After winning the title two years ago Chelsea had a lacklustre transfer window, with serious consequences in the following season. The club will be wary of same this summer.
All the speculations linking Chelsea with various players shows the club is determined not to repeat the mistakes of 2015. Clubs at Chelsea’s level conduct transfers for two reasons. First, obviously, improving the squad and winning more trophies.
The second is to make headline signings. Chelsea did it in the past with the likes of Andrei Shevchenko, Michael Ballack, Fernando Torres and Eden Hazard. Not all of them played out the way the club intended. But in each case, people stood up and noticed.
Chelsea can boost morale around the club with 1-2 headline signings amidst 4-5 total transfers. With Diego Costa’s recent claims, his spot is up for grabs. Romelu Lukaku is linked with the role the most, with Alvaro Morata still somewhat in contention.
Related Story: Five players Chelsea should add this summer to strengthen key roles
Lukaku has made his mark in the Premier League with his performances for Everton. He has his critics due to lack of consistency for club and country in high pressure games. However, Chelsea can be the perfect opportunity for the 24-year old to shake off those negatives.
Chelsea are his dream club, and he we will be under the perfect manager to bring out his best under pressure. The presence of better players around will also motivate him to be the player that Chelsea hoped he would be when they signed him in 2011.
While Alvaro Morata is also only 24, he is a more established, top flight player. He has played for Real Madrid, Spain and Juventus, giving him a much more intense range of experience than Romelu Lukaku. Unlike Lukaku, Morata knows how to perform in a big team.
Even though Morata was not able to play as much as he wanted, he have proved his worth whenever he had the chance last season. The fact that Conte signed him for Juventus highlights that he is a player Conte would have plans for. With the much greater amount of playing time he would have at Chelsea compared to his span at Real Madrid, he would have more opportunities to flourish alongside the current Blues like Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas.
Romelu Lukaku is the most realistic marquee signing among strikers this summer. Alvaro Morata would rise to the top if, somehow, the Lukaku deal cratered. Alexis Sanchez, Paulo Dybala and Antoine Griezmann are, to varying extents, unlikely to sign with Chelsea.
Next: Building the Antonio Conte empire, part 3 of 3: Be like Ferguson, not Wenger
Chelsea must make at least one big money headline signing this summer. This will help Antonio Conte continue his good work and improve the team as he looks forward to the domestic and European adventures of 2017/18 season.