Maresca wants another creative playerplaceholder image
Maresca wants another creative player | Getty Images
Chelsea now have a window to move as they prepare to sell a pricey player.
Chelsea must now get a move on with their transfer business as they close in on the sale of another player. The Blues have been careful with their transfer business this summer, with the club chiefs taking heed of a big fine and the threat of a further fine if they don’t start spending more responsibly.
The Blues have carefully balanced their spending this summer to remain within guidelines, and over recent weeks, they have placed all emphasis on selling players. Sales have not come easy, but it looks as though the next sale is about to be finalised as a player prepares to have his medical in Spain.
Renato Veiga is headed to Champions League club Villarreal, with Florian Plettenberg reporting: “Exclusive details: Renato #Veiga will sign a 7-year contract with Villarreal until 2032. Chelsea have also secured a 40% sell-on clause. The total package is worth €30 million including bonuses. Agreement between Villarreal and Chelsea is done, with the medical scheduled for Thursday.”
That deal certainly doesn’t solve Chelsea’s spending issues, with Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho expected to cost around £100million in all, while the Blues also need a centre-back after Levi Colwill’s season was curtailed by an injury. Fortunately, there are plenty of assets to sell, including Christopher Nkunku and Carney Chukwuemeka, while Nicolas Jackson could bring in the biggest fee of all should he leave, expected to command around £60million.
In terms of Chelsea’s next deal, though, they should now be much closer to being able to sign Xavi Simons, and they need to pull the trigger very soon. The Blues may have a £60million deal pretty much agreed and the player on board, but as we are seeing with Arsenal and Tottenham, number 10s who can also play wide are in need this summer, and that could put the deal at risk.
Chelsea need to get a move on with Simons before patience runs out and RB Leipzig start listening to offers from other clubs. Not only that, but there are reports Simons will play for Leipzig in the meantime, putting him at risk of injury, and Chelsea, of course, must play without him and the depth and quality he will bring to their squad.
Meanwhile, clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City have made much greater progress with transfers and may get off to a head start before the end of the summer transfer window. Now is the time for Chelsea to move, with the Veiga money assured, while there will be at least another sale to balance out any Simons deal. After that, the Blues will have to be careful given the uncertainty of mass sales, but now is the time to move for Simons.
Continue Reading