After just seven games, it’s too early to assess Chelsea’s summer business, but it does seem like one decision has already come back to bite Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea strengthened considerably in the forward areas this summer. Estevao Willian finally arrived at Stamford Bridge, while Alejandro Garnacho was rescued from a difficult situation at Man United.
Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro all arrived too. Some have suggested that while these are all undeniably exciting talents, perhaps Chelsea should have paid more attention to the defensive areas.
Jorrel Hato has come in from Ajax, though looks like he’ll take a while to settle in.
The goalkeeper position was not addressed either, leaving Robert Sanchez as the starting stopper. That’s where Jamie Carragher thinks a mistake has been made.
Jamie Carragher can’t believe Chelsea didn’t pursue Gianluigi Donnarumma
Manchester City pounced on an irresistible market opportunity this summer, signing PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma for just £26 million after his relationship with the Parisian club deteriorated.
Writing for The Telegraph, Carragher can’t understand why Chelsea didn’t look to compete for his signature.
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He says: “Manchester City showed what ambitious clubs do when an obvious issue needs sorting out, signing Gianluigi Donnarumma.
“Why were Chelsea not part of the conversation for the PSG keeper? He could have been a transformative signing for them.”
It’s not like Chelsea were fully content with that position, either. Sanchez had a difficult season up until the Club World Cup where, to give him his due, he was brilliant. But we’ve already seen the same old mistakes this season, getting sent off before the game had even really got going at Old Trafford.
Sanchez doesn’t have the consistency to be a title-winning keeper, and that fact will have to be accepted sooner or later.
Chelsea’s general transfer strategy concerning to Carragher
The former Liverpool defender thinks that Chelsea under BlueCo are a far cry from the club he used to face. He wonders why they aren’t considered favourites for trophies after so much spending.
As he puts it: “Chelsea should be title contenders and considered Champions League challengers this season. Instead, their hierarchy seems content to be praised for being the smartest recruiters in the business – the world’s richest development club.”
Carragher is not impressed at how the new ownership has transformed the club from a business perspective, which is a fair stance to take.
As well as Chelsea have done in the market, they seem to be targeting appreciating assets more so than pursuing a winning strategy.
The top-heavy nature of their investment has left the squad imbalanced. There is no shortage of exciting young attackers, but on the defensive side, many of the players Maresca has at his disposal aren’t of the quality you would expect from such a massive club.
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