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Chelsea continue to break the bank, with no results, with a transfer strategy that is awful – Firstpost

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Chelsea continue to break the bank, with no results, with a transfer strategy that is awful – Firstpost

Chelsea have spent over £1 billion on transfers since the arrival of American owner Todd Boehly in 2022. The Blues have reportedly spent £206 million and taken in £132 million, making a net investment of £73 million this summer window, with Pedro Neto arriving for £54 million and Joao Felix for £45 million – the biggest spenders.

In particular, Ian Maatsen (for £37.5 million to Aston Villa) and Conor Gallagher (for £36 million) left Stamford Bridge.

Ten players were signed for over $250 million in this transfer window. Previously, Chelsea spent $280 million in the summer of 2022, $350 million in January 2023 and more than $400 million in pre-season the same year.

Chelsea were keen to sell Gallagher, an academy product and vice-captain of the team last season, to meet the financial demands of the Premier League.

The club has so many new players that it has reportedly been advised not to recruit any more players to avoid expanding the training group’s dressing rooms.

Gallagher, Armando Broja and Romelu Lukaku were all missing from the squad for Chelsea’s season opener against Manchester City. Overall, Chelsea had no players worth over £500 million in their squad.

Joao Felix spent the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan at Chelsea before signing a seven-year deal. The Blues opted against a permanent loan and the Portuguese striker spent last season at Barcelona.

Chelsea’s lack of planning is highlighted by the decision to let Gallagher go. He was one of Chelsea’s best players last season, making 95 appearances for the club he joined as a six-year-old, scoring a total of 10 goals.

How many players does Chelsea have in their squad?

Chelsea currently had an incredible 54 regular players under contract, eight of whom were on loan, with 46 others based at Cobham training ground.

The club’s website listed 33 Blues players in the top flight, but that is 13 fewer than the number they actually have.

Chelsea published a list of 30 players in the Man City match programme. 33 players were mentioned on the website.

Chelsea’s squad currently consists of 38 players – six goalkeepers, ten defenders, nine midfielders, seven wingers and six strikers.

Chelsea will have to reduce their squad size to 25 players after the summer transfer window officially closes on Friday 30 August.

Eight players must be classified as homegrown players by the Premier League and do not have to be British nationals.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca (left) takes part in a training session at Cobham training ground. AP

Players who have played for three years at an English club academy before turning 21 are eligible. There is no limit to registration for the U21s, which includes eight players from Chelsea’s first team.

This reduces the number of squad members from 46 to 38, with only 28 named for the club’s final warm-up matches. Keep in mind that the pre-season tour of the USA did not include the Euro 2024 and Copa America stars, nor new signings Neto and Felix.

Players not included in the plans

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca stressed that there was no “chaos” at his club.

Maresca has made it clear that Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are not part of his plans.

Ahead of Chelsea’s Conference League play-off against Servette, Maresca said criticism of the club’s transfer policy was unfair.

“I don’t work with 42 players, I work with 21 players (in first-team training),” said the Italian.

“It’s not chaos, as it looks from the outside. The other players can even get 20-year contracts, that’s not what I’m concerned about. I don’t care.”

On the position of Sterling and Chilwell, he added: “At the moment they are training separately (from the team). As I said, the situation is pretty clear with both of them.”

“We have a big squad, for me it’s impossible to give everyone playing time. So if they want playing time, it’s probably better to leave. And if they don’t leave, they have a contract here, they’re Chelsea players.”

When asked if his behavior could be described as “brutal,” he replied: “I don’t think so. I’m just trying to be honest.”

“I spoke to Raheem (Sterling) before the game against Manchester City. I said that he was going to struggle to get playing time with us and that was why he wasn’t in the squad. And to Chilly (Ben Chilwell) I said he’s a nice guy but he’s going to struggle because he’s going to struggle in his position with us. Whether you call that brutal is up to you. For me it’s not brutal, it’s just honest.”

Chelsea becomes an object of ridicule on social media

Chelsea squad:

Goalkeepers: Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Marcus Bettinelli, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Djordje Petrovic, Lucas Bergstrom

Defenders: Axel Disasi, Marc Cucurella, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Levi Colwill, Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo

Midfielders: Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Carney Chukwuemeka, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Cesare Casadei, Renato Veiga, Romeo Lavia, Omari Kellyman (U21), Tino Anjorin

Wingers: Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer, Angelo Gabriel, Pedro Neto

Strikers: Nicolas Jackson, Deivid Washington (U21), Armando Broja, Marc Guiu, David Datro Fofana, Romelu Lukaku

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