Emery clearly does not fancy Garnacho and is yet to use him for more than 15 minutes in a Premier League game this season, making the terms regarding his obligation to buy far more difficult to achieve.
Villa were not the only side interested in signing Garnacho over the summer, however their relationship was strong following a summer where Morgan Rogers and Nicolas Jackson changed sides.
Getting Alejandro Garnacho loan right could have helped Chelsea sign Manu Kone
Roma were linked with the winger, however the loan package they offered did not suit Chelsea’s needs, although if Villa aren’t going to be signing him permanently, then overall it didn’t really matter.
Bolstering relations with the Serie A side could have assisted Chelsea in their late quest to sign a new central midfielder, following the exits of Andrey Santos and Enzo Fernandez.
Manu Kone emerged as a late target, but Roma were in a position in the final few hours of the transfer window where they could stand firm in the face of Blues interest.
Chelsea reportedly had a bid rejected for Kone in the summer, however forging a stronger relationship with Roma via Garnacho could have seen it go another way.
Football, Italian Serie A: AS Roma vs FC Internazionale
Photo by Elianton/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images
As a result of the Blues not being able to sign a new midfielder late in the window, Xabi Alonso has seen his side struggle in the middle of the park in the first five Premier League games of the season.
Moises Caicedo’s absence has seen a variety of midfield combinations tried to limited success, with them clearly missing the Ecuador international’s physicality in the middle of the park.
Kone would have certainly added to this, with him playing a key role in Roma’s excellent start to the campaign. They currently sit top of the league with four wins from their opening five games of the season.