Chelsea must make a clear statement in the next transfer window
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich may finally reach for his checkbook to reverse his club’s recent form and give Antonio Conte the players he needs. Their choice of players and the money they spend must leave no doubt about Chelsea’s ambitions.
It’s amazing what a 3-0 loss to Arsenal will do to a man. Antonio Conte loses what little sleep he was getting before. Branislav Ivanovic insolently whinges. And Roman Abramovich is ready to get back to his roots and buy Chelsea a Champions League-quality squad.
The Telegraph reports that Abramovich is prepared to re-enter the world of high-value signings. The club spent £119 million in the summer transfer window on four players, but no one would rate any of them world-class.
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Michy Batshuayi has vast potential and may prove to be worth more than the £32 million Chelsea paid for him. N’Golo Kante remains a candidate for Premier League bargain of the year at £30 million. But neither of them have the cachet nor hefty price tag that denotes an ambitious club buying a marquee player to front a Champions League run.
While the most pressing need is at centre-back, defenders rarely are a “statement buy.” John Stones is a notable exception. Chelsea was supposedly in the hunt for the then-Everton man, but balked at his £50 million asking price. Manchester City had no such qualms, and things appear to be working out well for them.
Former transfer target Kalidou Koulibaly is off the market, having signed a new contract with Napoli. As a matter of principle, Chelsea should refuse to do business with Napoli or any other Serie A club. But as a matter of cold, hard pragmatism, Abramovich needs to pay whatever amount anyone asks for what they need.
Antoine Griezmann will likely emerge as Chelsea’s top transfer target. He could instantly slot in alongside Diego Costa atop a 3-5-2 formation. He has the global name-recognition that would show that Chelsea is serious about being Chelsea again. And he will command a transfer fee well in excess of the club’s current record.
The downside to any marquee transfer is the potential for blocking – temporarily or permanently – a youth player’s ascent to the first team. Buying Griezmann would consign Batshuayi to the bench for the Premier League. Tammy Abraham would spend another season on loan, or would only see action in domestic cup fixtures.
On defence, the long-term silver-lining is that even if Chelsea signs a top centre-back he will still need partners that could come from the academy. Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic will barely last the year at Stamford Bridge, opening up their slots. Kurt Zouma will be a regular starter, and Andreas Christensen should return next season. These two will play alongside whomever transfers in, allowing David Luiz to return to the midfield.
Roman Abramovich has shied away from the major signings that he once used to revolutionize the Premier League. His reluctance to spend and the board’s lack of strategic of vision created the revolving door of managers that accelerated the cycle of instability.
Spending a fortune is not a sufficient condition for winning a Premier League title, but Leicester City notwithstanding, it is a necessary one. The sooner Abramovich returns to his spending ways, the sooner his manager can return the club to its winning ways.
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