Chelsea FC Transfer News: 5 Reasons Chelsea DO NOT Need to Sign Anyone

Every morning as part of my daily rounds through various websites, I make a stop at the soccer section of Bleacher Report and usually end on the Chelsea page. Over the past few weeks, the top story usually has the following phrase in the headline: “Chelsea transfer news.”

Really? This is all there is to write about is a bunch of rumors and unconfirmed facts about who will end up in a Chelsea uniform come January?

Now let me begin by saying that I respect those who write for the Chelsea page and many of them are very good at what they do. Some I am sure are asked to write these stories and others do it because it gets them reads. But I have doubt that any of them have access to players and their agents who would allow for the reporting or suggesting of such transfers.

So instead of me doing the same thing and regurgitating the same junk we all read on another website, here are five reasons that the team Chelsea has now is fine.

Michael Essien Is Coming Back

There is really no reasonable deal Chelsea could make that would be more promising than the return of Essien. Out since August with a torn ACL, he has already begun training again and is on track for a January return to the game.

There is of course doubt shrouding this good news. He has now been deemed injury prone and seems to have chronic issues with his knee. He has had multiple surgeries in a place where you don’t want to be messing with as a player.

However, after his past injury stints, he has always seemed to come back as the same Essien that was once the best defensive box-to-box midfielder in the world. There is little reason to doubt (or at least not hope) that the same won’t occur this time.

The big problem Chelsea has had has been the inability to shut down the opposition’s midfield as not to allow passes behind the high back line. Mikel is a good defender in the midfield, but he does not have the speed to close down quickly as is needed.

With Essien back and playing along side Ramires, their speed, athleticism and tenacity should help out in that area. Let’s just hope that he returns to his old form quickly and stays healthy while he is there.

Need to Save Money

For all the big moves City has made, for all the attention they are got this summer and for all the success they are having, they still are nowhere near Chelsea’s spending when it comes to the past couple transfer windows.

Chelsea has been by and far the most active over the past three transfer windows, buying a wealth of players at an extraordinarily high cost. Unfortunately, you could argue that relative to the debt (around £70 million), it has not paid off.

With UEFA’s financial fair play rules about to be enforced, it would be unwise for any purchase that would go beyond the minimum expected for any single player. The team cannot afford to have all that they have built over the past few years, torn down by a rule that is meant to level the playing field.

Furthermore you can also add in the fact that Chelsea is currently attempting to persuade fans, the community and the Chelsea Pitch Owners that they want a new stadium. It would not be wise to funnel millions of pounds toward another unnecessary player, when instead it could go to the budget for that stadium, or at the very least the campaign to promote it.

Let’s also not forget that their last two winter transfers…uh umm Mr. Torres and Mr. Luiz have far from lived up to their hefty price tags.

In No Real Need of Any Players

Take a look at the Chelsea roster. Is there one position that really desperately needs to be filled? Sure another left back would be nice or even a right back to take over for the bumbling Bosingwa. But is any of that necessary?

Going into this season, only City had a roster that could compete with Chelsea’s in terms of depth. Over half of the players feature regularly on their national sides and have won league titles at Stamford Bridge.

Heck, the biggest problem going into the season was the logistical issue of how they were going to appease all their superstars. There were not enough positions to go around as more and more players came into the club. Is this another debate that needs to be opened up again?

You also have to look at the team and the demographics of it. You have eight players who have all had playing time and are expected to be the future under the age of 24. They are already struggling for playing time against veterans, which in itself is stunting their development. What good would it do to bring in more competition?

Yes some are old, but their age is not going to affect them over the course of the nest several months. Nothing needs to be done right now to take care of that which cannot be done over the summer, when it is much more ideal to bring new players in.

Of course this is all contingent on who leaves during the window, but it is relatively safe to assume not many will be moving on. Villas-Boas did not axe anyone in the summer, so why would he now.

The clubhouse is stable and players seem happy despite their poor performances. It would be testy to begin getting rid of guys and risk upsetting the balance that is there.

Not Much Available (Within Reason)

So here is a short list of some of the players that have been mentioned in Chelsea transfer rumors:

Gary Cahill, Kevin de Bruyne, Stevan Jovetic, Sergi Roberto, Nevin Subotic, Milos Krasic, Juan Vargas, Marco Reus.

Heard of any of these guys? Not surprised if you haven’t. It often seems like it is more just a sputtering of names that these “writers” have thrown out there to prove how smart and deep their knowledge of the game is, or at least their ability to use Google.

Everyone of those players is good in their own right. They have been effective with their clubs and countries. But what is to come of them if they were to come to Chelsea?

The winter transfer window is often used to sign that difference maker on your team. That player that has the potential to give your side the slight edge necessary to get over the hump and win some silverware. None of these players have that potential.

At best, most would find themselves riding the bench and disrupting the development of their play as many are young and need consistent time on the pitch to further their abilities. Not one name on that list or any potential target would take over a spot for the best XI Chelsea can currently field.

Failure Is in the System, Not the Players

The simplest argument that Chelsea needs to make signings is to just cite their recent results. The loss to QPR and Arsenal, as well as a disappointing draw to Genk, have derailed the Chelsea season and brought Villas-Boas under fire for the first time.

However, it is not really accurate to suggest that all Chelsea need to turn around their season is a player or two. What they really need is for their coach to re-evaluate his tactics.

The high line defense and single striker are just not working the way he has expected. The players that are currently on the squad do not fit into a system that requires constant movement, incredible speed and first-touch passes. There is also the simple fact that the English game is played at a much higher pace and the quality of opposition is much higher than what he faced in Portugal.

That is not to say that they system is shot; rather it just needs to be tweaked for the players he currently has.

You may then argue that that indeed is the exact reason why players need to be bought. Well it will require that many are bought that play to this style. Chelsea does not have the finances or resources to get the exact players needed to run this formation.

Not to mention would it be wise to bench legends such as Lampard and Terry, two of the players that are having the most difficult time adapting to this style. If you think it was hard to convince the CPO before about getting a new stadium, good luck doing so after snubbing their president.

Conclusion

If I have offended any of my fellow writers, I apologize. Know it was not my intent. I too am guilty of spitting out names into a slideshow to boost my own reads rating.

I would of course not be opposed to Chelsea exploring the market. Odds are that some players will also be sold off and need replacing. But I think it is only fair if both sides of the argument are presented.

The need for players is not really a dire concern for Chelsea right now. These five factors are only part of the argument of why laying low in January would not be the worst idea.

So what do you think: would it be best for Chelsea to just work with what they got or should they spend big and try to buy some silverware?