Chelsea’s transfer policy relies on too many things falling into place

Chelsea wants reinforcements this transfer window, but the policy has become so tied to “if x, then y” that nothing is happening.

Often lost in the transfer merry go round is the simple fact that every club has to operate within their best interests. One club may want a player from a “lesser” club, but that does not give them divine right to that player. The selling club has to look out for their interests which can include finding a replacement.

Naturally, this creates a trickledown effect that can stall things. Club A wants club B’s player, but club B needs a replacement from club C. Club C then of course needs a replacement and so on and so forth while nothing gets done and club A is left twiddling their thumbs.

There is a way around this in simply going elsewhere to conduct business. Currently, Chelsea is the club twiddling their thumbs and it is costing the Blues more and more with each passing day.

Currently, Chelsea for some shallow and ill-conceived reason want Gonzalo Higuain. He is currently on loan at AC Milan from Juventus, so that alone complicates matters. Milan wants Krzysztof Piatek from Genoa to replace him. And Genoa want Mario Balotelli to fill in the hole left by Piatek. What Nice wants is still unclear.

Add in the Juventus factor for extra confusion. They want Emerson as part of the transaction. Head spinning yet? Add in the Alvaro Morata factor, who could be used as a make weight for Milan. Meanwhile, a deal with Atletico Madrid is tabled for Morata pending the solution to the Higuain saga. Oh, and Michy Batshuayi is sitting around waiting to go to AS Monaco but everything is on hold currently.

As for the midfield, Cesc Fabregas has already departed despite Chelsea not finding a replacement yet. Leandro Paredes is the most rumored replacement, but it still has not happened yet. There has been little hint that Zenit has been looking for a replacement, but the Higuain deal is so involved that the resources are being spared for the striker spot as Paredes waits. There is a sense that the striker hat has to drop first to see how much remains for the midfield spot.

Chelsea is basically waiting for several dominoes to fall before they can do anything. They may be at the top of this food chain, but they are the most reliant on everyone else A: getting the job done and B: still having a will to sell the player. If just one club says no, the whole process collapses and Chelsea is the club left holding the bag.

Rather than get involved in this highly intricate deal, perhaps the Blues can look elsewhere for the striker they need? Is Higuain really worth all these pieces falling into place?

Chelsea could do one of two things. They can sign the player who already seem a guarantee, Paredes, and then see what is left for the striker spot. They do of course have the option of simply keeping Batshuyai or Morata but there is no replacement for Fabregas without Paredes. Then they can find a striker who is available and suits the remaining resources.

The other option is to look at the replacements down the chain. If Piatek is available to go to Milan, why not skip around Juventus and Milan and acquire Piatek? Sure, he could be the latest addition in a long line of Serie A one season wonder strikers. But even if he does flop, he will have more resale value than Higuain whether the Argentine flops or not.

Chelsea needs Paredes soon. A new striker would be good too but it does not have to be the priority. The Blues are devoting too much mental time and space to this situation and they are ending up on the losing end the longer this situation drags on.