Chelsea need to define leadership before the summer transfer window
By Travis Tyler
Chelsea lack clear leadership at the top. No technical director and an uncertain manager could make the summer window a disaster.
The January transfer window just closed but it is never too late to plan for the summer. Chelsea must be prepared for a crazy summer transfer window.
Neymar’s record setting, big money transfer to Paris Saint Germain blew the market apart. The fallout is still happening and it left its mark on the January transfer window. The summer window is only going to become crazier.
Chelsea reinforced in January and covered all the holes in the squad. The next step is to increase the quality. This will be a monumental task in the summer with the current environment of unclear leadership.
The leadership picking the targets has two glaring issues as the summer approaches. If not dealt with the window will be a disaster. The following season is likely to be as well.
The most immediate need Chelsea has right now is a technical director. Michael Emenalo left midseason to join AS Monaco leaving the Blues in a gray area.
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A technical director’s job is to create a long term plan for the club. The style of managers, the players bought, even the direction of the academy is all part of this plan. Without a technical director, the club has no overarching philosophy connecting each season.
It should be unsurprising that Chelsea entered the January window without a concrete plan. Ross Barkley was a holdover target of the summer window but Emerson Palmieri and Olivier Giroud were deals that took most of the window to complete. In addition, neither was the initial target.
That is not to mention the plethora of underwhelming names strongly linked to Chelsea. The club appeared to have little concept of who they wanted when the window opened and only discovered it as the window progressed.
Entering the summer without a clear plan would be foolish. Clubs start planning for the summer the day the January window shuts. Chelsea cannot afford to wing it without a technical director.
Recently, former Blue Juliano Belletti has been linked with the role. He is currently the director of Coritiba in the Brazilian second division. To become Chelsea’s technical director would be a massive jump but his familiarity is a plus.
Consequently, Luis Enrique is linked to follow Conte. It is unknown if Belletti would join without Enrique in charge. But Chelsea need someone to craft a vision of the future sooner rather than later.
Tied to the issue of technical director is who will be the manager next season. Antonio Conte has stated he plans to fulfill his contract. That does not change the fact that rumors over his future have circled since the back end of the 2016/2017 season.
If Conte is staying, it solves the issue of who to target. Conte reshaped the team and now it is time to build on the foundation. His presence can help focus the targets in the market Chelsea wish to pursue.
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But rumors still follow Conte’s future. Most seem certain he will part with Chelsea at the end of the season: voluntarily or otherwise. Speculation of PSG or an Italian national team return hover over him. While there is no reason to distrust Conte when he says he will stay, the rumors persist.
This makes the summer market murky. Does the club target players Conte wants? Or do they plan on having a new manager who will want to rebuild the club in their image? Until there is a definite answer either way, the club will struggle to form a plan of attack.
No plan can be formed without defined leadership. Without a plan, the club haphazardly pursues targets if they pursue anyone at all. Any squad without reinforcements is doomed to fail.
Chelsea must find a technical director and decide the managerial situation soon. The longer both of those balls are in the air, the more likely it is the club drops them. Chelsea cannot afford to slip in the market. Doing so could be disastrous for the club.
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Do you think it is an issue that Chelsea still has no technical director? Do you think the managerial uncertainty will affect transfers in the summer? Let us know in the comments below!