Chelsea have had a massively up-and-down period in the transfer market over the past decade.
Indeed, there’s been another transfer blunder for every amazing piece of business the Blues have done.
For every Diego Costa signed, there’s a Michy Batshuayi, for every Willian brought in, there’s a Mykhaylo Mudryk, while Romelu Lukaku has cancelled out his own transfer successes and blunders four times now.
However, perhaps the biggest mistakes Chelsea have made in recent times involves two notable player departures in the mid-2010s.
Indeed, Chelsea sold two absolute superstars in the 2010s who would go on to define the Premier League in years to come.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Chelsea made a big mistake selling Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah
A decade or so ago, Chelsea made the decision to sell both Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah.
In hindsight, those decisions look absolutely ludicrous.
Salah has been in Ballon d’Or winning form as of late, while De Bruyne has become an all-time great at Manchester City.
However, at Chelsea, Salah wasn’t exactly brilliant, while De Bruyne didn’t cover himself in glory either.
Of course, Chelsea’s mistakes would be laid bare in the years that followed, as both players’ Premier League stats show.
Mohamed Salah Kevin De Bruyne
301 Games 288
186 Goals 72
88 Asissts 121
Premier League stats overall
However, now, a decade on, Chelsea may have exploited another of their rivals’ naivety and somewhat made up for the Salah and De Bruyne debacle.
Liam Delap and Cole Palmer could make up for Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne mistakes
Liam Delap is now officially a Chelsea player, and while Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town, it’s Manchester City’s mistake they’ve capitalised on here.
Indeed, just 12 months ago, Delap was on Manchester City’s books, but now, he’s a Chelsea player after Pep Guardiola’s side discarded the striker.
Meanwhile, it’s a similar story for Cole Palmer who was signed from City for a discount fee two years ago.
Now, Palmer is one of the best players in the Premier League, and while Delap remains something of an unknown commodity at the top level, he impressed for Ipswich last season, it must be said.
10 years ago, Chelsea made a massive mistake by selling one of the best creators and one of the best goalscorers in the Premier League, now, Chelsea have two players who tick those boxes who were once on the books of their direct rivals.