If there's one thing Roman Abramovich's time as Chelsea owner
has been synonymous with more than challenging for Premier League titles, it
has been the club's dealings in the transfer market.
Backed by the Russian's millions, numerous managers have
welcomed in high profile signings only to wave goodbye to equally expensive
prospects - either on loan or on permanent deals. Sometimes they've even bought
the same players back a few years later!
Indeed, going back just a few years to 2012, Chelsea have
recouped a phenomenal £296 million in transfer fees on no less than 24 players.
So, after a lackluster 2015/16 season and Antonio Conte's
current squad currently struggling to keep pace already after back to back
defeats, has their haphazard transfer policy really been worth it?
I take a look at the starting XI Chelsea could have had had
they not sold anyone since 2012. The 11 players no longer at Stamford Bridge
would provide stiff opposition for many a side...
GK - Petr Cech | Sold
2015 | £11.9 million
Cech is a legend at Chelsea after helping the club to four
Premier League titles after arriving in 2004.
Undoubtedly one of the best 'keepers in the world for much
of his 11 year spell in west London, the Czech shot-stopper is still
amongst the best in the Premier League. Although, Thibaut Courtois isn't a bad
replacement.
RB - Jeffrey Bruma |
Sold 2013 | £2.98 million
Bruma never really got a chance in Chelsea's first team
after arriving as a teenager in 2009, spending time on loan at Leicester and
Hamburg before signing for PSV in 2013.
However, still only 24 and with 20 caps for the Netherlands
to his name, Bruma has since earned himself a move to Wolfsburg. His
versatility - he's more naturally a fit at CB - and his age would make him a
usual player for Conte to have at his disposal right now.
CB - David Luiz |
Sold 2014 | £42.08 million
Of course, everyone knows how this one has panned out. Sold
to PSG for a monster sum after a woeful showing for Brazil at the 2014 World
Cup, Luiz is now back in the Blues' ranks after a deadline day return back in
August.
The hope that he was coming back a changed man hasn't been
long lived. Both of his starts in his second stint at the club have ended in
defeat.
CB - Ryan Bertrand |
Sold 2014 | £11.43 million
Another playing slightly out of position in this team,
Bertrand is so versatile that England only took three centre-backs to Euro 2016
because of their confidence in the Southampton star to fill in if needed.
A left-back by trade, Bertrand was a surprise star in
Chelsea's Champions League triumph back in 2012 and has only improved since
finding regular football on the South Coast. With Chelsea having struggled for
a natural left-back until signing Marcos Alonso on deadline day, he's another
that maybe left too soon.
LB - Filipe Luis |
Sold 2015 | £13.6 million
Luis arrived at Chelsea with a big reputation but lasted
only one season before re-signing with Atletico Madrid.
However, with a lacklustre season at the Bridge sandwiched
between impressive spells in the Spanish capital, there are a lot of fans who
think Luis should have been allowed to settle.
DMC - Ramires | Sold
2015 | £23.8 million
For a time, Ramires was what Chelsea fans hope N'Golo Kante
will be once he finds his feet - a combative midfielder who never gave the
opposition a rest.
The Brazilian also had a canny knack for finding himself on
the scoresheet and managed 17 goals in his 160 appearances at the club before
making a surprise switch to China.
CM - Kevin De Bruyne
| Sold 2013 | £18.7 million
This one has to sting. De Bruyne failed to find favour with
Jose Mourinho before being shipped out to Wolfsburg in 2013.
Chelsea fans only have to look a little up the league table
to Manchester City riding high at the top to see what a creative force the
Belgian has become in English football. He'd be a shoe-in in Conte's current
starting XI.
RW - Andre Schurrle |
Sold 2014 | £27.2 million
Another who had his time at the Chelsea cut short before he
had perhaps reached his full potential. Schurrle played 65 times for the club
and scored 14 goals - mostly from a position on the flank.
He is a regular Germany international and his pace, combined
with a physical stature, make him a potent threat for both assists and goals on
the wing. Hands up if you'd take him over Moses or Pedro right now?
LW - Juan Mata | Sold
2013 | £38 million
It might be surprising to remember Mata was only actually at
Chelsea for two-and-a-half years, but he became a fan favourite during that
time.
The Spaniard was one of the driving forces as Chelsea made
their unlikely run to the 2011-12 Champions League title. He followed that up
with 12 goals in 36 games in the league the following season.
Having just put in a stunning performance for Manchester
United under old boss Jose Mourinho against Leicester last week, Chelsea fans
may have started regretting his 2013 sale a little more.
F - Daniel Sturridge
| Sold 2012 | £12.75 million
Sturridge's career since leaving Chelsea has largely
following the same path as the one it was on at Stamford Bridge.
Injuries and being overlooked by several managers meant the
striker was limited to 63 games for Chelsea, but did manage 13 goals in that
time.
Since moving permanently to Liverpool, however, an inability
to play a full campaign has continued.
Nevertheless, when on the pitch, the
England international can be amongst the most lethal forward in the Premier
League.
F - Romelu Lukaku |
Sold 2014 | £30.06 million
Lukaku might be the biggest misstep in Chelsea's transfer
policy to date, and that's been proven by the fact Conte spent so much of the
summer trying to get the big Belgian striker back from Everton.
Still only 23, Lukaku has a phenomenal record as a pro and
already has a hat trick to his name in the league this year.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul, Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero
reached 130 career goals before turning 24. He would walk into Chelsea's
current line-up.
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