It was almost as if Antonio Conte had set the search function on his Football Manager game to list every striker who stands at 6ft 5” or taller. First, Chelsea went for Andy Carroll. Then, in the space of 24 hours, they moved for Peter Crouch, Fernando Llorente, Edin Dzeko and Christian Benteke. Anyone would think the Blues are looking for a certain type of forward this month.
The suitability of such players for the Premier League champions can be debated, as can the necessity for such a striker in the first place, but it’s fair to say that none of these names inspire much confidence in the transfer strategy of the Stamford Bridge club, especially when compared to some of the players being signed by their rivals.
Of course, Chelsea have been sustained for years by the shrewdness of their transfer strategy. The days of Roman Abramovich sanctioning recklessly expensive signings in the name of winning trophies at any cost are over. Now, the Blues must balance the books. This is why they were priced out of a move for Alexis Sanchez despite the Chilean previously stating that he’d rather stay in London.
But while Chelsea in years gone by have still managed to keep themselves at the top of the game through shrewd business, now they appear to have lost their touch. In the summer, they missed out on Romelu Lukaku, forcing them into a hasty move for Alvaro Morata. Leonardo Bonucci opted for AC Milan over the King’s Road and Davide Zappacosta was the only fullback who pitched up at the club.
It was enough to make Conte consider his future at the club, with the Italian believed to be unhappy with the standard of the players he has been signed. Are the likes of Carroll, Crouch, Llorente, Dzeko or Benteke likely to appease those concerns? Are they really the kind of signing Chelsea need to match the transfer market precedent being set by Manchester City and Manchester United?
Chelsea are going the way of Arsenal. With mediocre standards comes a mediocre team and there have been signs this season that the wayward direction of the Stamford Bridge club off the field is starting to seep into performances on the field. The Blues aren’t as coherent a team as they were last season and that is, in part, down to their faltering transfer strategy.
For the best part of a decade, Chelsea have positioned themselves as the anti-thesis of Arsenal. While the Gunners lacked guidance, the Blues were ruthless in their general direction and ambition as a club. Now, however, Chelsea are just as rudderless as their North London rivals. Their current situation might not be so grave, but on their present trajectory, it might not take them long to get to such a point.
The inflation of the transfer market has made things more difficult for Chelsea, with the Blues unable to compete with the two Manchester clubs in the way they once were. They are now shopping at a lower level, lifting players from a lower shelf. But Chelsea mustn’t allow themselves to be infected by an inferiority complex like Arsenal have over the past 10 years.
They are still reigning Premier League champions. Just eight months ago, they were the best football team in the country, strolling to the league title. That almost feels like another era though and Chelsea must respond. Signing one of Carroll, Crouch, Llorente, Dzeko or Benteke is not going to help them tackle their latest predicament.
