L’Equipe reporting we’re close to selling, highly rated LB, Ishé Samuels-Smith to Strasbourg for €6m.

Probably means we want to send more than 3 players to Strasbourg. I’d also assume it’s part of his development plan as they play a similar way to we do.

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

L’Equipe reporting we’re close to selling, highly rated LB, Ishé Samuels-Smith to Strasbourg for €6m.

Probably means we want to send more than 3 players to Strasbourg. I’d also assume it’s part of his development plan as they play a similar way to we do.

I wonder if we have to include a buy back clause to prevent accusations of us farming players between the two clubs to manipulate the rules

It's a solid commercial decision taken by the club. £1.85 per letter to have the name printed on the back of the latest club shirt. Ishe Samuels-Smith is not a viable money making option.

5 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

L’Equipe reporting we’re close to selling, highly rated LB, Ishé Samuels-Smith to Strasbourg for €6m.

Probably means we want to send more than 3 players to Strasbourg. I’d also assume it’s part of his development plan as they play a similar way to we do.

Hi mate. How can it be part of his development if we've actually sold him ? Or is there some loophole we've uncovered?

41 minutes ago, The Rising Sun said:

Hi mate. How can it be part of his development if we've actually sold him ? Or is there some loophole we've uncovered?

We’ll likely insert a buy back set at the fair market value in case he explodes at Strasbourg. Getting a top LB for only peanuts.

26 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

We’ll likely insert a buy back set at the fair market value in case he explodes at Strasbourg. Getting a top LB for only peanuts.

Can’t lie this is where the multi club model works we can put a buy back into the contract in case he blows up and if he doesn’t we get 8m pure profit which isn’t a lot but when u do this a couple times it all adds up

Thought he could be the understudy to Cucurella, but appears there are other plans.

4 hours ago, DiegoHavertz said:

Can’t lie this is where the multi club model works we can put a buy back into the contract in case he blows up and if he doesn’t we get 8m pure profit which isn’t a lot but when u do this a couple times it all adds up

From "Chelsea News"

""Chelsea consider the prospective transfer to be part of broader squad planning. With the loan system and loan spots tightly regulated by the Premier League, particularly regarding internationals, a sale would relieve Chelsea’s current logjam of young talent while leaving a door ajar for future""

Assuming Samuels-Smith, Anselmino, Amogou, and Penders get sent to Strasbourg?

11 hours ago, DiegoHavertz said:

Can’t lie this is where the multi club model works we can put a buy back into the contract in case he blows up and if he doesn’t we get 8m pure profit which isn’t a lot but when u do this a couple times it all adds up

We paid 4.8M for him so not quite pure profit.

So who is actually going to be Cucurella's cover next season? Or are we shoehorning Gusto/RJ there when we need to.

Annoys me how as it seems the balance of the loan system for our club has seemingly changed somewhat over the last few years. I remember the days when it seemed that the majority of our available loan slots were utilised by providing development opportunities for our young players, these days it seems to be increasingly looked upon as a glorified storage facility for deadwood or players on massive wages that we cannot shift.

58 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

So who is actually going to be Cucurella's cover next season? Or are we shoehorning Gusto/RJ there when we need to.

Watch us go and buy another player.

What happened to Hato? Could probably get Barco from Strasbourg.

On 10/07/2025 at 19:45, Ukraine Bolt said:

So who is actually going to be Cucurella's cover next season? Or are we shoehorning Gusto/RJ there when we need to.

Can always recall Ben

On 10/07/2025 at 13:33, Blue Ram said:

Annoys me how as it seems the balance of the loan system for our club has seemingly changed somewhat over the last few years. I remember the days when it seemed that the majority of our available loan slots were utilised by providing development opportunities for our young players, these days it seems to be increasingly looked upon as a glorified storage facility for deadwood or players on massive wages that we cannot shift.

The amount of players that you can loan out changed from 2022 . In the day you could loan as an any players as you wanted to who you wanted indeed at one point( I think 20/21) we had 39 out on loan

In 2022/23 you were restricted to 8 international loans, 23/24 it was down to 7 and last season it reduced to 6. Under 21 year olds as well as HG players weren’t included

On 12/07/2025 at 16:53, Sconnie Blue said:

What happened to Hato? Could probably get Barco from Strasbourg.

Hato isn’t coming here to sit on the bench, when he gets to start and play CL football at A**x. C’mon seen approach was either to reintegrate Veiga or all Ishe Smith to deputise. They aren’t going to get a decent competition for Cucurella at £20m.

Transfer to Strasbourg now confirmed on the club web site.

Anyone know how Chelsea and Strasbourg can be in the champions league and one of them not be kicked out of the competition a la Crystal Palace re ownership rules?

Wondering if Fifa will try to close the loop, Forrest have a similar model...

18 minutes ago, bluelightening said:

Anyone know how Chelsea and Strasbourg can be in the champions league and one of them not be kicked out of the competition a la Crystal Palace re ownership rules?

Wondering if Fifa will try to close the loop, Forrest have a similar model...

We haven't crossed that bridge yet as Strasbourg didn't qualify for the Champions League last season. If they had, then one team would have had to drop out as per the current rules ...

1 hour ago, bluelightening said:

Anyone know how Chelsea and Strasbourg can be in the champions league and one of them not be kicked out of the competition a la Crystal Palace re ownership rules?

Wondering if Fifa will try to close the loop, Forrest have a similar model...

I'm sure the owners can transfer their shares somehow like Marinkas did if it ever comes to that.

He's either going to be LWB or LCB the way Strasbourg are set up.

Theres always someone working hard to close loopholes in business rules....however there is always a dozen people looking for the next loophole to exploit.

There are probably schemes or angles to avoid the next loophole crushing rule just sitting on the shelf ready to go.

Edited July 31, 2025Jul 31 by OneTommyLangley

Thanks for the memories Ishe.

12 hours ago, bluelightening said:

Anyone know how Chelsea and Strasbourg can be in the champions league and one of them not be kicked out of the competition a la Crystal Palace re ownership rules?

Wondering if Fifa will try to close the loop, Forrest have a similar model...

City and Girona have played UCL simultaneously as have the Red Bull clubs.

The only reason why Palace got f**ked is because Textor never transferred his shares because he never expected them to be playing Europe or a conflicting competition with Lyon.

and then they won the FA cup.