Chelsea's signing of Wesley Fofana hasn't gone down well with rival fans and even some players. The Blues paid £69.5m up front to bring the Frenchman to Stamford Bridge, making him Thomas Tuchel's third defensive purchase of the window.
Fofana completed the move after sitting out Leicester's match at Stamford Bridge just days earlier after also being dropped before that by Brendan Rodgers as transfer speculation rose. The player has since been confirmed as a Chelsea player and has already had his first training session ahead of Chelsea's London derby against West Ham on Saturday.
The move proved once again how hard it is for clubs outside of the top six to keep hold of their best players and with such a large price for a player with less than 50 Premier League matches, it raised concerns over the place that football finds itself in. Gary Linekar was quick to defend Fofana though, but it hasn't been received the same way by Leicester fans who are left confused with the club's transfer stance.
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Following the departure of Fofana, James Maddison - also someone at the centre of transfer speculation this summer - tweeted: "Good luck on your new chapter little bro!! Pleasure to play with you and share a changing room with you. A good friend and a Rolls Royce of a centre half."
Not only is this a nice parting message for a player that was integral to Fofana's impressive first year at the Foxes - almost securing them a Champions League place - it is also continuing a trend of high praise for the youngster who has been tipped to become the best defender in the world. Leicester fans have taken to it less lightly though, jumping on Maddison with one fan replying, "Have some respect for the club and the fans please. He s*** on us. Don’t take a 5 year contract then jump at the first “ dream “ move that gives you double your salary."
Fofana only agreed an extension to his original deal in March, a move which was designed to keep him at the club until next summer at least, a time when serious bids were expected. Now Chelsea paid the money and swayed his head it sums up a footballing landscape that is dominated by ambitious young players and Maddison jumped to his own defence, replying, "Probably slightly harsh to question my respect for the club and fans just because I wished a teammate and friend of 2 years good luck at their new club
"I understand the frustration but if a player desperately wants to leave, it’s probably best for all parties to let them."
Chelsea themselves have already seen the consequences of fielding players that are unhappy and the effect that it could have on a squad as a whole. The Blues are still with Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic in their squad, a matter which could damage the harmony of the team with both players wanting out of the club.
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