Kova - Jorginho

Ziyech - Havertz - Pulisic

                Werner 

😱

 

Just need to fix the defence and GK!

Serious talent IMO, getting a clear run at someone so good is rare.

Hopefully we’ll get this one over the line and then we can do our wheeling and dealing to sort out the defence or midfield if we choose to.

32 minutes ago, Jackbuchanan said:

        Kova - Jorginho

Ziyech - Havertz - Pulisic

                Werner 

😱

 

Just need to fix the defence and GK!

That would be a very exciting attack.

and we would still have decent back up/ alternatives such as kante, Rlc, Mount 

 

Though I agree we definitely need to improve in defense and GK if we are to be title winners and have a good run in Europe.

9 minutes ago, 2211 said:

Serious talent IMO, getting a clear run at someone so good is rare.

Hopefully we’ll get this one over the line and then we can do our wheeling and dealing to sort out the defence or midfield if we choose to.

Defence and GK*

Midfield we are actually pretty solid. We probably just need to clear out 3-4 deadwood players (including loan players) and bring in a top quality signing for MF and that'll be enough

9 minutes ago, driller97 said:

Defence and GK*

Midfield we are actually pretty solid. We probably just need to clear out 3-4 deadwood players (including loan players) and bring in a top quality signing for MF and that'll be enough

I agree, I think we’re solid in midfield too, I just have a feeling Frank wouldn’t be totally against selling Jorginho for example, and bringing in someone else.

2 hours ago, Sindre said:

    Jorginho/Mount - Kovacic/Kante

        Ziyech - Havertz -Pulisic

              Werner/Giroud

If we sort the goalkeeper and defence situation out as well this window i'd argue that team there is ready for a title challenge next season already. Might need some time to bring it all together so don't think we'll win it but we should be able to be up there with the best if we can field a side like that.

Year too soon in my opinion, the new players will need time to gel properly.

48 minutes ago, 2211 said:

I agree, I think we’re solid in midfield too, I just have a feeling Frank wouldn’t be totally against selling Jorginho for example, and bringing in someone else.

I change my opinion on Jorginho almost every game! Sometimes he seems solid and plays great as a "regista" pinging in balls and making nice cutting passes. Other times he looks completely out of ideas and a liability when it comes to the defensive side...

I think for the time I would like to keep Jorginho, unless we get a very good offer for him. Kante is someone I would look to sell as well as he's not the same player anymore. And on top of that add in Drinkwater, Bakayoko and Barkley and we can probably use the funds from all of them to bring in someone else of real quality in midfield that brings a bit of strength and grit.

Milinkovic-Savic would be a pretty good shout as he's kind of a do it all/complete midfielder who's also a tank!

Lots of paper talk for weeks now. Have to say I'll believe this when I see it. Does an 80m attacking midfielder really make sense when you look at our squad and where we've been exposed this year.

 

Sky sports started reporting this now which means it’s not just a rumour! It’s happening boys. Can’t remember the last time I was so excited in a transfer season and it hasn’t even started yet!!!

10 minutes ago, Spiller86 said:

Lots of paper talk for weeks now. Have to say I'll believe this when I see it. Does an 80m attacking midfielder really make sense when you look at our squad and where we've been exposed this year.

 

I agree with your sentiment but wonder if Frank/board look at it this way...... lets bring in players who will immediately improve the staring 11 based on what's actually available rather than as we need........yes, we have sections that desperately need that upgrade before the position(s) Havertz would occupy.....but if the caliber of talent isn't available/realistic to get for those needed positions it's better to spend it where it will immediately improve even if the position is one we are relatively strong at rather than spend money on players where we need improvement but the available players aren't measurably better than what we already have.

1 hour ago, Spiller86 said:

Lots of paper talk for weeks now. Have to say I'll believe this when I see it. Does an 80m attacking midfielder really make sense when you look at our squad and where we've been exposed this year.

 

When a player of this standard is available you go for it, on paper we should have prioritised the midfield the summer we signed Hazard but imagine if we passed up on him.

Furthermore what's been a bigger exposure than the defense is the lack of consistent quality up top, for example Kante's slip against Arsenal would have just been an amusing sidenote in an otherwise one sided thumping if we gobbled up the 4-0 half time lead they were offering to us on a plate.

1 hour ago, Spiller86 said:

Lots of paper talk for weeks now. Have to say I'll believe this when I see it. Does an 80m attacking midfielder really make sense when you look at our squad and where we've been exposed this year.

 

I think Frank wants to make sure we have the players to capitalize and create the chances first. 

I agree. We sort out our attack and get it gelled first then we observe and monitor the growth of our defence. If Kepa, Andreas, Rudiger, Tomori and Zouma can make the step up then we don't necessarily have to buy a CB or GK.

At the moment, there isn't a must-have world class CB available for us to buy that costs less than 60-70m. I believe the board has learnt from past mistakes and am now pursuing world class talents or potential youth as soon as they're available rather than addressing problem areas with players that are "supposed" to strengthen it only to find out we had better alternatives just sitting on the bench

 

All fair points.

The problem is this "we'll score one more than them approach" doesn't play out well over the long term. Title wins with very few exceptions are built on defence. Part of that is personnel, part is tactical. We don't have either right at the moment.

We've bought two new attackers who will improve our finishing and creativity. For me 80m on an attacking midfielder with good potential is less of a need than a goalkeeper, centre back and left back. Now we might buy them too but the pot isn't unlimited and 80m is a lot.

4 minutes ago, Spiller86 said:

All fair points.

The problem is this "we'll score one more than them approach" doesn't play out well over the long term. Title wins with very few exceptions are built on defence. Part of that is personnel, part is tactical. We don't have either right at the moment.

We've bought two new attackers who will improve our finishing and creativity. For me 80m on an attacking midfielder with good potential is less of a need than a goalkeeper, centre back and left back. Now we might buy them too but the pot isn't unlimited and 80m is a lot.

I read somewhere that Liverpool's first 30m+ signings under Klopp were Mane, Salah and Oxlade-Chamberlain.

We seem to be taking a similar approach. It may also be a case of a lack of available targets to strengthen our back line, bar maybe an LB and possibly a keeper.

If you get Kai Havertz over the line, that may be your best transfer since Hazard. 80m is peanuts for his talent, and I can't believe no other club is challenging you for him. 

You'll score lots of goals going forward next season. 

As much as I want to be just as hyped up as all of you guys. 

I remain a bit more carful up to when it is official. 

I keep getting flashback of when Neymar signed with us on pretty much every newpaper and then he went to a team I disliked so much. 

I was so exited about him coming to Chelsea when he still played at Santos. The moment he went to barca I disliked him so much. 

Hasn't changed ever since. Off course I wouldn't dislike Kai, even if he went to a team I dislike. 

Just because he isn't that theatrical and he looks like a bright guy, but it would be a huge disappointment if he would end up with a rival teamor a team I dislike. 

9 hours ago, Spiller86 said:

Lots of paper talk for weeks now. Have to say I'll believe this when I see it. Does an 80m attacking midfielder really make sense when you look at our squad and where we've been exposed this year.

 

I said this before but I dont understand when people write this kind of thing, just because we are looking to sign player A it doesnt mean we arent also trying to sign players B, C and D...

Even if be buy Havertz, which seems probable now, we don't have a title contender squad. I don't think we do in a couple of seasons. Young players seldom win titles. Cups maybe but long seasons are for sides that have experience and players can perform at a high level all season. We will still be up and down for a while. Liverpool and City squads are at perfect age. 

We will have some exciting seasons ahead don't get me wrong but I doubt we can win the league. I might be wrong but this is usually the case. 

Anyway I feel we take an opportunity to make an investment in Havertz. Every big club is after him when they have the cash. Now we have golden opportunity to buy him. We can still go for defenders and keepers. This doesn't really change it if I understand our financial situation. 

Very exciting signature. Hope we manage to get it over the line. 

Gents,  I seriously doubt that Frank, Marina and Roman do not have a LONG list of players of all positions that we would bid for if they become available. We know the Club is looking at a left back, is clearly not happy with Kepa, so would like to do a financially sound deal to out him and bring in a keeper with more ability and even a blind man can see that we need more leadership and ability at centre back. so we will undoubtedly have names for all of those positions and are almost certainly talking to Clubs, players and their agents about moving to Chelsea. Then it is down to money. Will the Club do a deal? will the player accept our terms? and how much does the Agent want?

I also have no doubt that Havertz has been on our list for a while. Our scouting system and in turn the management must consider that he offers us something different or is quite simply better than what we have. We are not buying him to sell shirts as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus would do. He is being bought to take his place in a 23 man squad that MUST be better than the squad of recent seasons. Therefore general improvement across ALL areas of the squad is necessary, not just at GK, CB, LB or CM

5 hours ago, Spiller86 said:

All fair points.

The problem is this "we'll score one more than them approach" doesn't play out well over the long term. Title wins with very few exceptions are built on defence. Part of that is personnel, part is tactical. We don't have either right at the moment.

We've bought two new attackers who will improve our finishing and creativity. For me 80m on an attacking midfielder with good potential is less of a need than a goalkeeper, centre back and left back. Now we might buy them too but the pot isn't unlimited and 80m is a lot.

Lampard has spoken about a 3 year plan, i dont expect a serious title challenge next season, i if we can have a comfortable top 4 finish, and improve on our points tally, then push on the following season. So Lampard has 3 windows to build a title challenging team. 

Havertz is available, we are in a unique position to sign one of the most coverted players in the world. We have to go for it. 

Who knows what that means for the rest of the window, we could still go to fix all tne defensive issues, or we might still end up being a couple of players short of Liverpool and City. 

Not much point complaining about priorities, when no-one is privy to what the long term plan is in the boardroom. I think it comes across as slightly spoilt to complain about the club signing Ziyech, Werner, and Havertz, before they sign any defenders, especially in the current climate, every non chelsea fan is jealous of what we are doing right now. Not a dig at you spiller, ive seen loads of it on twitter. 

Come on we have a free shot at one of the best young talents in football who could be the best attacking player in world football for the next 10 years.  Imagine passing up signing Zidane so we can spend a fortune on whoever was the Harry Maguire equivalent back then.  I say bring it on.

16 hours ago, Sindre said:

    Jorginho/Mount - Kovacic/Kante

        Ziyech - Havertz -Pulisic

              Werner/Giroud

If we sort the goalkeeper and defence situation out as well this window i'd argue that team there is ready for a title challenge next season already. Might need some time to bring it all together so don't think we'll win it but we should be able to be up there with the best if we can field a side like that.

Would sell Kante and keep RLC there instead, use the funds to help sort out the defence

3 hours ago, evissy said:

Even if be buy Havertz, which seems probable now, we don't have a title contender squad. I don't think we do in a couple of seasons. Young players seldom win titles. Cups maybe but long seasons are for sides that have experience and players can perform at a high level all season. We will still be up and down for a while. Liverpool and City squads are at perfect age. 

We will have some exciting seasons ahead don't get me wrong but I doubt we can win the league. I might be wrong but this is usually the case. 

Anyway I feel we take an opportunity to make an investment in Havertz. Every big club is after him when they have the cash. Now we have golden opportunity to buy him. We can still go for defenders and keepers. This doesn't really change it if I understand our financial situation. 

Very exciting signature. Hope we manage to get it over the line. 

I don’t think we can mistake youth for inexperience though. Havertz is only 21 but has multiple Bundesliga seasons under his belt, along with European games. Pulisic is the same. Werner is only 24 but you could make the argument that he is one of the most experienced 24 year olds in history - he broke into Stuttgart’s first team at age 16.

And of course Ziyech isn’t young. Even if we sign 21 year old Rice, he has played multiple PL seasons with West Ham.

Thats the difference with youth elsewhere compared to our youth. Nobody at the club had broken through so they all either had no big league experience or if they did, it was very minimal (Abraham with Swansea, Mount with Vitesse)

The young players we are looking to sign are all well seasoned big league veterans, who I don’t think you can look at and say “oh they’ll struggle to mount a title challenge due to their age.”

I for one am very sceptical that this will happen,I just feel most of what has been written is just twitter rubbish, I would love it to be true but I just have a feeling in my water,and its still miles away from being done.

1 minute ago, Bluesince66 said:

I for one am very sceptical that this will happen,I just feel most of what has been written is just twitter rubbish, I would love it to be true but I just have a feeling in my water,and its still miles away from being done.

I wouldnt say miles. Havertz wants to come here and the personal terms have basically been agreed, all thats left is the fee with leverkusen which we are also close to