My new blog for a certain Chelsea website/podcast.
To Sign or not to Sign?
When the 1
st July comes around it’s that time of the year again when media outlets and journalists go mad about who will sign who and for how much. With the completed signings of Marko Marin and Eden Hazard and departures of Didier Drogba, Jose Bosingwa and Salomon Kalou we all have a sense it will be a busy summer for the club. Now we all know until it is on Chelseafc.com to take everything we hear with the smallest pinch of salt but at times we all get sucked in and start believing things or hoping they will happen. In this blog I want to discuss some of the players that have been rumoured to sign for us this summer along with pro’s and con’s and whether I think the player should be wearing Chelsea blue next season.
Luka Modric (26) – Tottenham Hotspur – Fee 40million
This is a player we all know very well as he has been in the Premier League for 4 years now and with him wanting to join us last summer. When he declared he wanted to play for us last summer and with Spurs wanting 40million I was really against it because I just didn’t see what he did which merited that price tag. A year on and a lot more watched of the lad by myself I can see why this price tag is being talked about. People tend to say ‘look at his poor assist stats’ which is true but that is not his main job. His main job is to assist the player who then goes on to get the assist (key passes) to which he averaged 2.7 per game last season which is in the top 5 highest in the Premier League.
Other Interested parties: Real Madrid and Manchester United
Pro: Premier League proven. Con: Giving Spurs 40million. Sign or not: Yes 100%
Victor Moses (21) – Wigan Athletic – Fee 10million
Nigerian born Victor Moses moved to England when he was 11 as represented England at a youth level, although he decided not to try and represent England at a full international level as he has 3 Nigerian caps to his name. A player many are on the fence about joining us but the ones who are against it are because quite simply, he plays for Wigan. Don’t let that fool you, one of the problems with Chelsea last season was no one would could dribble with the ball or even try. Last season in the Premier League Moses was the 2
nd in average dribbles per game with 2.5 on par with Luis Suarez and behind Junior Hoilett. Classed as English, two footed, young, versatile and Premier League proven there are more positives than negatives here.
Other Interested parties: Arsenal
Pro: Great back-up player. Con: Too big of a step up? Sign or not: Yes, if Malouda is sold.
Maicon (30) – Inter Milan – Fee 6million
A player who 2-3 years ago was the best right back world football but then one night when monkey boy (Gareth Bale) turned in the best performance of his career to date Maicon’s reputation was left in tatters. If this deal goes through we have to remember he will play rotation with Brana who has cemented his place as our first choice right back. We may have to play over 60 games next season so strength in depth is key as well as experience. Let’s be honest here, he is better attacking and defending than Jose Bosingwa so surely this is a no brainer.
Other Interested parties: Real Madrid Pro: Very cheap. Con: Finished? Sign or not: Yes
Hulk (25) – Porto – Fee 50million+
A very good powerful footballer (hence the name) who predominantly likes to play on the right side cutting inside and letting rip with his can opening left peg but can also play as a target man centre forward. 21 goals and 15 assists last season for Porto makes for good reading and is now the centre piece in the Brazil national side. I have one problem with this deal and it’s a big one, if Di Matteo want to keep this 4-2-3-1 formation then the only place for Ramires is wide right and he deserves it. If Hulk is signed he will push Ramires out that position and I believe Ramires is good enough to occupy that position on his own with the likes of Marin and maybe Moses being his back-up.
Other interested parties: None of note
Pro: Physique sites the English game. Con: Will push Ramires out the team. Sign or not: No
Andre Schurrle (21) – Bayer Leverkusen – Fee 20million+
A young German who was vaguely unknown until last season when he played Champions League football and went to the Euro’s with his country. We have reportedly had a bid of around 15million for him turned down so interest seems to be real. Another versatile player who likes to play on the left of the attacking 3 or behind the striker, full of tricks and not scared to take on opponents. Again like Moses he loves a dribble, he averaged 3.1 last season in the Bundesliga which was 5
th best. (Funnily enough the player who averaged the most dribbles per game not just in the Budesliga but in the whole of Europe was ex Chelsea academy player Gokhan Tore for Hamburg with 5.3 a game!!!!). This would be a step up in class compared to the Moses deal but if we do sign another winger then I fully expect Malouda to leave.
Other interested parties: Bayern Munich.....Probably.
Pro: What we need. Con: Cost more than Moses. Sign or not: Yes, only if we don’t sign Moses.
Now they are the main names being thrown around, other names include Ben Arfa, Debuchy, Azpilicueta, Witsel and many many more. Now none of the above players named are guaranteed targets but one thing is certain. There will be a lot more players linked with us from now until the 31
st August!
UTC
By Carl Jackson