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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) /
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Dortmund’s Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland celebrates the 1-0 during the German first division Bundesliga football match Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen, in Dortmund on May 22, 2021. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Dortmund’s Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland celebrates the 1-0 during the German first division Bundesliga football match Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen, in Dortmund on May 22, 2021. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

3. Erling Haaland and ideas

Borussia Dortmund doesn’t want to sell Erling Haaland, but it’s also too financially smart to not acknowledge the obvious benefit of getting this deal done this summer. If Chelsea wanted to force the deal through, what it should do is offer to buy him for £90-100 million and loan him back to Dortmund for the season anyway.

He’s young enough that the Blues can still get upwards of six to seven years out of him before Mino Raiola edges for a move. That sort of patience is something that could really help move the team forward overall. It would, of course, be frustrating not to get him immediately, but the truth is that Chelsea’s rebuild isn’t over. Another year of growth and blending of talents and tactics and then adding Haaland in isn’t something that would be too bad. The point being, whatever it takes to add Haaland is what Chelsea should do to add him bar none. The deal needn’t necessarily be a ridiculous fee either.

The other players that could be added are the ones from European giants who are in bad financial situations. That means looking at clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus to try and make deals that, even if they aren’t only about the playing squad, can still be opportunistic investments given Chelsea’s position of strength in the relative market.

Barcelona should be questioned about Pedri and Frenkie de Jong. Neither one is a player that Barcelona will lose, so don’t make it; make the deals similar to what I suggested for Haaland. The best case scenario is something like £30-40 million for either player and then the Blues bring them in this season or next. The worst case scenario is Chelsea pays Barcelona those sort of sums. When the Blues have fans back a year from now and are able to generate revenue, take advantage of the political need for emotional and public support by even selling the players back to them without even needing to bring the players to London.

Truth be told, I’d also look at what is going on with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus. Theoretically, if all Chelsea needs is a center forward who bangs in goals with ruthless efficiency, is the Portuguese not that player exactly? If Juventus is truly trying to get rid of him, a deal for £40 million (or a fee in that range) could be a curious one to make. Ronaldo on a two to three-year deal with Haaland to follow the next summer would create the sort of attack that dreams are made of. Another important thing to acknowledge is the sort of pull Ronaldo has, not only with young players, but also how much he would teach them as a professional. The other obvious factor though is his brand. When Ronaldo signed for Juventus, the club reported it earned £43 million within 24 hours in shirt sales. That isn’t a figure that can be laughed at either.

Chelsea would get a 30-goal per season striker who improved every member of the squad with his example. The Blues would be able to finish the chances that they created while making enough money for the side to pay for Ronaldo’s addition and others in that time.

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