The January transfer window seems to have been largely quiet over the past two weeks, but that doesn’t mean Chelsea can’t take advantage. The Blues are still looking for the best way to use their squad this month and have yet to sign any players.
For Mauricio Pochettino, it’s a far cry from some of the calls he made publicly earlier this season for more firepower and ready quality. However, his tone has changed in recent weeks, and he instead appreciates the group and the market more broadly.
Now it seems the club are looking to settle for the summer. Although much less exciting, it might not be the worst plan. With most clubs limited to the odd loan deal here or there, especially at the top level, and the very real risk of being sanctioned for breaching financial rules now, it’s a slow burn.
For Chelsea, the most important trades could be the early trades rather than the revenue. After the loan spells of Andrey Santos and Cesare Casadei ended, they signed two midfielders at the same time, with Romeo Lavia and Lesley Ugochukwu sidelined.
It would be a big step forward to see a loanee return to fill the void left, but Pochettino may not have much choice at this stage. It also opens the door for further action for the pair.
Casadei is less likely to progress after a decent if unusual return from Leicester. His next move is sensibly at a great club. However, Santos cannot say the same, not to impress Nottingham Forest. Before he joins Brazil’s pre-Olympic squad, he has the option of going elsewhere.
For those who are currently at the club, a loan in the second half of the season can be just as beneficial. With Pochettino’s squad big, especially as players return to form, outsiders’ chances of getting first-team minutes dwindle. Gaining more senior experience gives them a chance to develop and prove their case, but it also gives the business favorites of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital a chance to increase their value.
It’s also a great opportunity to take advantage of it. Former Blues assistant and youth coach Joe Edwards is looking to add to his squad after taking over at Millwall in November. The Cobham specialist and widely admired Chelsea figure stepped into senior management this season alongside former Chelsea player and on-loan technical coach Andy Myers.
Form has been up and down so far, winning just one of their first eight games but keeping four in a row over Christmas. Now, a three-match losing streak has left Edwards largely where he left off, hovering above the relegation zone.
But Edwards impresses with his work and tries to convert the lions. “A lot of people tried to warn me: ‘Be careful what Millwall fans want! They want to [play] straight, rough and ready,” he told the Evening Standard earlier this month. andquot;It’s almost like the fans come to The Nest every week and expect us to box it.
andquot;I don’t think so. I interacted with the fans a little bit, and then [is] what I feel there [in touch]. If you look at our last two games, I think in the Leicester game we had 12 out of 20 shots and in the Boro game it was pretty non-stop for 30, 35 minutes, just the waves of our attacks. When you have that kind of speed and intensity, it’s welcome.”
Edwards is now trying to introduce a new philosophy to the club and may get some help. As in the past, Chelsea often send their best talent to trusted clubs and coaches, with Frank Lampard’s Derby County and Adi Viveash at Coventry being two prominent examples.
With Edwards trying something new in the Championship, his Millwall side are suddenly a much more attractive prospect for Chelsea as they search for the perfect loan targets. “I am in very strong contact with Chelsea,” he admitted. “With a couple of transfer windows under the belt and a pre-season with the team, I would be optimistic next season to achieve something at the top of the team.
Chelsea now have the opportunity to capitalize on that relationship with Edwards by offering him some of the best young people in the country. With Alfie Gilchrist next to find consistent minutes, he is a name to watch out for during the interim period next year.
andquot;We talked about the young players on loan and I think Alfie’s next step and#039; is to borrow next season and then you will see how he goes, andquot; John Terry spoke about the youngster in December. At the same time, Santos, while technically a player who belongs to the top of the Championship, if not higher, needs some top performances himself.
Other top academy players awaiting transfer are Leo Castedine and next season Michael Golding. For Edwards, this is a potential goldmine of talent that could be at his disposal sooner rather than later. With a clear loyalty to the Academy, it would not be surprising that the relationship was mutually beneficial..
