The summer transfer window—a time of true calamity. Agents leaking misinformation to influence negotiations, journalists scrutinizing every rumor and making predictions about their meaning and fans throwing themselves in an emotional frenzy with every reported hit, miss and bid. Sure, it is maddening, but it is also one of sports’ most incredibly thrilling spectacles. For the reasons listed above, it is hard not to sense the electricity surrounding Chelsea Football Club right now. As Todd Boehly takes the reins in a post-Roman Abramovich era, supporters are all watching closely to see how the American owner will navigate the complexities of the international football market during his debut transfer window.
The summer started off slow as Boehly settled into life at Stamford Bridge, but over the last few weeks, the club has finalized the acquisitions of both Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly. Meanwhile, the club has also been in advanced talks for Chicago Fire goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina and Sevilla centerback Jules Kounde after missing out on Cobham graduate and Manchester City defender Nathan Ake. Boehly has quickly dismantled negative fan sentiment (yes, we saw those #Brokely hashtags) and seems to have made backing Thomas Tuchel his No. 1 priority. Suffice it to say, this is music to fans’ ears.
That point—backing Tuchel—begs the question: what’s next? It’s a little less than three weeks before the Blues begin their season and there are still massive holes to fill within the squad. The team needs a creative winger, a defensive midfielder and potentially two additional defenders identified, so Boehly and Co. will undoubtedly be busy as they complete what can only be seen as a competitive rebuild during their first summer in charge of the club.
It’s time to take a look at some of the key names that might interest Chelsea as the Blues seek to spend their remaining budget and build a competitive squad:
Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain)
NOTE: Season stats will not be attributed to defenders as they tend to be tracked less consistently/objectively
Centerback options are seeing their availability dwindle and with Chelsea still needing to complete two defensive transactions, Paris Saint-Germain’s Presnel Kimpembe might be the last remaining key player to monitor. It’s hard to imagine a PSG that doesn’t feature the 26-year-old defender, as he’s a homegrown talent that has endured a lot of turmoil—including the departure of Tuchel. Yet, the team has decided to make him available nonetheless, and Tuchel seems interested in a reunion with his old defender.
Kimpembe is a known commodity, so there’s no point in over-explaining his value. For those who don’t watch much of the French Champions, the skinny centerhalf is a ball-playing central defender with an exceptional knack for interceptions. He’s a dynamic centerback who recovers the ball well while also being willing—and able—to push the ball forward and play a high line. Kimpembe is a highly intelligent player who could replicate the value that Antonio Rudiger provided in possession; think explosive runs, physicality and good positioning.
The bottom line is this: Tuchel is familiar and comfortable with Kimpembe and the defender can serve as a full-time anchor of the defense. His calm presence and existing relationship with Thiago Silva would likely contribute to a quick integration, as well. There’s not many bad things to say about Kimpembe and if the Blues can secure him on a smart deal, they should exhaust their options to do so sooner rather than later.
Sergino Dest (Barcelona)
NOTE: Season stats will not be attributed to defenders as they tend to be tracked less consistently/objectively
I am not a betting man, but if I were, my money would be placed on Sergino Dest joining Chelsea this offseason. The reasoning is pretty straightforward: Barcelona has an interest in both Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso. Thus, the Blaugrana need to process some outgoings, and Dest fits an immediate need at Chelsea. More than that, I have my suspicions that Boehly will look to expand interest in the U.S. market, and Dest is a young player who will expect to feature in the United States Men’s National Team during the upcoming World Cup.
Dest is, however, much more than a marketing opportunity with excellent future potential. He fits Tuchel’s wingback archetype perfectly. He’s an experienced fullback who has seen high levels of success in a possession-based system. His ability to play on both sides is notable, but what makes him stick out is his affinity for progressing the ball. His 87.7 percent pass completion rate qualifies him among the 96th percentile across all leagues and he generates 2.32 shot-creating actions per 90. The data tell us that Dest is a fullback who creates for himself and others at an elite level.
Where Dest is lacking is his technical proficiency as a defender. Despite having a very high work rate, he struggles with his physicality and often loses when jockeying with stronger attackers or when engaged in aerial battles. Dest presses well and he is aggressive as a tackler. He’s likely best suited to Chelsea if it maintains its current 3-4-3 system.
Ibrahim Sangare (PSV)
2021/22 Season Stats: 38 matches played, four goals, two assists
Ibrahim Sangare is an ideal transfer target as a defensive midfielder. I know that most Chelsea fans and media pundits are clamoring for the return of West Ham United’s Declan Rice, but as the Hammers become more reluctant to sell, Sangare becomes more alluring.
Sangare is known as an aggressive defensive midfielder who controls his area of the pitch through calculated risk-taking and physicality. I won’t sugarcoat this, he’s not perfect; his tape tells a tale of two players. On one hand, he shows elite levels of defensive prowess and an ability to effectively function as a deep-lying playmaker. On the other, he sometimes lacks focus on the ball and he can be too risky with his passes against more competent defenders.
The big point here is that young, high-upside defensive midfielders are rare. Rice is the exception and Sangare offers an alternative for the Blues, should they want to change to a more permanent 4-3-3. Sangare is a player who is, at the very minimum, slightly above league standard, but he has the potential to become one of the top five defensive midfielders in all of Europe. The big question is whether the investment is worth the gamble. There are still question marks as to whether or not the player’s skills will translate to a more advanced league—only one way to find out.
Matheus Nunes (Sporting CP)
2021/22 Season Stats: 39 matches played, three goals, two assists
Matheus Nunes is a prospect that many teams seem to be scouting, but he remains a relative unknown amongst more casual fans or supporters who really could not care less about what’s going on at Sporting CP. I’m going to be straightforward here—I love Nunes as a prospect.
In the grand scheme of things, he embodies everything that a midfield should be at Chelsea under Tuchel’s system:
- Highly skilled dribbler? Check.
- Experience in a double pivot? Check.
- Elite level distributor? Check.
- High-level presser and creator? Check and check.
Nunes in this team would be a luxury. Any move for him would be heavily dependent on the futures of Jorginho and N’Golo Kante, as well as Connor Gallagher and Billy Gilmour. Nevertheless, the 23-year-old Brazilian fits the archetype of a traditional maestro and he has all the makings of being the next hot name for European midfielders. The outcome here is simple: sign Nunes for a respectable fee, allow him time to develop under the aforementioned veterans and the Blues will have a world class creator for the foreseeable future.
Michael Olise (Crystal Palace)
2021/22 Season Stats: 26 matches played, two goals, five assists, .38npxG+xA/90
I know this is a transfer idea out of left field, but Michael Olise is a player I’m watching very closely at this moment in time. The 20-year-old attacker may be unrefined, but his unequivocal potential is tantalizing enough to warrant the small monetary and time investment he would require.
Olise is a creative and energetic player who thrives as a center-attacking midfielder or right winger. He’s particularly savvy in progressing and distributing the ball and shows glimpses of being an elite set-piece specialist. If his passing is his best attribute, his scoring potential is not far behind, as he consistently shows an adeptness in shooting in traffic and generating power in his spots in tight spaces.
What I love most about Olise though is his energy. He’s a player who is simply fun to watch and he can spark a team when it’s running on empty. I see him as a key substitute for the near future who can develop into an everyday winger down the line. Overall, Olise is a relatively inexpensive attacking option who will assuredly become a top target for clubs in the next two or three years.
Rafael Leao (AC Milan)
2021/22 Season Stats: 42 matches played, 14 goals, 12 assists, .53 npxG+xA/90
Rafael Leao has emerged as another popular name for the Blues recently, especially given the links between AC Milan and Hakim Ziyech heating up. Boehly seems to be interested in player swaps where possible, and this might be the most likely to work out as long as Chelsea is willing to pay big bucks for the Portuguese playmaker.
Leao is an interesting individual whom many find to be a burgeoning elite talent. Despite his obvious quality, I’m not sure it’s that cut and dry though. Traditionally a winger who spends his time on the left, Leao is a fluid player who has experience playing with inverted wingbacks. He has an excellent understanding of how to leverage space and link up with his teammates within a structured system. Statistically, Leao is as competent an attacking wing as there is in Serie A. He’s an unpredictable winger with a decent xG+A/90 and elite skills as a dribbler and ball advancer.
My concerns surrounding Leao come in the areas of passing. While he’s capable of distributing the ball on an average level, his passing range is substandard, which would be a liability if Chelsea intend to maintain its current formation. Leao is certain to command a high fee in this summer’s market. A move from the Blues would be a smart tone, but Boehly and Tuchel will need to be sure he’ll be able to function in their system and that Leao won’t be another Seria A flop.
The summer transfer window is an exciting time for any football fan. For Chelsea supporters, this period feels slightly more exhilarating, as it is really the first opportunity we’ll get to see the new ownership at work. Early returns suggest that Boehly is not only going to be active within the team’s transaction and scouting departments, but it looks as if the American is also willing to invest funds to build the team around its world class manager. This is a refreshing change of pace—to say the least—from the old regime’s chop and change ways.
This is the first time that Tuchel will have any modicum of influence on player acquisitions with the Blues and it should give him a chance to build a team that can maximize the system he prefers. It will also be a chance for us to truly evaluate if Tuchel is as much of a tactical genius as we have all crowned him to be over the years. Of course, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Therefore, patience is required from the club and fans alike after undergoing this transitional period.
Boehly and his excellent German manager will need time to get all of the right players into this team—and it will require more than one transfer window, like it or not. Nevertheless, with just short of two months remaining in the summer transaction period, this window will be critical in cementing the foundation of what I am calling “a competitive rebuild.” If Chelsea wants to begin to catch Manchester City and Liverpool, smart moves need to be made now. It goes without saying that I believe the players highlighted in this article could go a long way in achieving that goal.
Which players would you like to see the Blues sign this summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!