Chelsea may have stumbled upon the perfect way to minimize the effects of any transfer bans FIFA may choose to impose: hire Maurizio Sarri.
A few scattered reports this week reminded everyone that FIFA may slap a transfer ban of up to four windows on Chelsea FC. The ban could come as early as next month, which means the Blues would want to conduct as much as business in the early days of the transfer window as possible. Even though the ban will be suspended while an appeal makes its way through FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport, it will be in effect from the day it is imposed to the day Chelsea file their appeal. Since the appeal must align with the facts alleged in the ban, this would still cost the club a few days of the window.
Chelsea may have already blunted the effects of whatever discipline comes their way. Maurizio Sarri seems unconcerned about squad depth, and had a reputation for being almost apathetic about transfers.
Aurelio de Laurentiis is hardly a fair, dispassionate source for insights when it comes to Sarri. However, some of his comments earlier this week echo much of what others have said or observed about Sarri. On the subject of transfers, de Laurentiis restated (as only he can) what Sarri himself has said.
After calling Sarri a Communist – one wracked by self-contradiction – the Napoli chairman said:
"I found Sarri to be very highly-strung. His wife couldn’t even come to the stadium. I used to say to Sarri, who shall we buy? He’d reply that he didn’t want to know anything about it. – Football-Italia"
Early in his time at Chelsea Sarri talked about how much he enjoys coaching the players he has, and takes a minimal interest in transfers.
Those statements carry some heavy caveats. He enjoys coaching the players he has and whom he likes. To them fall all the benefits of his tactical largesse. The rest can scoot off to he cares not where. And his interest in transfers becomes much less minimal when his former players are involved, as the Empoli-Napoli alumni association (Jorginho is for now the only member of the west London chapter) can attest.
But the small size of Chelsea’s squad and Sarri’s apparent disinterest to expand it support his words. Even the threat of injuries to his starters – who have become his depth players in the secondary competition – has not impelled him to bring some of his disfavoured players into the squad. David Luiz had to come on in the 81′ against Bournemouth because Sarri rates Gary Cahill so lowly. Eden Hazard could not get the day off, either, since he is the only option “behind” Willian and Pedro in the Carabao Cup. N’Golo Kante was preparing to come in before Luiz had to replace Christensen.
If Sarri will not be pragmatic about the size of his squad within the season, there is little reason to think he will be interested in building up a reserve of players to see the club through the next few transfer windows. There is little reason to buy depth players just in case, when “just in case” happened on Wednesday and still the squad will have the same size and competition this weekend, on Boxing Day and most days after.
The club has the final say on transfers, obviously, and given Sarri’s lack of concern they also have the first say. Whether he cares to stock up or not, the club will make that decision.
However, they may not see much reason to spend the hours and pounds on new players who will not play anyway, come hell, high water, injuries, European competitions or transfer bans. The board may just decide to save their money for the Stamford Bridge renovation, or for the inevitable splurge when either this manager or the next one recognizes the need for more Blues.