by Chelsea’s annus horribilis has been hailed as a “disaster” inside Stamford Bridge and the club face a big decision on whether to stick with their 2023 transfer policy.
The club have taken a largely youthful approach in the transfer market this year, but it is believed they will have to change course again and overhaul their wage structure to land a top-class striker in the January 2024 window.
Despite spending more than £750 million during the calendar year, Chelsea’s win at Everton meant they are now, statistically, the worst team in the Premier League with less than three weeks of 2023 left (see below ).
Of the clubs that have spent the entire year in the final, Chelsea have the worst points-per-game ratio, having won just 39 points from 39 games. Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest also have 39 points in 2023, but both have played fewer games.
During their tumult, Chelsea have not only spent a fortune on new players but also lost former head coach Graham Potter and most of his backroom staff, costing thousands of pounds as compensation for the club.
Chelsea finished 12th in the Premier League last season and are in the same position this term, despite Mauricio Pochettino as head coach and big-money summer signings such as Moises Caicedo, who cost £115 million.
While some of the 2023 business is still believed to be good in the long term and Pochettino remains backed, there is also an internal recognition that, from a footballing point of view, the year could hardly get any worse.
Insiders have described 2023, the first full year of Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital’s ownership, as a “disaster” and can’t wait for it to end.
Although it may not be obvious to supporters and is not being held up as any kind of victory, there is an internal belief that progress has been made away from the pitch following a series of behind-the-scenes appointments.
But some mistakes have been made, no doubt, and it remains to be seen whether or not Chelsea stick to the same transfer strategy that saw the club invest heavily in young players during 2023.
Pochettino may ditch ‘project’ players in favor of big names
Despite the official line that everyone remains committed to the ‘project’, Chelsea’s transfer strategy has come under scrutiny in recent weeks and months, after expensive young stars such as Mykhailo Mudryk, Enzo Fernández, Nicolas Jackson and Caicedo have struggled to make it consistent. her mark.
Chelsea have paid big in transfer fees while cutting the wage bill by signing young players who typically earn less than £100,000 a week before bonuses. Fernández in January, and Caicedo, during the summer, your choice with Declan Rice.
Cole Palmer is among the few who have succeeded in the approach so far and Pochettino has suggested that Chelsea will have to spend even more money in January to make a significant improvement this season.
Telegraph Sport reported that Chelsea will try to balance any business coming into January with at least the same number of outlays and Pochettino will speak to joint sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, possibly along with Clearlake chief executive Behdad Eghbali, about potential targets.
Eghbali played a hands-on role in transfers during 2023 and it remains to be seen whether he will follow Boehly’s example and take a bigger back seat in football decisions moving forward.
Pochettino’s biggest needs are a prolific full-back and a dominant central defender, but it is expected that Chelsea would have to breach their wage structure to land Victor Osimhen or Ivan Toney, who are expected to be much more than £100,000 per week. .
One source told Telegraph Sport: “Chelsea are not going to qualify for Europe next season the way they are going, so they would have to offer Osimhen or Toney big money. That’s not something they’re doing this year.”
In terms of January outlays, Chelsea will once again be open to offers for Trevoh Chalobah and Ian Maatsen, while Armando Broja could attract interest and Noni Madueke’s future is uncertain. Conor Gallagher has yet to sign a new contract, but Pochettino wants the midfielder to stay at the club.
Meanwhile, Jackson will not face any retrospective FA action for his altercation with Nathan Patterson during Chelsea’s defeat to Everton. The match officials reviewed the incident at the time and no further action was taken.
Chelsea are again sweating on the fitness of Reece James after the defender was forced off the field against Everton with a hamstring problem, while goalkeeper Robert Sánchez also had to be replaced with a knee complaint.
