The transfer window is done and dusted. Chelsea came away with five new players over the summer, but are they all good signings?
COBHAM, ENGLAND – JULY 03: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Chelsea FC’s new signing Michy Batshuayi at Chelsea Training Ground on July 3, 2016 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
It was a dramatic summer transfer window for Chelsea. Despite leaving it late, the Blues still came away with five senior squad additions. However, do these signings represent decent business? After you had your say, I asked around The Pride Of London staff to get their ‘expert’ views.
NB All ratings are done on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest.
Michy Batshuayi
Barrett Rouen: 7.5. I wasn’t convinced when he first came but I quite frankly hope David Luiz can make me do as much of a U-turn as Michy has. Love him.
Travis Tyler: For once, the second coming of Didier Drogba seems to actually be a reality. If he keeps finding ways to contribute, Chelsea will have a legend on their hands.
Andre Carlisle: 8. Aside from the fact that for just a few million pounds more Chelsea could have bought Marseille (like, the whole thing), Batshuayi was a solid pickup. In addition to being a social media hero and already a fan-favorite, Batshuayi – who knows how to score goals as well as create them – is just good.
Dan McClue: 9. He hasn’t been given much of a run out yet, which makes how well he’s played all the more impressive. In eight years time this will go down as a top five signing for Chelsea.
Scott Brant: 8. He has loads of potential, and flashes of brilliance to back it up.
Ajitesh Rasgotra: 10. Purely for his social media antics.
Ayushman Basu: 9. In the limited minutes on the pitch he has shown great potential. He can easily lead the attack for the team and I’m expecting him to reach double figures in goal tally for the season.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 03: Chelsea’s new signing N’Golo Kante poses for a photo during the club’s pre-season US tour at Loews Hotel on August 3, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
N’Golo Kante
Barrett Rouen: 10. He has transformed the midfield.
Travis Tyler: 10. Kante has immediately stepped in and become the first name on the team sheet. Almost every tactic Chelsea used in the first 4 wins has relied on Kante, who is now very much indispensable.
Andre Carlisle: 13. The humble, ferocious, and consistent N’Golo Kante would be a 10 at twice the cost. He knows his job well, does it without fouling, and has already turned Chelsea’s puddle of a midfield into a stormy sea with a leviathan creeping just below the surface.
Dan McClue: 10. Sensational buy, swooped in for him early and as a result he was relatively cheap. He’s exactly what Chelsea needed and has been everything as advertised, good job Maria.
Scott Brant: 10. More tackles and interceptions than anybody last season, and he didn’t start every match.
Ajitesh Rasgotra: 10. He’s the midfielder all managers wish they had.
Ayushman Basu: 10. Best transfer for Chelsea and a potential best bargain buy of the season. Has given the midfield a massive boost and will play a major role in the title challenge.
Khaled Abdallah: 10. The guy is a machine! He is downright incredible and if we win anything it’ll be largely because of him.
COBHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Eduardo signs for Chelsea FC at Chelsea Training Ground on August 25, 2016 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Eduardo
Barrett Rouen: 6.5. Cool I guess.
Travis Tyler: 6. If a backup goalkeeper struggles to find minutes, then a third choice goalkeeper will never find them. Far from a priority this window, having a veteran in the position is better than having a youth who needs minutes in it.
Andre Carlisle: 5. He’s been a serviceable keeper and just celebrated winning the Euros with Portugal. That’s great, but with Thibaut Courtois and Asmir Begovic ahead of him, this may be the last we hear of the keeper until next summer – and that’s fine.
Dan McClue: 2. Probably a decent goalkeeper, but a third choice goalie wasn’t what Chelsea needed to prioritise with a week in the market to go. Jamal Blackman will never be our number one goalie so why not use him as the third choice?
Scott Brant: 4. Not a necessity, and won’t ever see match time.
Ajitesh Rasgotra: 6. He’s a fantastic goalkeeper to have as third choice and who doesn’t enjoy a bit of excess now and then.
Ayushman Basu: 1. Wasn’t required. Chelsea has abundant goalkeeping talent in Courtois and Begovic. He will struggle for game time.
Khaled Abdallah: 6. Third keeper, indifferent to this really.
COBHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 31: Marcos Alonso signs for Chelsea FC at Chelsea Training Ground on August 31, 2016 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Chelsea Football Club/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Marcos Alonso
Barrett Rouen: 6. A bit of an unknown here but the left back position has been a dead zone since Ashley Cole left.
Travis Tyler: 9. A late and somewhat surprising addition, Alonso seems to have matured into an extremely versatile player while in Serie A. He may not be a world beater, but his adaptability will help him to find a way to contribute going forward.
Andre Carlisle: 5.5 It remains to be seen if Alonso is truly ready for the step-up in his career he believes he’s prepared for. If indeed he is, he’ll already be our best crosser, Azpilicueta can move to his preferred right and Ivanovic can focus on being a CB – a position more suited to his current levels of athleticism.
Dan McClue: 7. Provides versatility on the left and (hopefully) means Azpilicueta moves back to the right. Has a sweet, sweet strike and will be more potent overlapping Eden Hazard.
Scott Brant: 7. Good at getting forward, spent some time playing center back.
Ajitesh Rasgotra: 5. The Sunderland man?
Ayushman Basu: 8. Great buy. Will solve the left back problem. Also can play a variety of positions and will give the team all-round consolidation.
Khaled Abdallah: 7. Young, tall, and maybe half-decent. Anyone at this point is better than Branna out there on the wing so give him a shot. His height is a great asset as well because he can be good in set pieces the way Branna has been for so long.
COBHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 31: David Luiz is unveiled as Chelsea’s new signing at Chelsea Training Ground on August 31, 2016 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Chelsea Football Club/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
David Luiz
Barrett Rouen: 3. Chelsea could have done far better for that sum of money.
Travis Tyler: 8. Fans begged all of last season for a player willing to play for the badge, and they begged for a center back nearly the entire transfer window. Enter David Luiz, who was certainly not the first choice or the best choice, but is a player who will give all for Chelsea in a position of need.
Andre Carlisle: 7. The frustration of Chelsea having all summer to fill a massive hole at CB and needing a last-ditch Luiz reunion will frame Luiz’s return. However, Chelsea needed a CB and got one with pace, aerial ability, and comfort on the ball.
Dan McClue: 6. A good ‘dressing room buy’, brings a lot of personality, #passion and he’s a player that knows the team. Certainly won’t make the team worse but isn’t much of an upgrade and has no potential to grow.
Scott Brant: 2. A desperation signing that hurts the wallet, and the back four.
Ajitesh Rasgotra: 4. The former Chelsea man?
Ayushman Basu: 7. The guy is a changed player and the stats say the same. Under Antonio Conte’s guidance he can be a decent defender that Chelsea need.
Khaled Abdallah: 6. Not the player I wanted this window but we certainly could have done worse. CBs are almost as expensive as strikers in this crazy world of football so he was relatively cheap. He loves the club and will give 100% so at least we’ve got that going for us.
Let us know what you think of the signings in the comments below!
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