Chelsea F.C. Thread IX

£60/65m is a lot of money but with Raphinha you are getting PL proven quality with great stats in a bad team. You look at the league and there aren't many better than Raphinha in that position. I don't know why we didn't just pay the asking price last week but I guess the board are content with Saka and Pepe. With Raphina, he is the top 2-3 in the position.

Unfortunate really.

He passes the eye test and he’s a good player, but as a backup for a top quality team. I guess that means Chelsea won’t be signing Sterling.

Raphinha also works hard off the ball.

A few levels below Salah, Son, Diaz, Jota, Mahrez etc. I’d even take Jarred Bowen over him in the Premier League as he’s more of a goal threat.

Raphinha fits our team more than Ziyech I think.

I think in big games the ability to use him on the counter and to have a nice left footed option there would be good.

Him on the right and Mount on the left is a good duo. Pace, directness and that ability to deliver balls in. I hope we don't buy a striker and just use Havertz/Werner/Broja for the season imo. I like that Tuchel said he wants to see him in pre-season before letting him go on loan.

If we do use Werner in a makeweight deal for De Ligt would be totally the wrong option. I think we won't sell Pulisic for now and thankfully this means we do not buy Dembele, injury prone wingers are the stuff of nightmares. I think we should go for Gnabry as a sensible option if we want another winger, although I'm not fussed with Sterling either. I think he's a top player when you look at his record but he doesn't have De Bruyne pulling the strings. Reminds me, need a creative genius in that 8 position.

I would have liked Bowen but West Ham won't sell lmao, would be extortionate prices, Grealish went for 100M and Bowen's probably been better than Grealish when he was at Villa. How much you think he's going for? We're going to overpay on Rice as it is.

Tbh if Raphinha is going to Chelsea does that mean CHO is now free to go to Arsenal?!

In all seriousness, it all depends on how well Raphinha fits in and his output statistically.. I don't believe Barca has the money for him but its pretty obvious that he is waiting for Barca and his agent is just dicking around.

Blame the new owners. Imagine being desperate to sign for a broke club instead of Chelsea. Wouldn't have happened under Roman.

srs fam, I think blessing in disguise tho if CHO and Pulisic can stay fit.

Don't worry, you'll be playing Raheem Sterling.

I like sterling for the most part so this isn't an insult.

In some ways surprising that Man City willing to sell to Chelsea. Maybe Man City see you as threatening as Arsenal? (sold Jesus to them)

Na it's because we will spend the most money for these players who have a year left on their contract and have reduced gametime. Would be foolish to let them be unhappy and go on frees, Haaland and Alvarez are their replacements. 2 in 2 out basically. Same with Phillips replacing Fernandinho. Now for older players above 30 like Aguero/Fernandinho/Toure/Kompany he lets them go on frees instead

They can't sell to anyone lower in the league as they won't accept being out of Europe but they can't sell to other leagues because they'll pay in installments over 20 years like Barcelona lmao.

I would say that Pep knows something we don't but I think he just wants new players to keep the squad fresh. If he could he would have sold these players to Bayern. You think Klopp is selling Mane to Chelsea?

Former England international Danny Drinkwater has been speaking to Sky Sports

following his release by Chelsea.

He says he feels like he "threw five years away" having sat on the sidelines for most of his time at Stamford Bridge, after joining from Leicester in 2017.

"I'm relieved, because it's clear it wasn't a situation that was good for me or the club," he said.

"I'm angry because of how it's gone and how I was treated - not bitter though, what ifs. It was a long time coming."



Didn't complain about the paychecks though!

Sterling done and what's Barca playing at with all these transfer talks when they haven't even paid off wages

Serious they're just waffling. I see is getting raphinha now since Barcelona can't afford. Also no idea why they are again trying to buy more attackers?

Depay auba ansu Fati Dembele(if he ever renews) torres yet they want raphinha and Lewandowski. I'm forgetting one or two players as well.

Mismanagement of a club at its finest and it's just continuing.

I respect arsenal because despite having a pe teacher he's lowered that wage bill right down and brought in quality players in the process. Barcelona are doing the exact opposite.

I like how clubs actually focus on keeping wages under check. Real forced Bale and got rid of Ronaldo for that reason.