Chelsea are yet to complete their first signing for Thomas Tuchel's first team. It's simple to see why supporters are airing their frustrations with every other Premier League team apart from Leicester City getting their transfer window underway with a signing.
The Blues have a significant rebuilding job to complete this summer following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen and a squad full of uncertain futures. However, the Premier League's elite in Manchester City and Liverpool have wasted no time in adding to their ranks.
It's clear Chelsea have a number of plates spinning. A deal for Raheem Sterling appears close with talks still productive between all parties, while Tuchel's need for a defender has been made clear with approaches for the likes of Matthijs de Ligt and Nathan Ake.
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There have been a number of false dawns where it has seemed that the Blues may be on the verge of seeing a new player behind a desk and signing a contract in front of a photographer. Perhaps, few more frustrating that Todd Boehly's quest to sign Raphinha.
While discussions over a bid for Sterling played out with more public briefings, Chelsea managed to agree a fee with Leeds United reasonably out of the blue. It felt like the dawn of the new era was finally about to emerge. Of course, there is the player to consider in any such discussion.
Former Chelsea midfielder Deco, Raphinha's agent, is said to be close friends with Jorge Mendes, who Boehly had met the weekend before. The ex-Portugal international was pictured on holiday with his client when news of the Blues' bid emerged but soon found himself in Barcelona - the source of a number of Chelsea frustrations this summer.
It's quickly became clear that Raphinha's preference is to sign for the Catalan giants, to the frustration of many calling for Chelsea to end their pursuit. Whether Barcelona can complete the signing given their financial struggles remains to be seen.
It's barely been a week since Chelsea came to an agreement with Leeds however, and while Boehly of course shouldn't allow the Blues to be taken advantage of, it only reinforces how the intense coverage of the transfer window makes a few days feel like a lifetime. Frustration is understandable but players have a right to choose their final destination, even if finance is usually king in football.
Simply, Chelsea have found themselves in a reversed role. On the verge of the transfer window Jules Kounde was expected to be the club's first signing of the new ownership. A verbal agreement was made for the Frenchman's personal terms and business with Sevilla needed to be undertaken.
However, a bid has not appeared forthcoming from the west London side while Kounde undergoes physical therapy in Los Angeles, preparing to return for Sevilla's trip to Korea. Monchi has claimed a great deal of interest in the defender, though Barcelona appear to pose no problem at the moment. Attention has been placed elsewhere by Chelsea however, with Kounde placed on the backburner.
Different parties have different priorities and while the preference would always be to be first choice, the transfer market rarely allows the easiest route for anyone. Patience is often required, but with a pre-season tour of the USA on the horizon there is little time left to wait.
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