Despite winning the Premier League and reaching the FA Cup finals, Chelsea have yet to do an important transfer this summer.
Chelsea business so far this transfer window has done nothing towards strengthening the first team. A backup goalkeeper who will be sitting on the bench for most of the season was not the transfer fans had hoped for on July 1.
The most important requirement right now is a striker who can replace Chelsea’s top scorer for last three seasons, Diego Costa. Chelsea have handled the whole striker sage poorly.
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The whole world is aware of Chelsea’s interest in strikers. Diego Costa is linked with Atletico Madrid or Chinese clubs every transfer window. The Blues routinely dabble in the market without making a purchase. Rumours fly, the club have money, so naturally targets are priced high.
The whole saga started when Antonio Conte allegedly sent Costa a text message saying he is not wanted. Knowing Costa, Conte should have been more careful. Costa put the club in the worst possible position by going public with the exchange.
Chelsea management had to deal with a very difficult situation. The word was out that Chelsea wanted to move their striker and had to find a replacement for him before the season started. Costa, being the person he is, only wanted to move to Atletico Madrid.
Making matters worse, Atletico Madrid are under a transfer ban for this window. Despite not being able to register any new players until January – meaning Costa could train but not play until then – they are willing to buy Costa. But since they know Chelsea badly want a suitor for Costa and they are the only willing suitor, they offered a much-deflated price of £22 million.
Chelsea are desperate for a striker ahead of the new season. Targets are priced much higher than usual as a result. Moreover, there is a shortage of good strikers in the market. None of these facts – let alone their own actions – help the Blues at all.
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A situation that should have been handled correctly has put the management in a very difficult bind. Now it is up to them to solve this issue to their best advantage. That solution could be very costly for the club.