Chelsea’s tortured transfer window: Dostoyevsky, Drinkwater and living well
By Joel Slagle
Chelsea stared down the final days of the transfer window and escaped with Danny Drinkwater and Davide Zappacosta. Perhaps their latest reprieve will bring about changes in next year’s shortened transfer window.
As the transfer window crept to its conclusion, Chelsea was in the unenviable position of chasing down targets. The momentum gained from the purchases of Antonio Rudiger and Tiemoue Bakayoko slowly dwindled as the Alvaro Morata transfer saga dragged on. Antonio Conte repeated the talking point that there would be four or five new signings to bolster the ranks.
Despite all the talk, the reinforcements did not come. Instead, the club was continually linked with a number of uninspiring depth signings: Fernando Llorente, Ross Barkley, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Drinkwater.
As September 1 slowly approached, Chelsea was set to be punished for its transfer dithering, condemned to signing over-priced and under-whelming English talent. Or worse, the Blues would make no more signings at all.
Must Read: Chelsea and Diego Costa would both benefit from Fenerbahce loan
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, the great Russian author, was sentenced to death by firing squad. He wrote how time slowed down as the hour, minute and moment approached. As Llorente signed for Spurs, Drinkwater loitered around Cobham and Barkley prevaricated, “the repugnance to what must ensue almost immediately, and the uncertainty, were dreadful.”
Dostoyevsky, rifles aimed at his heart and waiting for the order to fire, was saved at the last moment by a commutation from the tsar. Davide Zappacosta and Danny Drinkwater saved Chelsea. Much has been made of Alvaro Morata’s goals and assists coming from his head. Chelsea went out and signed one of the best crossers in Serie A in Zappacosta. Drinkwater is not the most glamorous name, but he has already shown what he can do as N’Golo Kante’s midfield partner.
The Blues have done just about well enough in this transfer window. It is worth noting that Dostoyevsky was not pardoned. He had his sentence commuted to four years hard labor. For Chelsea, the hard work now begins. The squad is still thin, despite the deadline day reinforcements. Most fans pray they will never learn what Antonio Conte will do in the case of an injury to Marcos Alonso. It is not a great situation, but it is far better than the alternative.
Next: Chelsea's top 30 transfers of all time
In his novel The Idiot, Dostoyevsky wrote of a character that suffered a similar mock execution and endeavored to live his life wisely with all of the minutes and hours suddenly granted to him. Chelsea crafted a stay of execution in this transfer window. Hopefully, they learned some lessons, and the next transfer window will not drag on so interminably.