January Transfer Window

I'm going a slightly different route and proposing/wondering how will we react when Boehly come January tries to sign Ronaldo again? 😂


It's obvious he'll leave in the winter window and with Boehly the only one that's shown any interest this could be one of the main determining factors of why he wanted Potter over Tuchel. Staying away from that debate though, if CR7 has a good world cup would people take him here for a 6 month loan?

It could get toxic real quick, we know he's no cake walk but the guy knows how to score goals and we don't have many of them right now. Personnally I don't think it's the best idea but with the lack of goals, I can see how Todd will consider this avenue again once Mendes starts dangling the carrot.

Ideally I'd rather we sign loads of young up and comers that nobody really knows. Yet until the summer or when we have a proper dof I suspect we will continue to sign superstars which make Chelsea an even more  attractive product to the American market.

 
Dont see much happening in January. 

I think the club will hold off on a right back until the summer and assess the Livramento buy back.

Same with centre back, Thiago Silva moves on in the summer, Colwill looking good at Brighton and Gvardiol a summer option. 

Midfield again I think Kante and Jorginho's contract situation will mean we probably wait until the summer. 

Nkunku looks like deal lined up for the summer in attack, and I think we would have to move on at least one of Pulisic or Ziyech to make room for an incoming before then.

So not expecting much unless a major opportunity presents itself.

Expecting another big summer though, with 6 or 7 out, and at least 5 coming in.

 
Gotta ask:

Which players better than our current ones are going to be : 1) available, 2) affordable and 3) willing  to join Chelsea in its current state?

there’s always this grass-is-greener mentality. It’s not just all those players at other clubs. When Gallagher was on loan, he was going to be our saviour as soon as he came back… then he actually started playing and 🤷‍♂️ . RLC, as long as he was injured, was going to sort out our midfield, bring the physical presence we were lacking and goals too. Well?

now I keep seeing stuff about how we need to ship out “deadwood like Kova”. Anyone who thinks we’re going to find a better midfielder - I’ve got a bridge to sell you.

I think nothing will happen in January. Beyond that just doesn’t bear thinking about.

My fear is we’re going to get part of what everyone wishes for: namely most of our current players gone by next season. But they will all be badly missed.

 
I don’t trust this owner to make any good purchase in January transfer window

out of all signings this summer not even 1 of them is turning out average, let alone good

K2 - washed up, hot headed player who always causing chaos at the back because of his positioning 

Sterling - a city reject that only thrived in a dominating city team (which city fans hate him and don’t have him to start anyway)

fofana - got outran by some farmer league striker

Cucurella - overpaid like 40m and just another Emerson 

Auba - another washed up player like K2

200m+ down the drain for literally nothing and our squad is downgraded after these spending, which is unforgivable and unacceptable. The main issue is even an average Chelsea fan can do a better job at identifying proper targets for the club but these clowns who get paid millions cannot 

 
A fair few of of us felt the same about Lukaku and Saul. Hopefully you are right on the other signings not being massive wastes of space but imo, aside from Carney and Casadei who hopefully develop, the only hope is Fofana and i have my doubts if he will reach his potential with his injury issues.

Auba and Koulibaly are washed up, as you have called. Sterling looked good in Peps side but for me is just an English Timo with slightly better technique and Cucurella is just a really average footballer, just another Emerson.
Sterling also looked good in Liverpool and was (due to Suarez and to an extent Sturridge) an underrated aspect of their title challenging side. He won't be someone to carry us on our shoulders like Hazard did but he's very effective in the right system.

Forfana will be one of the best defenders in the world.

Cucurella will always be overpriced and the argument we should have walked away is fair but purely on performance I think the reaction has been well ott. He's had a few shockers but he's getting criticised even when he's been fine and I although he's a final third downgrade on Alonso he's much better in the first two thirds (and given Chilwell is also more a clutch fullback it provides good variety).

He's also had an illness of late which has no doubt had some effect.

Sadly K2 looks a bust as I've said but thankfully we seem to have a ready made player in that position ready to slot in next summer.

 
Dont see much happening in January. 

I think the club will hold off on a right back until the summer and assess the Livramento buy back.

Same with centre back, Thiago Silva moves on in the summer, Colwill looking good at Brighton and Gvardiol a summer option. 

Midfield again I think Kante and Jorginho's contract situation will mean we probably wait until the summer. 

Nkunku looks like deal lined up for the summer in attack, and I think we would have to move on at least one of Pulisic or Ziyech to make room for an incoming before then.

So not expecting much unless a major opportunity presents itself.

Expecting another big summer though, with 6 or 7 out, and at least 5 coming in.
Agree! We will need to ship out players in Jan before any incoming. For example; can’t see us signing a RB in Jan because that would mean ripping up Azpi’s 2yr contract, but crazier things have happened. Hypothetically though we could ship out Pulisic and/or Ziyech and sign a RW since they are not getting game time, and Newcastle, Juve and ACMilan retain an interest in them. 
Ideally we should be getting ahead of the market by signing players in Jan to move in the summer when players can move on. 

 
This is going to be our most important January transfer window in a long, long time. Perhaps most important ever.

The biggest thing for me is that Todd has all of Laurence Sterwart, Paul Winstanley, Joe Shields and Christopher Vivell available to him to work with Potter and his recruitment guy to make sure we NEVER, EVER have a window like this summer again. The damage in wages and length of contracts handed out will long be felt imo.

So I am making this thread not to cover speculation transfers but rather to see who shed end members want to see us sign, who we think is realistic and what positions we need to cover.

For me we have a few very pressing concerns:

1. An alternative rightwingback to Reece James.

2. A central midfielder who is physical, has a defensive brain and an excellent work ethic.

3. A central midfielder with good technique, a range of passing and an eye to create a chance.

4. Two new support players for our main striker.

5. A new striker who will be a goal threat and work hard for the team.

6. Another central defender as we have been left short.

Long list and I don't watch enough other teams to make the best suggestions but here is what I would suggest.

1. Tariq Lamptey is not playing for Brighton and Potter knows him. Depending on his price there is also the recall clause for Tino Livramento.

2. I don't know know who best to suggest for this.

3. Same as above. I like Sander Berge at Sheffield United as he reminds me of Gus Poyet but, unlike Ndiaye, I am not convinced he has what it takes at the level we are aiming for.

4. With his contract set to expire I would take Wilfred Zaha and would also suggest Sheffield Uniteds Illiman Ndiaye is looking a very talented player.

5. Biggest expense probably here, but I would like to see Ivan Toney come in.

6. Recall Levi Colwill.
We're going to get none of those and hand Cristiano Ronaldo a £500k p/w contract most likely

 
Do we have a director of football yet? Or is Potter going to handle transfers as well?

 
Agree! We will need to ship out players in Jan before any incoming. For example; can’t see us signing a RB in Jan because that would mean ripping up Azpi’s 2yr contract, but crazier things have happened. Hypothetically though we could ship out Pulisic and/or Ziyech and sign a RW since they are not getting game time, and Newcastle, Juve and ACMilan retain an interest in them. 
Ideally we should be getting ahead of the market by signing players in Jan to move in the summer when players can move on. 
If we finally get rid of Pulisic and Ziyech it would be a good window, even if we didn't buy anyone else

 
I don’t trust this owner to make any good purchase in January transfer window

out of all signings this summer not even 1 of them is turning out average, let alone good

K2 - washed up, hot headed player who always causing chaos at the back because of his positioning 

Sterling - a city reject that only thrived in a dominating city team (which city fans hate him and don’t have him to start anyway)

fofana - got outran by some farmer league striker

Cucurella - overpaid like 40m and just another Emerson 

Auba - another washed up player like K2

200m+ down the drain for literally nothing and our squad is downgraded after these spending, which is unforgivable and unacceptable. The main issue is even an average Chelsea fan can do a better job at identifying proper targets for the club but these clowns who get paid millions cannot 
Rudiger and Christensen left (no fault of Boehly & co) and we needed another CB, so we signed Koulibaly. In hindsight it was a good signing, and he may still be. He hasn't been here long enough to judge if he'll be failure or success. Again, Sterling was seen as a good signing too. Again, another player who hasn't been here long enough to pass judgement.

Fofana is a talented young CB. Sure we may have overpaid for him, but he was bought because of potential and that is the going rate for young players with high potential, and even more so if buying from a club like Leicester. We needed a striker due to Lukaku deciding he wanted to leave, so we had little option than to buy someone and Auba was that guy. He may not be ideal, but who else was available?

I agree we overpaid for Cucurella, but again, another player who has been here five mins and this is his second season in the PL and he's playing in a different team at a different club, so he's having to adapt once again. There's way more context to these signings than just "poor signings, overrated, and we paid too much" etc. I think Boehly was just trying to sign players to strengthen us, but they all need way more time. Potter, along with those signings, came into the club at a difficult time. 

 
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Rudiger and Christensen left (no fault of Boehly & co) and we needed another CB, so we signed Koulibaly. In hindsight it was a good signing, and he may still be. He hasn't been here long enough to judge if he'll be failure or success. Again, Sterling was seen as a good signing too. Again, another player who hasn't been here long enough to pass judgement.

Fofana is a talented young CB. Sure we may have overpaid for him, but he was bought because of potential and that is the going rate for young players with high potential, and even more so if buying from a club like Leicester. We needed a striker due to Lukaku deciding he wanted to leave, so we had little option than to buy someone and Auba was that guy. He may not be ideal, but who else was available?

I agree we overpaid for Cucurella, but again, another player who has been here five mins and this is his second season in the PL and he's playing in a different team at a different club, so he's having to adapt once again. There's way more context to these signings than just "poor signings, overrated, and we paid too much" etc. I think Boehly was just trying to sign players to strengthen us, but they all need way more time. Potter, along with those signings, came into the club at a difficult time. 
Fofana is coming off a season long injury and we paid 90m for him. Those kinds of injuries can permanently affect a player. Look how much Hudson Odoi's potential was ruined after his ACL injury. Same with Kurt Zouma back in 2016. Fofana hasn't exactly looked great since he came here, it was a huge gamble to sign him and not trust in Trev/Colwill.

 
Fofana is coming off a season long injury and we paid 90m for him. Those kinds of injuries can permanently affect a player. Look how much Hudson Odoi's potential was ruined after his ACL injury. Same with Kurt Zouma back in 2016. Fofana hasn't exactly looked great since he came here, it was a huge gamble to sign him and not trust in Trev/Colwill.
Indeed. We hope he will go on to become one of the best in the world but he may go on to be like Zouma. Just another average PL defender.

 
We should go down the road and snag Palhinha from Fulham and offer Willian his job back because he didn’t look worse than any of our players on the weekend. A chat with Leeds about Dan James when his Fulham loan is over might be worth it too. 

I haven’t seen enough of Fofana and have some hope there but the rest of the summer signings can be shipped back out. Boehly and Tuchel didn’t do well (being polite) with their choices and we all probably thought Sterling would do better but maybe his age is showing like some of the over 30 crowd. 

 
Rudiger and Christensen left (no fault of Boehly & co) and we needed another CB, so we signed Koulibaly. In hindsight it was a good signing, and he may still be. He hasn't been here long enough to judge if he'll be failure or success. Again, Sterling was seen as a good signing too. Again, another player who hasn't been here long enough to pass judgement.

Fofana is a talented young CB. Sure we may have overpaid for him, but he was bought because of potential and that is the going rate for young players with high potential, and even more so if buying from a club like Leicester. We needed a striker due to Lukaku deciding he wanted to leave, so we had little option than to buy someone and Auba was that guy. He may not be ideal, but who else was available?

I agree we overpaid for Cucurella, but again, another player who has been here five mins and this is his second season in the PL and he's playing in a different team at a different club, so he's having to adapt once again. There's way more context to these signings than just "poor signings, overrated, and we paid too much" etc. I think Boehly was just trying to sign players to strengthen us, but they all need way more time. Potter, along with those signings, came into the club at a difficult time. 
Buying Fofana was as much about stopping other teams like Pool and Utd getting him next year as it was about what he could do for us this year. He may or may not work out but if he does we’ll all be happy he didn’t replace VVD or McGuire. 

 
Rudiger and Christensen left (no fault of Boehly & co) and we needed another CB, so we signed Koulibaly. In hindsight it was a good signing, and he may still be. He hasn't been here long enough to judge if he'll be failure or success. Again, Sterling was seen as a good signing too. Again, another player who hasn't been here long enough to pass judgement.

Fofana is a talented young CB. Sure we may have overpaid for him, but he was bought because of potential and that is the going rate for young players with high potential, and even more so if buying from a club like Leicester. We needed a striker due to Lukaku deciding he wanted to leave, so we had little option than to buy someone and Auba was that guy. He may not be ideal, but who else was available?

I agree we overpaid for Cucurella, but again, another player who has been here five mins and this is his second season in the PL and he's playing in a different team at a different club, so he's having to adapt once again. There's way more context to these signings than just "poor signings, overrated, and we paid too much" etc. I think Boehly was just trying to sign players to strengthen us, but they all need way more time. Potter, along with those signings, came into the club at a difficult time. 
If we have to overpaid I would rather overpaid for Haaland, and people here would claim 'oh he is too expensive cant fault the board for not spending 200m on him' while would gladly accept the fact we also pay a lot of money for bust like K2, Cucurella etc

ffs, Fofana+K2+Cucurella could already get us Haaland, which would be 1000000000000000 times more useful than these 3 players, even if Haaland only stay for 3 years and these 3 players stayed till they retire

 
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