Chelsea shed another striker: Blues to sell Bertrand Traore to Lyon for £16 MM
By George Perry
Chelsea and Lyon are close to finalizing a £16 million transfer for Bertrand Traore. The Blues must be quite secure in their upcoming purchases to unload two youngsters in one week.
In keeping with the highest traditions of the Chelsea way, the Blues will likely reward Bertrand Traore for his strong loan performances in the Eredivisie with a permanent transfer. Chelsea, like Lyon, were so impressed with Traore’s season at Ajax that they did not even want to wait until a pre-season trial before sending him on his way.
Lyon will reportedly pay £16 million for the Burkinabe striker. This is pure profit for Chelsea, as Troare arrived as a trialist from Auxerre in 2010. Similarities abound in performance, treatment, outcome and transfer fee between Traore and Kevin de Bruyne. Upon finishing this article, please pray to your deity of choice for two things: a buy-back clause and a sell-on clause.
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Like Tammy Abraham’s prospective loan to Swansea City, the Traore transfer is disappointing and somewhat concerning in its timing. Traore had a solid chance of becoming Chelsea’s third striker this season. Both players earned a chance to compete for a first team position, particularly Traore given his years of high-performance loans. Abraham may at least have the prospect of a January recall, a la Nathan Ake.
Even if Antonio Conte stays in a one-striker formation, the Blues need depth at the position. They also need youth development there. Otherwise, they will continually have to wade into the transfer market and break the bank every few years.
Including Dominic Solanke – who, admittedly, sealed his own fate last summer – Chelsea will have moved out three young strikers this month. In return, there are plenty of rumours and little else inbound.
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Chelsea hardly need the money to cover their purchases. They have enough from January’s transfers to cover Romelu Lukaku or any other striker this side of Cristiano Ronaldo. Bertrand Traore’s value is not going to decline between now and the end of the summer. Other clubs would pay £16 million for him in mid-August. The false sense of urgency is troubling.
Chelsea are either holding their announcements until July 1 or are being dangerously cavalier with their squad. They have fewer Premier League-ready strikers now than they did at the end of the season. They are shipping off their future without securing their present.
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Any hiccups in the transfer market, any injuries or any other unforeseen events (tax evasion indictments are de rigeur these days) could leave Chelsea desperately writing a check on August 31. Or worse yet, extending Diego Costa’s contract.