The latest on Chelsea's transfer activity as football.london takes a look at the club's expensive and extensive rebuild of the squad for new head coach Mauricio Pochettino
A lot has been said about Chelsea’s spending in recent times.
Plenty of rival supporters and other clubs have complained, or are complaining, about Todd Boehly’s approach to the transfer market. The American businessman has spent almost £1billion on new players since taking over the Blues in May 2022.
This summer, Boehly and the club’s new-look recruitment squad have been extremely active, spending about £350 million on new players. And the Blues’ football career is far from over.London comprehensionMauricio Pochettino expects at least two fresh additions in the remaining ten days of the summer transfer window.
Djordje Petrovic is on his way from the New England Revolution as Pochettino seeks to supplement and compete with fellow goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. Chelsea is also evaluating its possibilities for another offensive player, with someone who can play on the right flank and as a No.10 being considered.
Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus is being intensively pursued. The Ghana international, who is worth roughly £40 million, is eager to depart the Amsterdam-based club this summer. Chelsea are great fans of Kudus, who has recently been heavily linked with a transfer to West Ham United.
Chelsea might also consider Brennan Johnson. Tottenham, according to football.london, is still interested in the Nottingham Forest striker. Spurs have been interested in the Wales international for some time, but are unwilling to pay his £50 million asking price.
Johnson is expected to depart the City Ground this summer, although teams will be trying to negotiate a reduction in Forest’s £50 million value. Other possibilities are being examined Chelsea, too.
Bradley Barcola from Lyon is someone the club believe is one of the best young attacking talents in world football right now. The 20-year-old winger is now being looked at after the Blues missed out on signing Michael Olise from Crystal Palace.
Paris Saint-Germain, however, are also interested in Barcola and are said to have already opened talks with Lyon over signing him before the window closes. Manchester City were also interested in Barcola but have instead opted to sign Jeremy Doku from Rennes.
With everyone fit – which is unfortunately not the case at Stamford Bridge right now – and with a couple more signings before the window shuts, Chelsea, on paper, will have one hell of a starting line-up. It would see the well-documented ‘rebuild’ completed, costing over £450million in total.
Possible Chelsea XI (excluding current injuries): Sanchez (£25m); James (free), Silva (free), Colwill (free), Chilwell (£50m); Fernandez (£106m), Caicedo (£115m); Kudus (£40m), Nkunku (£52m), Sterling (£50m); Jackson (£30m) – Total cost: £468m.
The above team looks very strong without actually seeing it in action on the pitch. And that would leave several really talented options to be used from the bench.
(Some of) the rest of the squad: Djordje Petrovic, Wesley Fofana, Benoît Badiashile, Axel Disasi, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Cucurella, Ian Maatsen, Malo Gusto, Romeo Lavia, Andrey Santos, Lesley Ugochukwu, Conor Gallagher, Carney Chukwuemeka, Mykhailo Mudryk, Armando Broja.
