Chelsea are considering whether to offer a contract to former England defender Micah Richards, with the 26-year-old believed to be open returning to the Premier League after spending this season on loan at Fiorentina.

 

Richards, whose contract at Manchester City expires in June and is now free to sign a pre-contract agreement with clubs overseas, has already been offered a long term deal by Fiorentina having turned down two contract extensions to stay at the Etihad Stadium in the past.

 

But after trying to sign him in his previous spell as Chelsea manager and again for Real Madrid in 2012, José Mourinho is now keeping a watchful eye on the situation in case he decides to bolster his defence for next season.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/05/chelsea-micah-richards-free-move-summer-manchester-city

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not often the opportunity comes along to sign decent quality English players on a free transfer. 

 

Richards has a horrible injury track record but I've always rated him pretty highly. 

 

Can play right back and centre back so can provide decent cover for the defense. 

 

About as low risk a signing as they come so I wouldn't turn my nose up at him joining, what do fellow Shed Enders think? 

He would always be second choice with us so the only reason he would join us is for the money. No thanks!

But not every player can be first choice, you need players who are able to provide decent cover. 

 

Richards with his injury record might know that not many Champions League sides are going to take him on to be first choice because he can't be relied on to stay fit. 

 

But if he joins a side like Chelsea, manages to stay fit and impresses when called upon then who knows. 

 

When Dave joined Chelsea he wasn't considered first choice but he took his opportunities when they came along and now he is one of the first players on the team sheet. 

I dunno! He's just another one of those English players that was hyped up to the maximum and then faded into obscurity.

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Really rated Richards but injuries have unfortunately got the better of him. Definitely worth a free transfer though and meets the home grown requirements.

Wouldn't seem a bad move assuming he doesn't just see it as a bumper paycheck and feels he has something to prove after his recent injury track record - overall I rate him higher than both Omerou and Kalas (and like Zouma if he plays to his full potential could perhaps give Cahill something to think about). My only concern is whether it would hinder Zouma/Christensen's progress...

Edited January 6, 201511 yr by the special one

Why though? We already have sufficient cover for those areas. It makes no sense tbh.

Quite a random rumour but on a free transfer I'd definitely look at him but he would be aware that he wouldn't be first choice if he did come here next season.

 

Worth a look but let's see how the season transpires and whether he would be a handy addition or not next season. 

Free transfer? We should go for it! He can be a great addition.

Mourinho has a knack of bringing out the best in defenders so Micah Richards could potentially be a very good signing for us, and if he is available for free then we have little to lose. 26 is a good age too.

 

If he joined us he would probably be a back up to the current back four but it's not unthinkable that Richards could eventually earn himself a place in the lineup. Who knows when Ivan or Cahill might experience a dip in form, and of course JT isn't getting any younger.

Not too keen on Richards tbh. Even as a homegrown and free player.

Not for me.

He's horrible on the ball, no technique whatsoever and we're not Stoke City.

He has a wannabe gangsta attitude and thinks way too highly of himself.

Some may say, "Well, he could always change his spots".

Yeah well, he can go change his spots some place else.

Next.

What's a "wannabe gangsta attitude"?

 

What makes you say he thinks too highly of himself and why would he want to change his spots? Can he not use some Clearasil and just get rid of them instead? 

What's a "wannabe gangsta attitude"?

I think it's when you wear lots of bling and talk like a rude boy.

What's a rude boy?

No idea.

Edited January 6, 201511 yr by Davey Baby

I'm fairly sure....

 

They mess around in every town

But now they've learned the rules

They used to be rough, they used to be tough

But now they're keeping cool

 

They don't fight, they look just right

In their tonics and button downs

If you see them around, don't put them down

They're the coolest guys in town

You've convinced me.

Sign him up !

On a free transfer, sure. Don't really rate him though, I don't feel like he'd add much to the team save a little bit more depth

Edited January 6, 201511 yr by Marshal_Loss

Only reason I can see for this is to fill a quota place of some kind.

Only reason I can see for this is to fill a quota place of some kind.

Lot of pressure on having homegrown players in the squad, if we want to sign Messi we have to make space somewhere.

He's a horrible center back but if it means moving Ivan to center back and having Dave and Richards competing and Bertrand and Luis on the other side then I would be all for it. 

 

Odds of all that happening are very slim though, not to mention he'll probably get injured signing the contract. 

Jose clearly can see him as either a replacement or someone who can rotate with ivanovic. Let's face it Ivanovic's form lately has been poor. Hear cuadrado name being put out that, very good player but he's similar to Willian. Do we really need a player like that? Unless we going for anyone world class I think we should go for a player we can develop into a world. Memphis Depay is a good shout. In all fairness though if there's any area of the field we need players for it would he at the back. Terry can't last forever and Cahill's (mister reliable, usually) had a rotten game against spurs. Would love it if we went all out for Varane. Jose clearly likes him but can't see Real wanting to get rid of him. But they got a habit of late getting rid of good players (not including ozil in that)

What can he do that Chalobah couldn't do for us?

On a free transfer? Definitely, great cover for the defence, has been unlucky with injuries but I think he could do a job when called upon.

What can he do that Chalobah couldn't do for us?

Play at top level standard?

If it's a matter of getting a HG player, why not bring Betrand back, play Luis as the starting left back, move Azpi to the right to compete with Ivanoic, or Ivanoic to play more central role next year should JT get less games.