Chelsea Transfer Talk: Who To Keep, Sell, and Buy

After reaching the dizzying heights of a glorious season, in fact the most glorious till date in the club’s history, it’s time to move on and look ahead towards the next season and identify the players we need to ensure that we can build upon our success and try and aim for even bigger things going forward.

Manchester United will be smarting from losing their grip on the title they’ve held for three years, and rest assured, our main rivals will do everything in their power to better us this time round. I see two big name signings heading in the direction of Manchester in this window.

The Gooners will also be looking to strengthen, not that anything they do is a threat to us anyway. The likes of Manchester City and Tottenham will surely push on for bigger things and want to have a say in the transfer market and make a statement of intent.

Hence, I don’t agree with Carlo Ancelotti’s belief that we can tide through, and more importantly, maintain our winning momentum next season with the current squad. It’s a little easy to say such things when you’re high on the celebratory champagne and everything around you seems more pleasant than they have ever been, but I think even Carlo knows deep down that the squad needs reinforcements.

In fact, I would think that he already knows what he needs and has conveyed the same to Roman. So here is my take on what we need to do this summer to keep us on top for next year, and hopefully, years to come.

Out : Hilario, Belletti, Deco, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira, Michael Ballack, Joe Cole.

1. It’s time to promote a solid goalkeeper to deputize for Petr Cech when the situation presents itself. For anyone who watched our games this season, Ross Turnbull seems to be a very good backup keeper  and is much better than Hilario. The arrival of the Croatian youngster Matej Delac from Inter Z (this move had been agreed upon last season itself) will contribute to Hilario’s ouster.

2. I firmly believe Ricardo Carvalho’s time at Chelsea is well and truly up. He’s been a wonderful servant to the club but has sadly never been at is best since the last two seasons.

Alex’s emergence as a quality center-back partner for JT means the injury prone Carvalho will not get too much play time next season, and hence it will be best for both parties if he is moved on. It’s the same situation for Paulo Ferreira. Wonderful player over the years, but sadly, it’s time to make way for the younger crop of players.

3. Michael Ballack has never quite lived up to his name in a Chelsea shirt. He’s not the same player he was at Bayern Munich. Has lost his attacking flair, and although he’s done well for us the last couple of months in the midfield enforcer role in Essien’s absence, his inconsistency is quite frustrating.

His big game experience is the biggest strength he brings to us. The man has played in Champions league finals, title winning sides and important World Cup games. But he wants a 2 year contract which is difficult to give when you’re 34 years old.

4. I, like every Chelsea fan, would hate to see Joe Cole go. He’s been here seven years now and has been such an integral part of our side over the years that it’s almost impossible to think about a Chelsea team without our loved No. 10 in it.

But given that we love him so much, it needs to be reciprocated at some level. I mean as good as he is, Joe Cole is not worth the 100,000 pounds a week that he wants. Unless he shows some loyalty, out he goes.

5. Belletti and Deco have both spoken about wanting to leave and going back to Brazil to see out their careers, and really, this is a no-brainer. If a player wants to leave, he should be allowed to. Period.

Players we need:

1. A playmaker: Although our best success this season has come when we’ve played the 4-3-3, I still believe there is scope for playing the 4-1-2-1-2 diamond, especially against teams which don’t play with or have very good wingers.

Unless a team players wingers high up the pitch against us, we can use the diamond to good effect as it allows our fullbacks to attack a lot more. Then, the midfield playing close to each other can dominate games. But for a diamond midfield to succeed, what is needed most is a high-quality playmaker.

Carlo employed this system successfully at Milan, but it couldn’t succeed here because there the system made use of Kaka as the diamond tip, but Lampard couldn’t play the same role at Chelsea. Also, with Joey and Deco possibly leaving, we badly needed a creative midfield player. Possible signings:  Kaka, Sergio Aguero, David Silva.

2. A right winger:  The most glaring need. With the 4-3-3, Anelka is often played out wide and although he is a forward who likes to run into the channels, he doesn’t quite flourish there. Kalou as everyone knows, is terribly inconsistent, and in my opinion, he plays better as a striker than as a winger.

That leaves us with just Miroslav Stock and Gael Kakuta. Not the most reliable players for that position, in this stage of their development. Possible signings: Bastian Schweinsteiger, James Milner, Adam Johnson, Franck Ribery, Jesus Navas.

3. A center back: As stated earlier, Ricardo Carvalho could go, and with Belletti and Ferreira also on their way out, that leaves space for a young center half. Ivanovic will likely be asked to rotate with Jose Bosingwa in the right back slot and sometimes played in the center. Possible signings: David Luiz.

4. A midfield general: Ballack and Deco going could leave a big hole in the centre midfield position with just Lampard and Essien established players in that area. A tenacious midfielder, with a good passing range, vision and a strong tackle can be a useful addition to the first team squad. Possible signings: Daniele de Rossi, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Jack Rodwell, Marouane Fellaini.

5. Finally, what we DON’T NEED is an out-and-out striker. Drogba and Anelka have done a great job this season. Don’t forget, Drogba started playing professionally only once he was in his twenties, much later than most footballers these days. Thus, although he is 32, he still has at least three more years of top level football in him.

That throws the whole age argument out of the window. Plus, in a 4-3-3 just one striker is played. With the signing of a new winger, Anelka would not be starting too many games and he will be fresh for rotation with Drogba. Kalou and Sturridge will get more play time.

In addition, Franco di Santo will return from loan, as will Scott Sinclair. Fabio Borini is there too. The signing of a striker is very glamorous news, and that’s why the media keeps linking us with the kinds of Torres, Pato, and David Villa, but truth is, we don’t need a top striker, unless Anelka leaves.

My verdict on the players linked with Chelsea:

1. Kaka: Hasn’t enjoyed a good season with Real Madrid and those fools might be willing to sell him for a significantly lower amount than what they paid for him. BUY, if the price is right. We need a proven, big-name midfielder.

2. Sergio Aguero: A useful contender to play "in the hole" behind the strikers. Quite young, has the big league experience, and is a starter for Argentina. Will help to lower the squad’s average age. BUY, again if the price is right.

3. Pato and Torres: Not needed, as explained above. REJECT.

4. Yossi Benayoun: Considered a replacement for Joe Cole. In my opinion, Joe Cole is a better player than Benayoun, and if he can’t get into the team consistently, what hope is there for Banyoun? REJECT.

Also, Carlo has already spoken about promoting five reserve and youth players in the first team squad for next season. Excellent move, in my opinion. Most probably, they’ll be Jeffery Bruma, Sam Hutchinson, Nemanja Matic, Gael Kakuta, and Fabio Borini.

In my opinion, with these signings, our already formidable squad will become even more fearsome. These players have gone down in Chelsea and English football history and we’ll remember this team even 50 years down the road.

But there comes along a time in every club’s life where difficult but necessary decisions have to be made in order to push the club on to even bigger and better things, and that time has come for us now. It’s likely to be the end of an era, but hopefully, the dawn of an even more glorious one. Here’s hoping for many more trophy-laden years at our beloved Stamford Bridge…KTBFFH!