The modern transfer market is a new beast that Chelsea has proven incapable of understanding. Liverpool is offering the Blues a free lesson in the market.
Just as Chelsea appears to finally figure the transfer market out, they take two steps backwards. Swiping Jorginho out from Manchester City seemed to be a turning of the page for the Blues. Turns out they skipped a few chapters along the way and had to back track to figure out what is going on.
Liverpool is offering the Blues a lesson. In fact, they are offering the entire Premier League a lesson. If the team wants a player, go all out for the player. If another team is interested in the same player, accelerate the move.
Liverpool’s pursuit of Alisson Becker is case in point. Liverpool has spent the summer so far trying to decide whether they needed a new keeper. But as soon as Chelsea started sniffing around their top target, Alisson, Liverpool decided not to risk it.
Chelsea, meanwhile, knew that it was more likely than not that a new keeper was needed. Thibaut Courtois had his chance to extend and opted not to. The Blues had little choice with the keeper if they wanted a transfer fee of any sort. Alisson was rightfully made target number one.
But the Blues, despite knowing that they wanted Alisson and despite knowing they would more likely than not have to sell Courtois, hesitated. And though there is still a chance Alisson opts to join Maurizio Sarri’s side in London, that chance is incredibly slim.
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Liverpool saw that Chelsea were interested and did not hesitate like the Blues did. Now Chelsea is set to lose out on their best chance to replace Courtois. It is basically a free lesson from Liverpool in how to operate in the modern market. Hesitation kills all moves. If a team wants a player, they need to go after that player as hard and as fast as possible.
The northern side has done the same all transfer window. They wanted Naby Keita but were unable to acquire his services last season. So what did they do? They finished the transfer a full year in advance to benefit all parties.
Not to mention Fabinho who had seriously been linked to Manchester United. Liverpool wrapped him up quietly last season and announced him as soon as they possibly could. They wanted the player and they devoted everything to getting the player.
Chelsea needs to learn from such lessons. The chances that Courtois stays are slim, and even if he does it would be incredibly surprising to see him extend his contract. Alisson was the best bet to fill the void left by the Belgian, but if he goes to Liverpool, Chelsea will be in a true tight spot.
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The Blues will either have to settle for Courtois leaving for free, try to work out a high paying extension, or look elsewhere for a keeper. But no matter who the Blues look for, the player in question will be second choice. Alisson was the true target, and the Blues only harmed themselves by not pushing harder for the move earlier when he was made a target.