Looking at Chelsea‘s transfer business this summer, the recruitment of Michael Edwards cannot come soon enough.
What began as a controlled, targeted process is quickly turning into a scattergun supermarket sweep. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang? Marc Cucurella at £50million? Wesley Fofana at £80m plus?
Nobody can argue that Todd Boehly is not investing. Yet where is he getting these names and valuations? And what does Edwards make of it all, if he remains the target?
Looking at Chelsea’s recent transfer business, Michael Edwards (l) cannot come soon enough
Nobody can argue that new owner Todd Boehly (left) is not investing – yet where is he getting all these names and valuations? And what does Edwards make of it all, if he remains the target?
Not much point becoming the sporting director of a club that has already chosen its direction. Not much point heading up recruitment if the boss has blown the kitty, either.
Chelsea started the window well. Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly were excellent additions.
Cucurella is expensive, particularly with Ben Chilwell now fit, but Thomas Tuchel may have plans to play him in a more central role, as he did Cesar Azpilicueta, who has now renewed a two-year contract. So far so good.
And there was no harm in Boehly’s hands-on approach. After all, it was not as if the previous Chelsea regime had been covered in glory by record-breaking deals for Romelu Lukaku and Kepa Arrizabalaga. Chelsea were most certainly not infallible in the market.
Yet Boehly was supposed to be a place-holder until Edwards, or similar, could come on board. Now Chelsea will start the season with Boehly still calling the shots and a process that is increasingly reminiscent of the many recent mis-steps made by Manchester United.
Chelsea started well, with Raheem Sterling (centre) and Kalidou Koulibaly excellent additions
Arguably Edwards’ greatest achievement at Liverpool was the character of his recruits. It cannot be coincidence that Jurgen Klopp manages a squad of diligent, selfless players, who have forged one of the strongest bonds in club football.
Much the same is true at Manchester City in the Pep Guardiola era. They are a good bunch. It is one of the reasons Guardiola was against adding the game’s great individual, Cristiano Ronaldo, to his squad.
Yet what do we know of Aubameyang, Chelsea’s latest forward target? Only that Mikel Arteta could not wait to get him out of Arsenal, and that not even the captain’s armband…