EPL 2017/18: Chelsea's transfer business - Successful or Shambolic?

If there were to be a picture to summarize the recently-concluded transfer window for each and every club, there is no better image than the one above to represent Chelsea. While some fans are furious, calling for the head of Technical Director Michael Emenalo, others are directing their fury at Head Coach Antonio Conte.

But was the window really that bad for Chelsea? Let's take a look at a few factors!

False Dawns of Reported Signings

Firstly, there was the endless reporting, and that raised fans' hopes. At one point, Chelsea apparently had a deal for Romelu Lukaku wrapped up and it was only a matter of time before it was announced. Then, Manchester United came out of the blue.

Next, Chelsea signed Alex Sandro - multiple times. The headlines read - "Chelsea agree deal for world-class left-back, they would be truly unbeatable with him on the team!" And then, reality struck - the Blues balked at the asking price and did not even come close to completing the deal.

The club needed signings, and a Southampton defender, high in demand, was desperate to leave the Saints. Liverpool's efforts to sign Virgil van Dijk drew the formal ire of the Saints. Naturally, Chelsea should have stepped in then and there and wrapped up a deal. Emenalo and team let that one pass too.

Then fans watched in frustration, as Kyle Walker joined an already bloated Manchester City squad rather than replacing the industrious Victor Moses at right wing-back at Chelsea. Again, the Chelsea board did not even make a bid.

Towards the end, there was definitely a fee negotiated with Arsenal, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain did not agree personal terms and moved to Anfield instead. The player wasn't too keen on playing wing-back under Conte, and that probably put him off an easy relocation within London.

Finally, Fernando Llorente to Chelsea was a story that had been written and re-written since January, but Spurs beat Chelsea to him on deadline day.

Romelu Lukaku shocked the world by moving to Manchester United and linking up with the manager who sold him at Chelsea, Jose Mourinho

Departures of Academy Players

What made the board's actions all the more frustrating was the departures of young players. In an inflated market, Nathan Ake was sold to Bournemouth for a £20m pittance. Nathaniel Chalobah was sent packing to Watford for even less (£5m). Then, Ruben Loftus-Cheek was sent out on loan to Crystal Palace. Alarm bells started to ring in the stands - what was really happening behind the scenes?

Soon, the folly showed in the Community Shield. In terms of numbers, Chelsea's squad was overwhelmed. Quality over quantity you would think. But in order to compete for four different trophies in a season, quantity is also a must!

Nathaniel Chalobah was loaned out to six different clubs, and when it looked like he was finally ready to be a first team player, Chelsea sold him for a nominal fee

Bertrand Traore was the talk of the town a couple of years ago, impressing one and all with his pace and finishing. This was supposed to be the season in which he would walk into the squad and challenge for a spot on the first team, having spent the last season on loan. However, Chelsea had no problems letting him leave to Olympique Lyon.

The same can be said of Dominic Solanke. Demands for higher wages should have been met over the summer and following loan moves, concerns over his future role at the club should have been addressed. This was a promising young English striker who could have led the line at Chelsea for a decade. Enter Liverpool, with the Blues ready as ever to do business.

Tammy Abraham presents a similar case, but one with still some hope for the fans. Tammy set the Championship on fire with Bristol City last season, bagging 26 goals and exceeding expectations in the process. In all fairness, he should have replaced Michy Batshuayi in the squad by now. However, the brains at Chelsea decided a year at Swansea would be the next most logical step for him. By this time next year, expect him to be sold for a profit like Traore. It's all too familiar.

Who should be held responsible for these decisions? In my view, the pair of Michael Emenalo and Marina Granovskaia (Technical Director and Director) are the ones calling the shots. And they are doing so with no consideration for fan sentiment and morale of the academy. Sure, football is business, but some departures like Ake have left fans scratching their heads.

Michael Emenalo - Technical Director

However, Antonio Conte's recent comments make the academy situation all the more puzzling. To quote: "If there are young players who deserve to play regularly and give me a good feeling, then why not? I put Pogba at 19 into the team, for (Claudio) Marchisio. Not a simple player. But you must have these type of possibilities, players who are ready to play regularly with Chelsea, a great team. Otherwise, it's very difficult to make this decision."

That undoubtedly proves Conte wants a finished product from the academy, and to an extent, vindicates Chelsea's policy of endless loaning out and eventual selling. But, doesn't that go completely against what the fans, and even Roman Abramovich, have always craved - the next John Terry from the academy? This policy renders the academy a cash cow (47 players out on loan as we speak, bears testament) and nothing else. Let's not start talking of Mario Pasalic, Lucas Piazon, Marco van Ginkel, Todd Kane, Casey Palmer, Izzy Brown and so on (sigh!).

Okay, let's assume for a moment that Conte is the enemy of the academy, a perfectionist who wants only the best ones to get through, and not the raw ones. As the head coach, he has total control over who comes in to the squad. Because he let all those youngsters leave, isn't it?

Those young midfielders had no chance, since Conte was a big fan of a Serbian man-tank midfielder. He played almost whenever available, for the full ninety minutes, and even kept the magical Cesc Fabregas on the bench. Though he looked slow and unproductive in a creative sense, he had the legs and the awareness to be in the right place at the right time, break attacks casually, and also let out a thunderbolt on occasion.

Then can somebody explain why the in-charge Conte allowed this?

The sale of Nemanja Matic - to a rival

Manchester United's Nemanja Matic. Let that sink in, Roman

First Lukaku, and now Matic! Jose Mourinho is making his ex-club look ridiculous. Just £40m, in the post-Neymar age for a world-class defensive midfielder. He's not even 30 yet. What hurts even more is the ease with which this was allowed to happen - the lack of fight, the nonchalant feeling surrounding it. The Chelsea board did not frustrate Manchester United over negotiations, and handled this like it were a squad player in question.

More pressingly, this proved Conte was not in charge. Not even close. Matic was his favorite, like the Azpilicueta equivalent in midfield. Sans his approval, the board robbed him. The frustration was evident.

On the positive side, let's look at the players who actually signed.

The Arrivals

Rather than squad strengthening, the arrivals were simply replacements - Antonio Rudiger for John Terry, Andreas Christensen (returning from loan) for Nathan Ake, Tiemoue Bakayoko for Nemanja Matic, Willy Caballero for Asmir Begovic, and Alvaro Morata for Diego Costa. Deadline day signings were acts of desperation, with the signings of Davide Zappacosta from Torino, and Danny Drinkwater from Leicester City.

Antonio Rudiger - a long chase culminating in rare success

Based on the first three games, the defence looks sorted with five players in contention for three centre back slots. At right wing-back, Victor Moses has finally got competition (or been replaced?) but Marcos Alonso on the other side doesn't. That necessity should have been addressed with the signing of if not the ultimately futile pursuit of Alex Sandro, then somebody else. Even keeping Ake would have prevented this void.

In central midfield, the Blues are one player short. Bakayoko replaces Matic, is younger, and helped the club make an overall profit on the position. But depth is non-existent. Chalobah and Loftus-Cheek are two very promising players, and to see that quality and quantity diminished by bringing in only Drinkwater in desperation is frustrating, considering Champions League games have to be played.

Upfront, Morata replaces Diego Costa (who is almost certainly finished at Chelsea), and nothing else has changed. What Chelsea should have done, is snatched Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal, even with Willian and Pedro battling for a spot in the first team. That's the way a club improves itself.

The handling of Diego Costa

Conte has made only one mistake in his Chelsea career, a big one in fact, and that is ditching Costa via text. That set the ball rolling for a mess of a transfer window. Perhaps the board took their revenge, by not even going after his targets seriously, and selling Matic without a second thought.

A sorry end to his Chelsea career

One school of thought is that Conte should have waited to complete the squad first, before informing Diego he was no longer required. It put Chelsea into a really sticky position, with the knowledge now public that they needed a striker desperately. This sent up the asking price for all their striker targets but thankfully, Morata could be signed.

Costa will be missed - both his goals and his shenanigans. And we've got only Conte to blame for this. Morata has huge boots to fill.

In Conclusion...

This transfer window has thrown up more questions about Chelsea than answers.

Where is Roman?

Who is really in charge? Where are the statement, stellar signings of what feels like yesteryear? Why is Roman Abramovich watching in silence? Why is Michael Emenalo still allowed to have such a big say in building the squad? Why are academy players and key players being sold (there was a rumor surrounding Willian's exit too on deadline day)? Why is a squad, which has to compete in four competitions, so thin?

To cut the already long story short, this was a shambles of a window, somewhat mitigated by the solid displays of the three big signings in the first three Premier League games.

The club have one of the best coaches in the world, but look lost in a long-term direction. Hey Roman, where art thou?