When devising the gallery for the five players Chelsea will regret not signing this summer, we don’t think they’ll be regretting these missed opportunities too much given the impeccable playing squad they already boast under Jose Mourinho.
This summer it is a case of the Blues adding the finishing touches to an otherwise imperious squad that romped their way to the Premier League title last term.
Some Chelsea fans are claiming that because it was so easy last term, they’ve signed Radamel Falcao as a kind of burden in order for the others to catch up a little with few Blues fans believing the loan signing of the Colombian will turn out to be good business.
Despite the Blues’ squad being more settled than most, at the time of writing, there are still a few areas in which Jose Mourinho knows he has to strengthen such as tying up the move for Stoke City’s Asmir Begovic as the new understudy to Thibaut Courtois, not to mention possibly adding another attacking player.
With a month to go until the start of the Premier League, we are really in the crux of the transfer window right now and with several of the Blues’ targets having already secured a transfer, we’re taking a look at five players Chelsea will regret not signing this summer.
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Click on the image below to reveal the 5 players Chelsea will regret not signing this summer.
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Arda Turan
Securing a controversial high profile switch to Barcelona from La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid this week, the whole footballing world is looking on rather sceptically given the fact that despite their transfer ban, Barcelona are still splashing out millions on new arrivals for January 2016.
Prior to transferring to the Catalan giants, it had looked as if Chelsea were stealing a march on the chasing pack to land the Turkish international’s signature but on this occasion, the Blues didn’t get it their own way.
While signing Arda Turan was hardly a priority for Chelsea, most Blues fans would rather the club got Mohamed Salah and Juan Cuadrado’s wages off the bill while making room for a far more proven talent such as Arda.
Willian and Eden Hazard are the first choice options on the wing for the Blues right now but given Oscar’s below-par season last term, Chelsea fans would like another top quality attacking midfielder in there to compete with them.
Giannelli Imbula
Trailed by Chelsea for a long while now, the Blues didn’t manage to get their hands on Giannelli Imbula this summer with the Frenchman trading Marseille for FC Porto instead.
Signing at Estadio do Dragao for a fee of £14.2 million, it appears Imbula was hell bent on joining a side where he would be an undoubted first choice selection in midfield ahead of a big season in which French players are looking to convince Didier Deschamps to include them in his Les Bleus squad for Euro 2016 next summer.
Still uncapped at international level, a good season in the Primeira Liga may convince Deschamps to select him as part of his 23-man squad next summer and in truth, first team opportunities at Chelsea would’ve been harder to come by despite his talents.
Nevertheless, with Sky Sports having confirmed late last month that John Obi Mikel is seeking a Stamford Bridge exit, the Blues could end up regretting the decision not to pay the rather modest £14.2 million fee for a player of Imbula’s age and potential.
When you consider the likes of Geoffrey Kondogbia transferred to Inter Milan for 35 million euros, Imbula looks something of a steal in comparison.
Antoine Griezmann
With Atletico Madrid regrettably selling Arda Turan to Barcelona this week, this transfer casts doubt on the prospect of Atleti letting another of their prized possessions in Antoine Griezmann depart this summer.
Chelsea have been heavily linked with a swoop for the French international this summer and despite Jose Mourinho previously claiming that the Blues aren’t interested in the forward, this hasn’t stopped the papers continuing to link him with a Stamford Bridge move.
For most Chelsea fans here in the tavern, they would’ve scrapped their now completed loan switch for Monaco’s Radamel Falcao in order to pursue a big money move for Griezmann instead.
While Falcao used to be the go-to guy at the Vicente Calderon in years gone by, his stock has fallen dramatically and it is now Griezmann who is adored by the Los Colchoneros fans.
A player at the peak of his powers at present, a striking pool consisting of Diego Costa, Antoine Griezmann and Loic Remy is what Chelsea fans really wanted this summer.
Mauro Icardi
Rather surprisingly signing a new deal with Inter Milan earlier this summer despite their lowly eighth-placed finish in Serie A last season, Mauro Icardi handed a huge blow to Chelsea who were expected to be in the market for his signature this transfer window.
While Chelsea of course boast a truly world class first choice striker in Diego Costa, the Blues aren’t nearly as potent without their Spanish international and given Costa’s injury troubles and suspension risk, Chelsea fans would love an equally clinical striker as back-up.
Icardi’s Serie A goal haul for Inter Milan currently stands at 31 goals in 58 games with the striker being the latest prolific Argentine to follow the likes of Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain before him.
Still just 22-years-old to boot, perhaps Chelsea will regret not offering him a package he couldn’t refuse earlier in the window with his price set to sky-rocket over the coming seasons.
Aaron Cresswell
Chelsea have the left back position in good hands with Cesar Azpilicueta having performed admirably there over the last couple of seasons.
That said, the feeling amongst Chelsea fans is that reserve option Filipe Luis isn’t such a capable back up option.
Despite spending big money on the Brazilian who arrived from Atletico Madrid last summer, the player didn’t blow anybody away and a fantastic goal at Derby County aside, didn’t do much to endear himself to Chelsea supporters.
Reportedly linked with a switch back to his former club, if Filipe Luis is to depart over the next couple of transfer windows, a player Chelsea should’ve gone for instead was West Ham United’s Aaron Cresswell.
Performing fantastically in his debut season at Upton Park last term, Cresswell won the club’s Hammer of the Year prize in his first season in the Premier League and looks a future England left back, that’s for sure.
Performing for a club like Chelsea would also only accelerate him into the plans of Roy Hodgson ahead of Euro 2016 too, that’s for sure.
