Chelsea FC Must Keep Loic Remy At Stamford Bridge
Chelsea FC must prevent disillusioned striker Loic Remy from leaving Stamford Bridge in January.
Rumours have been doing the rounds that Loic Remy will be departing Chelsea and West London during this January transfer window, after failing to be afforded playing opportunities. Aston Villa are thought to be one of the clubs with concrete interest, with manager Remi Garde confirming as much during a press conference.
However, any chance of the Frenchman leaving the Blues should be shot down quickly by the Stamford Bridge brass.
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Chelsea are in dire straits at the moment, floundering in 14th position. December saw the club lose their ninth Premier League game of the campaign, sack Jose Mourinho and summon Guus Hiddink to save the day again. Since the Special One’s departure, the Blues are indeed unbeaten but their three fixtures have come against an awful Sunderland outfit, Watford and a fragile Manchester United side that were there for the taking.
Simply put, Chelsea have shown few signs of improvement in the recent weeks.
Much of their troubles in the first quarter of the season stemmed from an inability to defend. Almost every defender in the squad was out of form, allowing each opposition to waltz into their box. However, an impotence in attack has plagued the side consistently as we head into the second half of the term.
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The Blues have been incapable to strike when needed. There have been occasions on which the team have piled on goals against the likes of Maccabi Tel-Aviv, but when a decisive goal was required in a tight game, it never came. This is largely because Diego Costa has gone colder than frozen fish, as the previously prolific striker has looked like a novice.
With Radamel Falcao the third striker in the squad, Loic Remy’s retention is key. The Frenchman was criminally underused by Mourinho, who blindly pursued with Costa leading the line. He has made 13 appearances but only three of them have been starts. Given that Remy has hardly been afforded more than 20 minutes on the pitch when he does come on, his three goals represent a decent return.
His apparent surplus status has led to these stories that claim he is looking for a way out, and who can blame him? At the age of 28, he needs regular football to take advantage of the prime of his career, something which isn’t happening in West London.
Hiddink, though, must change this perception, keep him at Stamford Bridge and give him a more significant role in the squad. Remy has shown glimpses of his quality during his precious few minutes and could be crucial to helping the Blues climb the table. Costa’s temperament makes him vulnerable to being absolutely useless while Falcao is, bar a miracle, finished.
Remy’s list of injuries may work against him, but this could easily be down to a lack of match-fitness as it is to some innate tendency to get hurt.
Many state that Chelsea can bring in a new forward during the impending January transfer window, but it is just not that simple. Very few top level strikers are available in the middle of the season, especially not for a reasonable price. With Financial Fair Play, the Blues cannot randomly splash out £30 million on someone unless they are certain that he will repay his fee in production.
Names like Alex Teixeira are being bandied around as if a deal can be easily arranged, but the Blues are far from it. Others are pointing to the Leicester City duo of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez but with the Foxes’ position, they certainly won’t come cheap. Furthermore, after just half a season, their is no guaranteeing that their impressive form is sustainable.
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In all likelihood, Chelsea will not be able to bring in a bona fide goalscorer by the end of January. Any forward who is signed will most probably be underwhelming and at a premium. Loic Remy is a match for any genuine midseason transfer target so there is little sense in letting him go.
The Frenchman must be given his chance.