As the transfer window approaches its deadline day Jorginho is the only outfield player Chelsea has signed. The Blues must be wary of falling into old traps.
Despite the arrival of Maurizio Sarri as the head coach, it seems the way Chelsea conducts transfer business remains unaltered. With two weeks left in the window, Jorginho is still the only outfield player who has arrived. Robert Green just signed on free transfer, but he will hardly feature, if at all.
Chelsea has a recent history of signing players who are out with injury. The signing of Alexandre Pato for a six month loan deal was the strangest of all. He was out with a long term injury and was not at all fit enough to feature. It took four months before he was ready to play. He appeared twice and by then the season was over and he was gone.
Out of seven signings last season, five arrived at Chelsea on the back of an injury. Tiemoue Bakayoko missed preseason due to injury and it had a clear effect on his season. Danny Drinkwater arrived on deadline day with a long term injury. His first appearance was in November and his season was disrupted throughout due to injuries.
Both Ross Barkley and Emerson were out for a long time due to injury when they arrived at Chelsea in January. It took months before they featured. Olivier Giroud had just started playing after being out with injury when he signed for Chelsea.
Getting a player who has not had a preseason is never going to help the team. It will take months before the player is fit enough and ready to play in a new team to have a positive impact. The board should not wash their hands yet again by getting players just for the sake of it.
Times have changed and clubs need to spend a lot of money for quality players who will improve the team. Chelsea, more than anyone, should know the impact quality players can make on their side. If they try to negotiate business the way they did last year, it will be difficult for Sarri to make the team play the way he wants.
The board’s poor transfer business most affected Antonio Conte’s relationship with them. They would be wise not to repeat such transfer window mistakes again. Otherwise, it will not be long before things get soured between Maurizio Sarri and his Chelsea bosses.