Chelsea transfer window review (Part two): Defenders

This series will serve as a review for the transfer window Chelsea had and I’ll rate all the deals out of five. Each piece will include both incomings and outgoings, highlighting a specific position group. The second group to be featured is the defenders. With the deal for Jules Kounde collapsing on deadline day, the club is now a bit thin when it comes to centerbacks. With the emergence of Trevoh Chalobah, a solid message has been sent out to all those players who have forced a move away from the club thinking that there’s no clear pathway to the first team. With the majority of the departures coming from the defender’s department, here’s how the club has fared this transfer window at the position:

Incomings: N/A

Outgoings

1. Kurt Zouma (4 out of 5)

Kurt Zouma was sold to West Ham United permanently for £31.5 million. This deal was completed to secure the signing of Kounde from Sevilla but that never materialized. Chelsea has made a profit by selling Kurt Zouma after buying him from Saint-Etienne for £13.1 million in 2013/14. Seeing that Thomas Tuchel did not see the French defender in his plans, this move seems to be the right one for both parties.

2. Fikayo Tomori (1 out of 5)

The deal for Fikayo Tomori to AC Milan was very unfortunate as the England international would have been the perfect player for Tuchel’s system. During Frank Lampard’s tenure, the centerback was sent out on loan to AC Milan on a loan deal which included a buy option for £26.2 million. This turned out to be a mistake from the Chelsea board as he was instrumental in helping the Milan club qualify for this year’s Champions League.

3. Marc Guehi (5 out of 5)

This was one of the craziest deals to happen out of the blue for the Chelsea fans. Having a very impressive season on loan at Swansea City last season, Marc Guehi refused to sign a new contract and didn’t want to go out on loan. This forced the hand of Marina Granovskaia in selling the defender and when an offer of £21 million came in from Crystal Palace, it was too good to refuse. This deal worked to the Blues’ favor as the club’s board has put in a match clause, amongst other favorable things, in his transfer.

4. Davide Zappacosta (4 out of 5)

Davide Zappacosta was sold to Atlanta for £8.1 million. Having bought the fullback in 2017/18, the Italian international could never cement his place for any of the managers since his move. Although the club did sell Zappacosta on a loss, the ability to sell him above his market value when he had one year left on his contract must be commended.

5. Valentino Livramento (3 out of 5)

Valentino Livramento was one of the many promising young players that left the club this summer. The Chelsea academy Player of the Year left SW6 for £5.3 million to join fellow Premier League side Southampton. After the emergence of Reece James and continued speculation of the club being linked with Achraf Hakimi, Livramento was forced to reconsider his future with the club. Chelsea has included a buyback option in his deal, which shows that the club does believe in the youngster and can buy him back in the future, especially after seeing his performances against teams like Manchester United.

6. Dynel Simeu (3 out of 5)

This deal was one which I could not understand much as Dynel Simeu was a regular starter for the u23s last season. Why did the club didn’t renew its contract on time was something that was unlike Chelsea, but whatever the case, the Blues sold another one of their young players to Southampton side for £1.5 million.

7. Emerson Palmieri (4 out of 5)

One of the Chelsea players who deserved the time to play after Euro 2020 was Emerson Palmieri. The Italian international fresh after winning the Euros was sent out on loan to Lyon with the club now having a chance to buy the player permanently if it wish to after a year. Lyon was charged an initial loan fee of £450,000 and thanks to bonuses, the fee could rise to £1 million.

light. Related Story. Chelsea transfer window review (Part one): Goalkeepers

8. Levi Colwill (5 out of 5)

Levi Colwill’s meteoric rise through the youth ranks of Chelsea is nothing less than spectacular. This has now earned the 18-year-old a chance to impress in the Championship side Huddersfield Town. Colwill is one player every Chelsea fan should have an eye on because if the defender continues his impressive start to his career, it won’t be long before he breaks into the the Blues’ first team.

9. Ethan Ampadu (4 out of 5)

Ethan Ampadu was one of the players involved in the madness of transfer deadline day. After the arrival of Saul Niguez at the club, the Welsh international was free to leave on loan to newly promoted Italian side Venezia. Ampadu should be starting all the games for Venezia and if the club can stay up with Ampadu’s contribution, it can be considered a successful loan spell.

10. Dujon Sterling (4 out of 5)

Dujon Sterling has suffered from injuries for a majority of his career, but this preseason, he proved his worth to Tuchel. Impressing the first team manager helped him get a new contract at the club and saw him earn the chance to play for Championship side Blackpool in the upcoming campaign. This will help him get minutes under his belt and regain match sharpness.

11. Ian Maatsen (3 out of 5)

Ian Maatsen is another player who impressed during the last season’s loan spell in League One side Charlton Athletic. Now, Maatsen has a chance to impress in the Championship with Coventry City. Being only 19 years old, Maatsen is also another player to look out for as his versatility allows him to play anywhere on the left side. This would be beneficial to any manager—especially Tuchel.

12. Henry Lawrence (3 out of 5)

Another one of the academy players sent out on loan was Henry Lawrence. The right back had offers from two League One sides: Wigan Athletic and AFC Wimbledon. The 19-year-old chose the latter to gain more game time and get a chance to play in a higher-level team next season.

13. Juan Familia Castillo (3 out of 5)

Juan Familia Castillo was sent out on loan Championship side Birmingham to prove himself after having a disappointing last season loan. This loan spell seems like a do-or-die situation for the full back now, seeing that he is already 21 years old.

14. Matt Miazga (1 out of 5)

Another one of the many young promising players Chelsea bought who could not fulfill their potential. Matt Miazga had a good loan spell last season at Anderlecht, but the club decided not to turn his loan deal permanent due to financial constraints. Now at Alaves on a season-long loan, this spell is all about increasing the market value of the American and then trying to sell him for a profit next year.

15. Abdul Baba Rahman (1 out of 5)

One of the players in which Chelsea has suffered the most financial loss is Abdul Baba Rahman. Bought from Augsburg in 2015/16 for £23.4 million, the full back could not even return a fraction of that worth as a player due to his reoccurring injuries. Now 27, everyone thought that he would be sold, but surprisingly, he was given a new contract and sent out on loan to Reading in the Championship. Hopefully he plays well and the Blues can sell him for some extra money soon.

16. Jake Clarke-Salter (1 out of 5)

Another player from the world-renowned academy from Chelsea, Jake Clarke-Salter is still only 23 years old, but seems to have no pathway into the first team. He’s now been sent out on loan to Championship side Coventry City, and it seems the defender might not even be a Chelsea player next season as his contract expires just after his loan spell.

Next. Into the depths part 3: Chelsea’s wingbacks the drivers of the system. dark

What did you make of the defensive departures? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!

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