Chelsea over-complicated their dealings with AS Roma, foolishly linking Emerson Palmieri’s transfer to Edin Dzeko’s. While the former is held up by the latter’s refusal, the Blues may now hold the final key to shuffle three strikers around London and Germany.
To paraphrase monorail magnate Lyle Lanley, Chelsea FC with negotiating leverage are like a mule with a spinning wheel: no one knows how they got it, and dang if they know how to use it. Chelsea can complete a circle that will move Michy Batshuayi to Borussia Dortmund, Pierre-Emerick Aubemayang to Arsenal and Olivier Giroud to Stamford Bridge.
Or they could scupper the whole thing by steadfastly refusing to release Michy Batshuayi. Most tantalizingly, they could add a few dimensions to their transfer market chess game and manipulate Arsenal into giving up Giroud and then backing out of their as-yet non-binding agreement to let Batshuayi leave.
Could the Blues do that? Not morally, but logistically. Could they extract assurances and then, as the transfer clock expires, knife Arsenal in the back? Are the Blues competent enough to pry Giroud while retaining Batshuayi, thereby precluding Aubameyang from completing his move to Arsenal?
If they did, they would be stranding Arsenal without Alexis Sanchez and without Olivier Giroud. The Gunners’ top scorer would be Alexandre Lacazette – he of the one goal in 11 games streak – and (blinks twice) Mezut Ozil.
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Chelsea are hardly known for their savvy in the transfer market, let alone their guile. Their surprises are usually of the Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso delayed revelation sort: anonymous players who become stars and fan favourites. The Blues are neither gazumpers nor swoopers.
But this time around the Blues have the opportunity to spite a cross-town rival who recently has become a bogey team. Arsenal need Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang far more than Chelsea need any striker on the market. If the powers that be at Stamford Bridge steadfastly declare Michy Batshuayi is a Blue, Borussia Dortmund will clutch Aubameyang and Arsenal will go empty-handed. The worst case scenario is Chelsea finish the season with their current menu of centre-forward options. Not a bad price to pay for sticking it to Arsenal.
Chelsea are learning the dangers of linked dependencies in the transfer market. They loaned Kenedy to Newcastle, assuming they would have their replacement in Emerson soon enough. But they tied Emerson’s deal to Edin Dzeko’s. Now they are trying to separate the two deals so they can fill their most pressing need at left wing-back while pursuing back-up options at striker.
The Blues also have their putative “one in, one out” policy. They must be careful to ensure they do not reverse it to “one out, one in,” particularly this late in the window. Kenedy was out before Emerson was in. Ross Barkley was in before Charly Musonda went out. Or did Charly Musonda go out before another offensive option came in? Regardless, Chelsea cannot allow Michy Batshuayi to go out until a striker is filming a cheesy announcement video at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea would pull off a coup for the ages if they obtain Olivier Giroud while keeping Michy Batshuayi. Aside from the spite, having three proper strikers would blast open the tactical possibilities for Antonio Conte. With three strikers, Conte could play a true 3-5-2 or 4-2-4 without risking his depth at the position. A third centre-forward would also allow the Blues to play a stronger 3-4-3 or 3-4-1-2 with Eden Hazard always as a proper winger instead of a false-nine.
Next: Four reasons Chelsea should prioritize signing Olivier Giroud over Edin Dzeko
Chelsea have the rare opportunity to manipulate the transfer market, using it both for their intrinsic gain as well as to the detriment of an opponent. Such sophistication is unlikely to arise from a club without a technical director. But considering how close the Blues supposedly were to signing Andy Carroll, anything is possible in the silliest days of silly season.