They can't all be AVB signings, to me he's more worried about the now and we need to be signing players for the future as well.

http://www.premiershiptalk.com/2012/01/27/blues-boss-tight-lipped-on-transfer-links/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PremiershipTalk+%28Premiership+Talk%29

"Kevin is a player that is club policy, he’s a player that is not within my immediate project, he’s a player that the club has scouted for quite some time – I’m a manager that respects club policies as well,” Villas-Boas stated.

Nevertheless, acknowledging De Bruyne as a bright prospect, he added: “The club has to respect the future, whether it be with this manager or the next manager. Kevin is an extremely interesting player.”

Edited January 27, 201214 yr by skippy

I think AVB needs to be careful about what he is saying. Jose didnt last much longer once he started moaning about signings and Jose had won 6 trophies by then.

That was a power struggle over the Frank Arnesen position. I don't think there's an analogue to that in the current power structure. I doubt Michael Emenalo has much power right now.

That being said, obviously there are forces at work within Chelsea over which AVB does not have control. Sounds like Tintin is one of their favorites. Again, I find myself wondering about the role of Piet de Visser.

Today's words from AVB confirm what has seemed clear for a while, now. He wants to make his major moves in the summer. He won't overpay. And he's not interested in players the club has been fliritng with. In that light, I think he didn't want Lukaku either.

Can you name these affordable youngsters you go on about?

I was talking about academy players and young players bought for less than or more than a mill (affordable is relative), or in some cases Chelsea had to make sizeable after the fact payments (to Leeds among other clubs) heres a list in no particular order

Scott Sinclair, Ben Sahar, Gokan Tore, Franco Di Santo, Tom Taiwo, Michael Mancienne, Gael Kakuta *, Patrick Van Aanholt *,

Frank Noble, Sergio Tejera, Slobon Rajkovic, Jack Cork, Jacop Sala, Thibant Courtois *, Ulises Davila Plascantia *, Fabio Borini,

Jeffrey Bruma *, Matej Delac *, Tomas Kalas *, Sam Walker *, Josh McEachran *, Michael Woods

* still out on loan

How is Borini doing? It was a shame he was being so greedy and left.

From very reliable source on Twitter

De Bruyne watch: Flemish media report fee likely to be 8 mill euros; next season De Bruyne will be loaned out (Courtois-type loan).

From very reliable source on Twitter

De Bruyne watch: Flemish media report fee likely to be 8 mill euros; next season De Bruyne will be loaned out (Courtois-type loan).

Whats the point? How about save 8m & put it towards Hazard, Lucas, or a player who can fit straight in? Its like going sale shopping & coming back with loads of "bargains" that you end up giving away. Just pay the price for the real deal Chelsea, & stop buying over the hill or heavily injured former "real deals".

Whats the point? How about save 8m & put it towards Hazard, Lucas, or a player who can fit straight in? Its like going sale shopping & coming back with loads of "bargains" that you end up giving away. Just pay the price for the real deal Chelsea, & stop buying over the hill or heavily injured former "real deals".

Why does it have to be one or the other, why not sign him for the future and bring in someone who can do a hob now.

As for the over the hill or heavily injured players, is that what we have been doing lately?

Edited January 29, 201214 yr by dkw

From very reliable source on Twitter

De Bruyne watch: Flemish media report fee likely to be 8 mill euros; next season De Bruyne will be loaned out (Courtois-type loan).

Can't grumble at 8m euro (6.5m) - not much more than we paid for a 17 year old Lucas P. I do think a loan next season is required for his development.

I do not see the point in the loaning back arrangemetn unless Genk are inisisting on it before approving the transfer. Better that he spends 6 months with us and gets accustomed to playing in England and gets some playing time rather than having to start that process at the begining of a new season.

I would also say that if we don't think he is currently good enough to be brought in and add something to the current squad, given the form it is in, then it makes you wonder why we are buying him. Granted he is young and it is about potential rather than current ability but I would like to think if we are investing £8m in a 20 year old then he has enough about him already to be able to bring something to the current team.

I think its 8m euro`s loz, so around £6m sterling. I dont like the loan back thing either, would much prefer he went somewhere else to continue his education or train with us. But as you say, its probably something Genk want to smooth the transfer.

I think its 8m euro`s loz, so around £6m sterling. I dont like the loan back thing either, would much prefer he went somewhere else to continue his education or train with us. But as you say, its probably something Genk want to smooth the transfer.

I think genk is just for this season. We can probably send him to bolton or swansea in the summer

Why does it have to be one or the other, why not sign him for the future and bring in someone who can do a hob now.

As for the over the hill or heavily injured players, is that what we have been doing lately?

Sheva, Torres. Both showed they have quality, but neither quite strong or fit enough from what I can see. Torres clearly has lost a yard of pace, which was one of his huge assets.

In regards to De Bryune, I would like to think we are looking at players at the age of 21 who are ready, or at least close to ready for making our 11 or the bench, don't you think?

Sheva is hardly a new signing now. Our last signings are ramires, cahill and luiz, all young and hungry players.

Sheva is hardly a new signing now. Our last signings are ramires, cahill and luiz, all young and hungry players.

Ok, so to rephrase it, when we do shell out a fortune it should be on players who don't have a history of injuries.

Well he's 20 now, 21 in June so if we loan him our next season also he'll come back at 22. In the meantime many 17-19 year olds would have developed or become household names, so let's buy those also and loan them out.....seems like a neverending circle to me!....if you buy him at 20 I assume that someone in this club believes he is good enough to play in the PL...how many 21 year old players and under are currently playing in the PL? So if he isn't good enough why buy him...I am sure there are decent players in the PL or even the Championship that we could look at without spending a fortune, the mid table PL teams always seem to have a gem or two...just making an observation....

Players are "young" at CHelsea until they're about 23/24. Look at Bertrand. He's what? 22? 23? He's played over 100 games, but he's still considered a "youngster" and a "risk" by the management. It's just the way we do things here. We very very rarely give a teenager many games. I fully expect McEachran to still be struggling for games and going out on loan until he's about 21, because that just seems to be our policy in the last decade or so.

And yet Keisuke Honda is going to Lazio for 11M... No offense to DeBruyne because I actually like the signing for somebody that can help in the future but what the hell are the brass at Chelsea management thinking? It almost appears they do not want a CL spot next year? And now Ramires gone too? Liverpool playing some quality football with leadership by Gerrard, Suarez coming back too... It's not looking too promising... Why are we not signing anyone now? Honda's jersey sales in Japan alone would've paid for that 11M and Chelsea would have gotten a player who would have linked well with Mata. Instead, we will go out and sign Willian for twice the money! These guys pulling the strings are asleep at the wheel, yet again....

Edited January 29, 201214 yr by DoubleHelix74

And yet Keisuke Honda is going to Lazio for 11M... No offense to DeBruyne because I actually like the signing for somebody that can help in the future but what the hell are the brass at Chelsea management thinking? It almost appears they do not want a CL spot next year? And now Ramires gone too? Liverpool playing some quality football with leadership by Gerrard, Suarez coming back too... It's not looking too promising... Why are we not signing anyone now? Honda's jersey sales in Japan alone would've paid for that 11M and Chelsea would have gotten a player who would have linked well with Mata. Instead, we will go out and sign Willian for twice the money! These guys pulling the strings are asleep at the wheel, yet again....

One wonders what the scouts do at this club.....light fires by rubbing two sticks together and help old ladies cross the road!

The concept of Honda going to Lazio for nothing infuriates me. No different to Turan to Atletico or Pjanic to Roma both of whom are tearing it up.

Yet here we are chasing rainbows again. Wasting money on what might be rather than what already is. De Visser may have spotted Ronaldo and Robben, but i swear he must have gone senile since then.

@ Spiller, exactly how I felt when I saw that about Honda... Let's hope this Hazard deal is for Chelsea, however I have something deep down inside me thats saying he's going to really the unmentioned thus far Manchester United! I hope I am wrong but it wouldn't surprise me at this stage of the game... Either way, he comes to Chelsea or not, we all know its not until the summer and that does not solve any of the problems like Honda might have now. And really out of the English clubs that'll offer him first team football and a lock for the CL next year as United. God, I hope I am wrong but Ferguson has that persuasion psychiatry going, selling United and its annual trophy every year that now seems automatic nowadays...

Edited January 30, 201214 yr by DoubleHelix74

Kevin DeBruyne has his medicals today !!!!

He would sign a 5,5 year deal and would be sold for 8 million.

Edited January 30, 201214 yr by jungbrunnenwald

Hazard and Lucas Moura are not leaving their respective clubs before summer. The reason De Bruyne is available is because at this point he's nothing more than a young raw prospect. Established top players are very rarely available midseason and I do understand the difficulty of acquiring them in January.

Having said that, failure to refresh the squad in the summer is even more puzzling. Every summer we declare that the squad is overall good enough and there's no need for serious changes, then we struggle during the season, comes January during which we insist there's no value in the market. So year after year we regress as the squad and continue to feed the fans bullsh*t.

The scouting department has done f**k all in years.There are some youngsters with potential, like Feruz or Piazon but none that are ready to step in and make a difference now. Arnesen must be laughing all the way to the bank, the useless c**t.

Hazard and Lucas Moura are not leaving their respective clubs before summer. The reason De Bruyne is available is because at this point he's nothing more than a young raw prospect. Established top players are very rarely available midseason and I do understand the difficulty of acquiring them in January.

Having said that, failure to refresh the squad in the summer is even more puzzling. Every summer we declare that the squad is overall good enough and there's no need for serious changes, then we struggle during the season, comes January during which we insist there's no value in the market. So year after year we regress as the squad and continue to feed the fans bullsh*t.

The scouting department has done f**k all in years.There are some youngsters with potential, like Feruz or Piazon but none that are ready to step in and make a difference now. Arnesen must be laughing all the way to the bank, the useless c**t.

^ pretty much factual.

Although I dont think AVB is doing his job properly either.

Kevin DeBruyne has his medicals today !!!!

He would sign a 5,5 year deal and would be sold for 8 million.

Where did you hear this nonsense?

Edited January 30, 201214 yr by Zola

Isn't this topic called rumours ?

here : http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/1285/Jupiler-Pro-League/article/detail/1387157/2012/01/30/Kevin-De-Bruyne-legt-vandaag-medische-tests-af-bij-Chelsea.dhtml

I really can't see much transfer activity from anyone tomorrow. Weird with all the prem games on the same night