Chelsea’s summer business left them well stocked in attack but no closer to fixing the one area that continues to cost them points: central midfield.
Yet they may already hold the leverage needed to address it. Roma’s reported interest in Jamie Gittens before his move to Stamford Bridge could give Chelsea an unexpected route to strengthen in the middle of the pitch.
Gittens has shown little flashes of the pace and directness that made him such an exciting prospect at Dortmund, but he hasn't been good enough often enough to justify a guaranteed starting spot, and Chelsea's forward line is already congested with better options ahead of him. Those options have been Estevao Willian and Geovanny Quenda, with Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers the prime attacking midfielders.
If Roma's admiration for him hasn't cooled, this is exactly the kind of asset Chelsea should be cashing in rather than clinging to out of stubbornness.
That’s where Manu Koné comes in. Interest in the summer from Chelsea, and his World Cup performances showed that he is Premier League and Champions League quality. That is despite Roma leading Serie A currently and wanting to keep their best players.
The France international has established himself as one of Serie A’s most complete midfielders: a ball-winner with the composure to progress play under pressure. Those qualities have been sorely missed by Chelsea this season, with the lack of control in midfield particularly evident against Brentford and Hull City.
Roma would have an incentive to make the deal work, too. They would get a winger with Bundesliga and Premier League experience without having to fund the entire deal through a straight cash fee, while Chelsea could redirect their resources towards strengthening elsewhere. For a club balancing ambition with financial prudence, that could be an appealing arrangement.
The obvious risk for Chelsea is selling Gittens just as he begins to find his feet. But if it gives them a realistic path to the ball-winning midfielder Xabi Alonso’s system has been crying out for, it may be a gamble worth taking.
The move would not necessarily derail Chelsea’s summer plans for Alex Scott either, with the Bournemouth midfielder still likely to be their primary target when the window reopens. Scott, Koné and Caicedo could form the core of the midfield rotation, with Romeo Lavia and Valentín Barco providing further depth and alternative options.
Sentiment cannot be the deciding factor. If Roma still want Gittens, Chelsea should pick up the phone and ask about Koné in the same conversation.
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