The Pride of London
Fansided

Tactics and Transfers: Don’t panic about lack of Chelsea business

By Barrett Rouen

Chelsea's German head coach Thomas Tuchel gestures on the touchline during the English FA Cup final football match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium in north west London on May 15, 2021. - - NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Nick Potts / POOL / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by NICK POTTS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's German head coach Thomas Tuchel gestures on the touchline during the English FA Cup final football match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium in north west London on May 15, 2021. - - NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Nick Potts / POOL / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by NICK POTTS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 09: Jules Kounde of Sevilla FC controls the ball during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on May 09, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 09: Jules Kounde of Sevilla FC controls the ball during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on May 09, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) /

2. Jules Kounde and FFP

Despite it being rumored that football’s main governing bodies were going to relax the rules around Financial Fair Play this summer, that has proven to be exactly what they are, rumors. If anything is true, in fact, it seems that some of the groups in charge of football’s governance have actually tightened their grip on the purse strings of many of the clubs at the top of the game. A good example is how La Liga is determining the amount of money that clubs can spend this summer and it has put both Real Madrid and Barcelona in exceptionally precarious positions.

That explains why Chelsea has focused more on sales than anything else at this point. The squad is far too big, the salaries of many of the outcast players are too high and the rules around loans (which has been Chelsea’s bread and butter recurring business for years) are changing.

If the Blues are going to spend any money this summer, they are going to need to show a certain amount of funds coming in so that they can make the reasonable argument to breaking even over a three-year basis in their amortization accounting. The fact that they are doing this so actively suggests that they are working very hard behind the scenes to complete incoming transfers.

The Jules Kounde deal appears to be the one that will happen first. I personally know too little about the player to suggest whether or not he will be a good signing. He seems to be the player that Tuchel wants and at this point, the German manager has earned the right to have some input on the squad. In my opinion, a left-sided centerback in the mold of Sven Botman, Benoit Badiashile or Tyrone Mings is what I would have done.

Chelsea already lacks size and doesn’t threaten enough in the air from corners and set pieces. In fact, the best threat it had in the air last season is the player most likely to leave, Kurt Zouma. Kounde—though exceptional on the ball and incredibly quick—is 5’10 and doesn’t have particularly good numbers in the air. This strikes me as a dangerous example of the “well, he’s good on the ball for a defender” nonsense that has been ruining defensive football for years now, when it turns out those players have no idea how to tackle, jump, read the game or mark a man.

Kounde reads more as a replacement for Azpilicueta on the right side of the defensive three or a replacement for Silva in the middle. A centerback simply isn’t where I think Chelsea should be making an addition this summer, but at the same time, Tuchel should be backed if only to show faith in him.

Home/Chelsea FC News