After a dire summer transfer window, it has been revealed that the Blues missed out on another exciting talent
Chelsea FC struggled to land big players throughout the summer transfer window. Paul Pogba was courted, as was Charles Aranguiz. The major saga, though, was the one involving Everton’s John Stones. Despite very public attempts to lure the defender away from Merseyside, the Blues failed to do so. Now, another Everton player has revealed that he nearly joined the reigning champions as well.
Toffees new boy Ramiro Funes Mori joined Roberto Martinez on transfer deadline day, shifting over from South American powerhouse River Plate in a near-£10million deal. Sitting down with The Express, the defender stated that a move to Chelsea a few years ago was held up by red tape.
"It can be said that it’s my second spell at England – I did a trial for Chelsea a few years ago alongside with my twin brother. We stayed at Chelsea for two weeks but had to leave because we didn’t have an European passport."
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Funes Mori still does not have a European passport, but Everton rate him so highly that they pressed to secure a work permit for the Argentinian centre-back, something that Chelsea evidently did not fancy.
"Well, I still don’t have a European passport but Everton truly wanted me. So now I hope to be ready and get used to playing in the Premier League as soon as possible."
The 24-year-old is well-regarded in Argentina, where he has been awarded three caps for senior team. Everton tend to be frugal spenders so the fact that they were willing to splash £10million on a player, that too a defender, emphasises the potential the club sees in him.
ESPNFC also elaborated on the struggle that Everton suffered in gaining the work permit. A player has to play 30% of his country’s international fixtures in the last two years for automatic qualification. However, Martinez exploited the new Home Office ‘Exceptions Panel’. Funes Mori’s domestic success (which included the Copa Libertadores last month) couple with the wages and the fee helped his cause.
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The defender in fact came full circle, so to speak, as he made his debut as a second half substitute in the Chelsea clash.
As for Blues fans, although the club did not necessarily miss out on Funes Mori over the summer, this revelation just acts as another stick to be beaten with. The club’s failure in the transfer market is hurting them at the moment with no star defender to plug the gaping holes at the back. Furthermore, with Diego Costa in terrible form, there is no star forward to score at the other end either.
The Blues are now stuck with what they have until January at the earliest and reports are that Jose Mourinho will be severely ringing the changes when they take on Maccabi Tel Aviv later today. One of Chelsea’s few summer signings, Abdul Baba Rahman, is expected to be handed his first team debut as Branislav Ivanovic drops to the bench.
The world’s eyes will be on Stamford Bridge tonight as Chelsea try and break out of this slump. Funes Mori will likely be watching too.
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