The Chelsea transfer window verdict is in, and it's not looking good.
The Blues failed to buy a single first-team target. There are several takeaways from this window. Daniel and Anita give their takes on what was a window with mixed reviews.
Thomas Tuchel has complained several times about his team being tired. He has spoken on behalf of his player's welfare as Chelsea remains to be the team that has played the most games this season. Marina Granovskaia and the board could have done more to make something out of an anti-climatic transfer window. With a flurry of games coming Chelsea's way, can we really give this window a positive rating?
A move to recall Emerson Palmieri from loan to cover for the absence of Ben Chilwell has been the highlight of the January window.
Daniel Childs - Chelsea Fan Brands Writer/Presenter
All in all, I'm not too fussed with the lack of business. There is something embarrassing about us trying and failing to recall our own player. One that was clearly deemed not good enough last summer.
The problems lie much deeper and systemic around our recruitment and why we choose to buy certain players. Liverpool's activity this month proves how efficient they have become in the market. Neither Luis Diaz nor Fabio Carvalho are Chelsea's players, but their deals speak to a sense of clarity at Anfield in talent identification that still seems fuzzy at Stamford Bridge.
The last deadline day brought us Saul, a player who put in a run of the worst performances I've ever seen from a Chelsea player. This was someone who apparently had been championed by our chief scout for several years.
Keeping our powder dry for summer is the smart play, but spending that money is a far more vital point.
Anita Abayomi - Chelsea Fan Brands Writer/Presenter
Funnily enough, I'm no longer disappointed with the way the transfer window has gone. Could we have got Lucas Digne or feasible left-back option for Ben Chilwell? Yes.
Is our failure to secure Emerson back from his loan shocking? Not really.
I didn't expect Chelsea to spend millions on a replacement who could potentially stay on the bench once Ben Chilwell recovers. Marina Granovskaia and the board were smart as they usually are.
There are many aspects to look at for this transfer window. I would have preferred a last-minute Ousmane Dembele swoop because another attacking option is imminent. Chelsea will buy a new attacker in the summer. Tuchel is a fan of Dembele. Barcelona made it clear that he was up for grabs. It feels like we are delaying the inevitable at the moment.
Another defensive, central midfielder is also needed. Given the number of Covid-19 cases and injuries in the midfield, it's almost destined for the Blues to sign a new midfielder. It's a gap in the squad that we've been requesting for some time now, and it feels like it's finally going to happen. Just not right now.
Knowing that there are so many gaps in the team has put pressure on the board to sign new players instantly. With the centre-back contracts ending in the summer, Chelsea could have easily opted for a panic buy.
I can be disappointed with the lack of transfers because, well, I'd like to see some movement and some imminent changes. However, Marina Granovskaia and the board have remained press resistant in their decisions, not pressured into buying a new left-back, centre-back, midfielder or attacker. I definitely would have preferred getting at least one of these options in now, but I guess we'll have to leave that till summer.
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