Chelsea FC: A Busy Day in the Market

Article by Lee Beevor

It wasn’t quite 2003, but it was certainly an eventful few hours in the transfer window from a Chelsea perspective. On this occasion, most of the buzz was in relation to those about to leave the club, although there was one arrival.

Mohamed Salah has of course, already played twice at Stamford Bridge. If he can maintain his goal a game record in what is now his home stadium, the £11 million investment will be handsomely repaid. If he fails to do so, it will be an expensive way of at least ensuring he stops scoring against us! Salah scored both winning goals for Basel during the Swiss side’s twin victories over us in the Champions League group stage. In these games he impressed with his pacy, direct style and finished clinically when his chances came.  He was also on target against Spurs in last year’s Europa League quarter-final – a habit hopefully he can retain!

The 21 year old right winger will provide competition for the wide positions in either our 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formations.  He currently plays as a right winger, so will be primarily an alternative to Andre Schurrle in the squad. However, Schurrle is equally adept on the left, where he has enjoyed success cutting inside and shooting, in similar fashion to the majestic Eden Hazard. As such, he could appear with the German, should Eden need a rest or God forbid, be injured. In the short term, I suspect he will be used as an impact substitute and probably be loaned in the summer. Perhaps we could lend him to Liverpool, as they were reputedly so keen to sign him!

Turning to the departures, Josh McEachran is to join Wigan for the remainder of the season. Josh unfortunately does not look like he will ever make the grade at Chelsea. This latest loan, once again to a Championship club, suggests this is his level, at least for the time being. It seems like he has been around forever, although in fact Josh is still only 20. I remember seeing him in 2011, buzzing around like a youthful Ray Wilkins, making lots of short, accurate passes. Alas like so many prospects, he was never given an extended run and his chance has surely been and gone. I hope he impresses for Wigan, gets a good permanent deal and perhaps works his way up to the Premier League in due course.

Of the more high profile poised to leave, Michael Essien is close to sealing a move to AC Milan. This would delight me immensely, as at this stage in his career Michael needs to be playing regular football. Clearly he will no longer receive this at Chelsea, as his powers have faded and there are many ahead of him in our group. That he will once again have the opportunity to perform in the Champions League, for one of Europe’s most glamorous sides, fills me with happiness. If Milan can fashion an unlikely win over Atlético, maybe he will return and receive the hero’s welcome his past performances deserve.

Another favourite to exit is Juan Mata. Our reigning player of the year has been a victim of the Mourinho revamp of our playing style. Initially, the decent in the media to his exclusion was widespread, but this faded as results confirmed the decision to be correct.  It is a shame that such a talented footballer and nice guy is to leave us, especially when it is likely his quality will hurt us at some time in the future. Given his lack of natural pace however, there was simply no future for him at Chelsea.

This one shortfall in an otherwise exceptional set of skills was alas the most vital requirement to comply with Jose’s blueprint for his 2014 Chelsea. Juan could not supply the instant transition from attack to the high press when we lost possession. Yes, he does track back and yes, he can tackle, but not instantly in the same way as Oscar, Hazard and Willian. In Juan’s case the breaking opponents outrun him, so he needs to chase back and play his part in the deeper press, which was all well and good in the systems operated by RDM and Benitez. With Jose, it is all about winning the ball back immediately and by doing so, swiftly create scoring chances by virtue of the opposition lacking the time to effectively regroup. So like Michael, Juan departs with our best wishes, especially for his imminent trip to the Emirates and his first Manchester derby!

Once the medicals and paperwork is complete on those deals still pending, Chelsea’s winter window dealings to this stage will be as follows:
Transfers In:
Bertrand Traore, Nemanja Matic, Mohamed Salah
Transfers Out:
Kevin de Bruyne, Michael Essien, Juan Mata
On Loan:
Bertrand Traore (to Vitesse Arnhem), Ryan Bertrand (to Aston Villa), Patrick Bamford (to Derby), , Josh McEachran (to Wigan), Nathaniel Chalobah and  Kenneth Omeruo (both to Middlebrough).

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