25 Aug 2016 10:24:24
Long time follower, first time poster.
Now that both Roma and Ajax have been eliminated from the Champions League, do other posters (or indeed the Eds) consider it likely that players from those clubs who we have targeted recently (El Ghazi, Bazoer, Nainggolan Fiorenzi, Manolas to name a few) will become more easily available.
I appreciate that striking an appropriate deal might still be very difficult (and/ or we have moved on to other targets), but I do think that the lack of Champions League revenue could tempt those clubs to sell and the lack of Champions League football could incentivise the players in question to leave. Manolas in particular could become available (given that Roma have signed a number of defenders in this window - although that could also be a result of Rudiger's injury), but I understand from following this page that Koulibaly remains the top choice.
Would be interested to hear your thoughts.
25 Aug 2016 10:56:46
It is a possibility however Chelsea also don't have champions league.
25 Aug 2016 11:15:55
That's true, although the chance for the players to prove themselves in an arguably stronger league (as against the Eredivisie in particular) might be a big drawer - particularly for a developing and ambitious talent like Bazoer.
The players might also see Chelsea as a better long-term prospect for continued elite European football (provided of course that we are back in Europe next year, which is by no means guaranteed) .
25 Aug 2016 11:37:06
and the money in england.
25 Aug 2016 16:48:42
Plus if they played in the qualifying rounds for their current teams then they will be cup-tied for this season's CL anyway, so other CL teams this season now don't have tha advantage over us for specific players from those teams (at least I'm pretty sure the cup tied thing applies from qualifying rounds? Ed? )