Chelsea: Lionel Messi rumours because of course, but what do they truly need?
By George Perry
The appearance of Lionel Messi transfer rumours are among the final signs of international break delirium. With club football barely 48 hours away, let’s take a more sober look at Chelsea’s needs come January.
Rumours of Chelsea buying Lionel Messi are a rite of spring, summer, midwinter’s nights, adolescence, late-middle age, the Middle Ages (parchment scrolls, doth the magistrate) and the first Wednesday after Italy misses out on World Cup qualification. So of course, they started again on Wednesday, this time with the twist that Manchester City (or United, we’ve seen both and it doesn’t really matter) are also in for the Barcelona legend.
Pending Messi liking anything Chelsea-related on Instagram – which would immediately change everything and put all possibilities on the table – we are confident dismissing these rumours. However, the Blues do have very real needs that they must address without even a caretaker technical director.
The main constraint is that Chelsea cannot end the January transfer window with fewer players than they started. Their depth issues are as much a matter of quantity as quality. They do not need to sell any players to raise money to buy others. If they sell someone, they must replace him – perhaps use the proceeds to buy two players.
Chelsea need wingers more than any other position. Antonio Conte’s shift to the 3-5-2 reduces the role and need for wingers. But Chelsea still need wingers for tactical flexibility and to offer relief to Eden Hazard.
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The Blues will not challenge in the Premier League or Champions League if Pedro and Willian are their only options. Pedro produces reliably in the most unreliable way possible, and Willian sadly has been a non-factor this season. Charly Musonda has the talent and may be ready for greater roles, but Antonio Conte will not trust him with direct responsibility at this time (nor should he). As it stands, Victor Moses could offer the best attacking punch of Chelsea’s wingers.
The rumoured Lucas Moura – Willian transactions are a good model for January. Even if the Blues do not see a future for Willian, they cannot afford to sell him just because. They need the numerical depth in the event of another spate of injuries. Selling him for a replacement who can quickly be towards the top of the depth chart is a solid piece of business.
Between the wingers, the Blues still need a backup striker. Not a substitute striker – they have one in Michy Batshuayi. A backup striker, someone who will start in the Premier League and Champions League if Alvaro Morata is unavailable. Someone like Fernando Llorente – since Tottenham pipped Chelsea to the actual Llorente – remains the ideal model.
An older player has the experience to step into high pressure situations and be comfortable and confident with the moment. The other side is that he understands he is there as a backup and occasionally as a substitute. He will not cause a ruckus over playing minutes, and will understand the late-career opportunity a stint at Chelsea presents him.
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Finally, Chelsea still need a central attacking midfielder. Chelsea have a strong cadre of central midfielders, but none that are truly attack-minded. The lack of a central attacking midfielder will impede future tactical switches.
The specter of Ruben Loftus-Cheek complicates this situation for many fans, let alone the newly-talkative Loftus-Cheek family. The latest development in Loftus-Cheek’s story should give Chelsea the most pause: he is injured. Again. The loan to Crystal Palace only draws more comparisons to Loic Remy, as injuries routinely stall Loftus-Cheek’s development.
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Buying a central attacking midfielder in January will raise all sorts of the usual youth-related outcry, particularly if it is a graduate of a different Premier League academy like Ross Barkley. But Loftus-Cheek’s future at Stamford Bridge is no more guaranteed now than it was last year or will be next year. The Blues’ needs now – and next year – are a reality.