26 minutes ago, ducavis said:

It isn’t though; £10m loan fee + £250k/w wages for 4mths is wild & just typical Boehly. Still doesn’t understand what the plan is here; he functions either up top in a pair in a 4-4-2 or as one of a pair behind a front man in a 3-4-2-1, and we have never used either of the formation.

I would get too hung up on formations. It's clear he likes to operate in the areas between defence and attack, Mount generally takes up those positions in our side, so it's not like we dont have a system that uses players in those areas. We dont play anything remotely similar to Simeone so it may work out. Odegaard didnt look great before he came to the prem, now he looks one of the best in the league. 

Definitely wouldve preferred we agreed an option to buy fee, minus the loan fee we are paying, but I'm just happy we are trying to do something to make us a little more creative and better to watch. 

1 hour ago, mwblue10 said:

 

CFC project appealed!

 

17 minutes ago, ducavis said:

Aboubakar is available on a free after he was released by Al Nassr to make room for Ronaldo. Can hold up the ball, run the flanks, finish and shoot from distance. Oh he is also free, and will be one a 1/3 of Felix’s wages.

 

He is another Havertz.

Aboubakar doesnt even have a great record in the saudi league, looks like a cross between Lukaku and Akinfenwa. 

 

I don't understand this at all, from his point of view.

He is making the same money as he was at Atletico so is not about money, we are no better, or perhaps worse, offensively that them so he won't get lots of chances to score. I don't see what is in it for him.

2 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

I don't see what is in it for him.

He gets to play for the famous CFC. 

 Another January loan were the player doesn't have time to get upto speed of the Premier League before he returns with his tail between his legs? Decent player on his day, maybe Havertz replacement?

2 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

I don't understand this at all, from his point of view.

He is making the same money as he was at Atletico so is not about money, we are no better, or perhaps worse, offensively that them so he won't get lots of chances to score. I don't see what is in it for him.

Well apparently he hates Simeone's guts and maybe he's fond of Chelsea due to Mourinho and our previous portuguese players. We'll keep paying what he already earns and he knows that if we like what'll see then Todd will obviously reward him with a brand new absurd contract.  Win-win.

2 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

I don't understand this at all, from his point of view.

He is making the same money as he was at Atletico so is not about money, we are no better, or perhaps worse, offensively that them so he won't get lots of chances to score. I don't see what is in it for him.

He gets to chill for the rest of the season under Potter, in comparison Cholo Simeone is very demanding but here he can just smell the flowers and tippy tap around...

On a serious note, nobody knows not even him.

It does make sense given that we have new signings coming in the summer. It’s a short necessity that doesn’t tie us down to any deals. 
 

The club are in a difficult position. We can’t overbloat our squad on permanent deals as we’ll never get rid of them. 

That said, I’m not convinced he’ll any good!

7 minutes ago, big blue said:

Aboubakar doesnt even have a great record in the saudi league, looks like a cross between Lukaku and Akinfenwa. 

 

C’mon was brilliant at Porto & Besiktas, also looked good at the World Cup. No idea where the Lukaku comparison is coming from, they are worlds apart.

Another lightweight player to ponce about doing very little. Will fit right in.

I have been one of those clamouring for this guy. He is a proper AM that operates behind the striker like Mount but he is miles better than Mount in quality of passes, shots on target and a good eye for quick transitions. I believe he will come good for us if only we can get our midfield to increase the tempo of play. Mount should be benched for him. Period. Having said that I think we won't do bad looking at Aboubacar on a short term deal. He is very physical, a proper CF with a decent speed on him and very hardworking. Good in the air and quite a handful infront of goal also. He will come as a free agent with probably little sign on fee and wages that won't kill us but he will offer us plenty of presence upfront. Worse case scenario, he can't be as bad as Lukaku

Thing is he is a good player, but he's not an out and out striker which we've been missing for sooo long. Again he's more of a creator bur since none of our attacking creators seem to be able to create other than Sterling maybe another chef in the kitchen could help.

Theoretically if he's any good an we then sign him in the summer we've got the perfect set up for a 4231 Felix, Nkunku and Sterling with a true number 9 would be the closest we've seen to a dynamic attack since Hazard, Oscar and Mata (in theory). I do think we should look to sign a true out and out playmaker too something like Mata before we sold him or Fab. Perhaps Joao could be this I'm not sure, right now he is perhaps a more consistent Kai.

Also the fact he wants to come you have to believe he and Nkunku back their talents to actually have an impact at the club. 

Edit: I'm excited by this signing but also sceptical, because signing big name forwards rarely works for us and now big name signings in general haven't been doing as well

Edited January 9, 20233 yr by LongtimerLurker

With Sterling and Pulisic on the sidelines and the rest, well, being the rest, we have so few options.  I can see why they went for him.

Hope he can quickly learn to pass sideways and/or back, otherwise he is really going to stand out. 

20 minutes ago, big blue said:

Aboubakar doesnt even have a great record in the saudi league, looks like a cross between Lukaku and Akinfenwa. 

 

He has a fairly decent record everywhere he has played. More to it, he is a very handy player: physically very strong, good eye for goal with feet or head, and also fairly quick in a race. He will offer us physical presence upfront as a proper CF with Felix, Mount, Kai playing off him. He is currently a free agent and would cost us minimally in sign on fees and loan. He is no stranger to 1 year deals and would either swim or sink with minimal cost to the club. For me he is a win win scenario for us and would be mugs not to consider him especially if reports that it's possible that Auba may leave is to be believed. We can sign him for year with option for another and let Fofana deputize for him freeing Havertz to be sold or allow to play in his original AM position.

9 minutes ago, PhilH930 said:

With Sterling and Pulisic on the sidelines and the rest, well, being the rest, we have so few options.  I can see why they went for him.

Hope he can quickly learn to pass sideways and/or back, otherwise he is really going to stand out. 

If Potter wants him, get him. There is no other way.

The only reason I can honestly see us going for him( he is a decent player), maybe with Mendez being his agent it’s a favour to get the Enzo transfer back on course?

Chelsea have moved fast to agree a verbal deal with Atletico Madrid for Joao Felix after late night internal talks where they decided to proceed. As reported, Atleti's loan price dropped from original quote & #CFC expected to pay around £9m & 100% of Felix's wages (£5.3m).

As revealed, although #CFC would love an option to buy, Atleti's starting position has always been a straight loan & they are yet to budge on this position. Chelsea know without one there is less long-term value. But the consensus is short-term needs make a deal worth pursuing.

Another suitor could still technically counter (if quick) since nothing signed, but very advanced. Yet when #AFC and #MUFC (currently focused on Wout Weghorst) held dialogue both made it clear anything above a £5m loan fee was (with no option) too high.

Felix is open to joining #CFC. Chelsea had backed away from signing him but reprioritised him again in the past 48 hours after the two losses to #MCFC and talks with Graham Potter.

@benjacobs

I watched him last night in the game vs Barcelona. He was completely anonymous so is going to fit in well with our current midfield.

This isn't going to work.

These short term loans have rarely worked out for us in the past. The likes of Pato, Falcao, Higain etc spring to mind. Felix is a talented player on his day but it will be hard for him to settle in such a short amount of time. I will keep me expectations low on this one.

I’m torn on this one.

On the one hand he is clearly a good player and playing for Simone at Atletico Madrid is like playing with your shoelaces tied together.

On the other hand how will he cope with the pace and the physicality of the EPL.

Then, he his not the proven goal scorer we desperately need - although maybe Potter wants 3 forwards who can get double figures each in goals.

We still badly need a midfielder this window, this can’t be ignored, we need a creative player or this could end up being pointless.

Saying all of that, doing something about a problem is definitely better than doing nothing - Einstein’s famous quote about insanity springs to mind.

I guess we’ll have to wait and see if this deal does go through…

Edited January 9, 20233 yr by 2211

1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

I don't understand this at all, from his point of view.

He is making the same money as he was at Atletico so is not about money, we are no better, or perhaps worse, offensively that them so he won't get lots of chances to score. I don't see what is in it for him.

Talked about it lightly in the Potter thread but that's what shows who is coming to actually work hard or who is coming here to just be a freeloader and make money. If a player is willing to join us in our dire situation and they aren't going to make more money than where they are coming from it can only be a good

Gotta help somehow. 

Hw would bring lots of creativity.

 

Going to be positive with this transfer and hope he helps us. Lots of negativity going on around the club so we need to count our blessings when they come.