Chelsea transfer window business has been the subject of much discussion this season. With the international break in progress, we`re taking a look at what went wrong and what went right.
Going all the way back to last summer, Antonio Conte, in his first season had just won the Premier League, taking a team Jose Mourinho had almost broken back to the top. One story dominated the summer window.
Diego Costa
The saga surrounding the Brazilian born Spanish international was discussed on a daily basis. Whatever your views on the man, there could be no doubting his commitment to the cause. His ability to wind up the opposition was almost legendary. From the players point of view, he was someone you would sooner have on your side. His cantankerous personality was capable of occupying two or three defenders at the same time, allowing Eden Hazard to perform his magic. When you boil it all down, whilst the £60m they eventually received from Atletico Madrid was welcomed, Chelsea lost a combative character they failed to replace.
Willy Caballero
The Argentinian was signed from Manchester City on a free transfer. He was Chelsea`s first signing once the window was opened. He was Asmir Begovic`s replacement after he`d left to join Bournemouth. Caballero has mainly featured in the domestic cup competitions. He`s played at total of 10 games, conceded 7 goals and kept 4 clean sheets. Willy has been a good acquisition to Chelsea`s squad and has only been on the losing side once when he`s played, that being the League Cup semi-final tie against Arsenal. His contract runs until the end of the season.
Antonio Rüdiger
The German international was signed from Roma for a fee in the region of £31.5m. He has formed an important part of Conte`s back three, ousting club captain, Gary Cahill, on the left side of the trio. Over the course of the season he`s grown into the team forming a good partnership with Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta. Those three are considered by many to be the strongest Conte could pick for his backline. The German has made 37 appearances, scored 3 goals and assisted 2 goals. His current contract runs until the summer of 2022.
Tiemoue Bakayoko
Having seen so players not given a chance at Chelsea go onto great success, there`s reason to hold back when assessing the big Frenchman. That said, his Chelsea career has not taken off yet. Having been signed for £36m from Monaco, he was seen as a ideal foil for his fellow countryman N`golo Kante. He arrived at Cobham carrying a knee injury, a trait that would become familiar in other dealings throughout both windows. Baka has played 37 games, scored 3 goals and made 3 assists. He`s under contract with the club until June 2022. The jury`s very much still out on his chances of being a Chelsea success.
Alvaro Morata
The Spaniard was Chelsea`s marquee signing of the summer window. He arrived from Real Madrid for a fee just shy of £60m. He got off to a flying start, scoring 6 goals in his first 6 Premier League games. However a back injury and the sad loss of a close friend brought about a dip in form and loss of confidence. His well taken goal in the FA Cup quarter final victory over Leicester was the first time he appeared on the scoresheet since December. Morata has made 39 appearances since his arrival, scored 13 goals and assisted 5 times. There`s a question mark over his discipline though, he`s recorded 9 yellow cards and 1 red. His temperament is highly questionable if his goal scoring ability is not. Morata`s contract runs until the summer of 2022.
Nemanja Matic
The Serb was one of those that nearly got away. Having been released from Chelsea in 2011, they re-signed him three years later. During the next three seasons he was a brilliant defensive midfielder and Chelsea`s decision to allow him to leave was last summer was, like Costa, detrimental to the strength of the squad. After he left for Jose Mourinho`s Manchester United for a fee of £40m, the club failed to adequately replace him.
Davide Zappacosta
The final day of the summer`s transfer window saw a flurry of activity that left supporters underwhelmed in many respects. Zappacosta was brought in from Torino for a fee of £22.5m. It was hoped he`d put Victor Moses under pressure in the right wingback position. Antonio Conte`s reluctance to use him left the Nigerian as the first choice. Zappa has a good chance of making the grade though, when he`s played he done well enough and could still feature in Chelsea`s future. His 31 appearances have seen him score 2 goals and assist twice. His contract runs until the summer of 2021.
Danny Drinkwater
Chelsea massively paid over the odds for N`golo Kante`s ex-Leicester City teammate. As Chelsea`s transfer guru`s tried to cover the loss of Matic, the Englishman was seen as a good option. The thinking behind the move made sense, Kante and Drinkwater had been partners in the Foxes Premier League winning season. Of all the summer`s incoming signings, this one was the biggest fail. Like Bakayoko, Drinkwater arrived injured. Thigh problems being the issue that kept him sidelined. As Conte looked to ease him into the starting XI he picked up a calf problem. His 22 appearances came mostly from the bench and his 1 goal came against Stoke City in a 5-0 win. The 28-year-olds contract runs until the summer of 2022.
Share this article
