Chelsea urged not to sign two Premier League stars, but there is one thing they desperately need
Transfer windows have been pure chaos for Chelsea in recent years, so it's no surprise that fans and pundits are expecting a quiet winter.
The Blues have broken record after record since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital bought the club, either spending in a single window or with the British record transfer fee with Enzo Fernández and then Moisés Caicedo.
Things have slowed down slightly in 2024, and although over £200m was spent in the summer, something of an established first eleven now appears to be emerging.
Despite that, and given Chelsea's recent history of waste, numerous names are still being linked with a move at Stamford Bridge, including two of the Premier League's best.
Newcastle's Alexander Isak is reportedly attracting another bid in excess of £100m, while Palace defender and former Chelsea player Marc Guehi could follow suit. Romelu Lukaku route and return to west London.
The two players were discussed on talkSPORT program inside Chelseabut both got a no from the panel.
In Isak's case, it is because he is already there, with Nicholas Jackson winning praise for one key reason.
Presenter Kweku Afari explained: “I have seen so many big-name strikers fail at Chelsea over the years, those who have succeeded shared a common thread.
“It's their mentality, they have that dog inside them and that fight, and I see that in Jackson.
“I really like Isak, but if you told me we had to pay £115m for someone who gave you the same performance as Jackson, I wouldn't spend that money.”
Former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy agreed and added: “The problem you have with Isak is the salary and the fee, that then leaves you with the problem on Saturday of who do you start with?
“Jackson has been allowed to develop in a team that is still in its infancy with unprecedented changes on and off the pitch, he is coming through and showing quality, so you would have to disappoint Jackson or Isak.
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“I'm glad we didn't draft Victor Osimhen in the summer because we wouldn't see these numbers from Jackson.
“We are at a point where it is about improving the team, not the squad, and if you do that it is a little risky because Jackson is doing well.
“We must discuss whether we need support as such.” Christopher Nkunku Isn't that endorsement, but since Jackson is so young, how do you endorse him? You would need someone to supervise him, but who is that player?
With the question settled at the front, the next one is at the back, but Guehi might not be lucky either when it comes to returning to Stamford Bridge.
Arguing about the highly qualified Crystal Palace England captain and regular Matisse said: “I don't think I want him back.
“Right now the problem is that Chelsea have too many centre-backs. We have signed too many in the last few windows and they have to sell them first before the incoming ones or start trusting them and building around them.
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“For me with Guehi, the problem is the price, they linked him with Newcastle in the summer for a high price that we don't have to pay.
“I think his signing would depend on Wesley Fofana, who was signed for £80m. “He has the potential to play in France and be a top-class centre-back, and until we have a conclusion about him and his ability to overcome injuries, we won't I know”. I don’t think we can look at Gehi.”
Afari agreed and gave Chelsea's four main rivals as an example.
He explained: “Guehi, Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Fofana, they give me 'B center back' vibes.
“If you look at Arsenal or LiverpoolThe centre-backs I have named are more (Ibrahima) Konate and Gabriel than (William) Saliba and (Virgil) van Dijk, who make those defenses so formidable.
“Unless you're going to bring in someone like that, which I think Guehi is not, then I don't think it makes sense to bring in another defender when you need to trim the team.
“If Chelsea were to bring in a centre-back they would need to bring in someone dominant who would control the backline, I don't think any of the players we have been linked with or any of the players in the team are that.
“Fofana could be that, Colwill could become that, but until I can identify one of those players like Van Dijk I don't want to bring anyone in.”
So there you have it, Boehly and company, no rash decisions will be made in January unless it's someone exceptional, especially up front and on defense.
Goalkeeping is another matter, however, especially as Robert Sánchez fails to impress.
Assessing the problem in the goal Matisse said it is the only problem he would like to see addressed sooner rather than later.
“If we are not going to give Filip Jorgensen a chance in the Premier League, we must start considering our options,” he began.
“This is the only position where I really feel that Chelsea have had great quality over the years and if they want to get to the next level it needs to be rectified.
“Can you do that in January? “Probably not.”
Cundy added: “I think the deal is done, but I understand that most fans look at the goalkeeping situation and think, 'Is he okay now?' But I think what we have is probably what we're going to get, but we'll probably see the team trimmed.”
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