Personally, no. We finally have a halfway competent defense, and that's basically the only reason we weren't really in deep trouble before our attack suddenly kicked into gear. I don't trust either Stephens or Lyanco enough to rely in them to that extent.
If someone offers £40m for Bednarek (they wont) we should sell him in a heart beat - if for some reason that meant we could sign the other 2, then even more of a no brainer. No chance of any of that happening either way so dont need to worry too much!
If someone offered us £40m for bedders, I would take it and offer it to Yoshi to come out of retirement.
I’d like to think we already had plans in place for the summer for the eventuality of Broja either not working out or not being able to be signed permanently (or have his loan extended)
That really isn’t a surprise, I was amazed people even thought it might be possible in the first place.
What really isn’t a surprise ? That there is a vague claim from a journalist saying it is “understood” that a club might want to keep a player who is playing well despite the club having a track record of selling players regardless (and indeed sacking managers) and there not being a direct quote For all we know they have to leak messages like this to ensure a stronger hand in negotiations It was never (and is not) impossible - which is what you imply by dismissing that it “might be possible”. Unlikely - sure. Impossible? Stranger things have happened. They sold Tammy Abraham because he presumably didn’t want to take the slot they would be giving Broja (back up to 2 or maybe even 3 players) I’d still say another loan is the path of least resistance here and a better outcome than we could have possibly hoped for when first taking the loan up.
Yeah it’s not like he just signed a 5 year deal or anything just before he signed on loan. Would indicate they knew how good he was and see him (for now anyway) as part of their future plans
Pretty sure Josh McEachran signed a five year deal for them before going out on loan. He played 11 games for Chelsea Even if he didn’t he extended his contract (as he was “senior” for 5 years) despite never ever looking like playing for them It could easily have been securing their investment Abraham signed a 5 year deal in 2017 after a successful loan. Went on two more loans and only got a chance in the first team due to a transfer ban. It’s what Chelsea do Add in situations like Tino (and didn’t they lose two others) and they are more incentives for them to try and secure their players
Broja reminds me of the young Alan Shearer in as much as you just know that he is going to be a top, top player and unlikely to be with us for too long, i'm just happy that he is ours for now.
I’m not talking about getting him on loan again (I think there is a good chance that is what will happen). I was talking about signing him permanently
I agree My point was more that Chelsea handing young players 5 year deals is not as meaningful as a lot of people seem to assume it is. It might well be in this case but just the existence of a 5 year deal is not really enough evidence
How many times have they handed a 5 year deal to a player then sold him the next window? Or even 1 year into the deal?
Goals aside, how different is that than Tino? Anyway, no harm in a little naive hope, and Chelsea have indeed let some wonderful players go over the years. Like others, I’d be happy with another loan, he’s such a good player, and seems like he’s really enjoying himself in what appears to be a tight squad currently.
I have no idea. But people are pointing to it as signs that they definitely have plans to use him in their squad in the future. It doesn’t necessarily mean that But this “next window” talk is muddying the waters and is all just paper talk. I don’t think anyone at Saints really believe there is any chance in buying him in this window. It is just overexcitement from the last game in the media and online Sure - if there was a chance then we’d jump on it. Of course we would. And I think that is all any talk from Saints really is. Not that anyone believes it for this window
Don't forget, part of Chelsea's transfer strategy is to continually loan players out as a way of generating revenue. Didn't they recently extend Bakayoko's contract, with basically no intention of playing him? They get a fee each time someone goes out on loan, so it is probably quite lucrative for them. Chelsea are also many levels above us. Broja is one of our best players, but he won't play for them regularly for a few seasons yet, if at all. Another loan makes sense, but so too would a sale with a buy-back, like with Tino. I could see us agreeing another loan and that allows us another year where we are pretty much sorted upfront, and can put funds towards different positions. The only worry, really, is if someone like West Ham want him. Because if they qualify for Europe, Chelsea may want him to get experience playing in European competitions.
What is actually likely to happen is that in the summer he goes back and signs a new 5 year deal more than quadrupling his wages