Chelsea Banter

26 Jun 2026 14:13:19
Surely Man City must know the outcome of their 115 charges?
I would hazard a guess that they will receive a hefty fine and a less than 10-point deduction.
The club has to persuade incoming players about this and, along with high wages received, they'll just see it as a blip (the points deduction may even be less than what I've said).

No way does Anderson join them for £100 million plus if they are getting a large deduction of points and maybe they have done a deal with the Premier League?

26 Jun 2026 16:00:17
RPD, yes, City are very bullish about this case. It is normal practice in complicated civil cases for the parties to receive a draft judgment to allow for representations on factual errors before the decision is made public. Obviously, I don't know if that will happen in this case, but I would be surprised if it wasn't.

26 Jun 2026 21:06:57
City also knows, unless it's a lil tickle punishment, they'll very likely appeal it. The appeal will likely take a year if not longer, so they've probably got at least another 2-year window without punishment.

26 Jun 2026 21:33:05
Fuser, that's true. Also, another alternative is that the case is a score draw and a settlement is being negotiated.

27 Jun 2026 07:53:49
To be honest, I don't believe that the Premier League can go easy on City. There are far too many eyes looking on.

27 Jun 2026 08:38:08
ED01, what are your thoughts on this whole matter? surely, if City get off lightly then that sets a precedent for others to do the same?

{Ed001's Note - they have to hit them fairly hard as there is such a lengthy list of offences. Hard to see that they can truly do much though, as they would need to relegate them to really make it matter.}

27 Jun 2026 10:02:02
I agree ED01 but just can't see it happening.

27 Jun 2026 12:05:31
Best one might hope for is likes of a twenty or thirty points deduction for each of the next two seasons - so they could still avoid relegation given the fantastic squad they have, and are still adding to - and/or a transfer ban for four windows.

Transfer ban probably wouldn't hurt them much at all.

But they will probably not do this, or take away any titles, and probably just give them a 40 million pound fine, ie peanuts.

27 Jun 2026 12:26:30
What did they actually do? all I read is 115 charges but what charges? How come others like Everton and Forest and ourselves were dealt with quickly?

26 Jun 2026 00:53:35
According to Romano, Madrid have given Como until Monday to pay 60m before they put Nico Paz on the market. In the current market, where Anderson goes for 130m, this seems like an absolute steal. Would be over the moon if we got him as part of the deal for Enzo to go the other way.

26 Jun 2026 07:51:48
As I've mentioned here already. I think it's too good a deal to not create some interest. I think he fits what Alonso wants to do really well. My only caveat is that it's another predominantly left-footed attacker; from a squad-balance point of view, is that what we need?

At the start of June we were linked with Olmo, who Barcelona also wanted £60m for.

Would that be a deal that would make more sense for us right now?

26 Jun 2026 10:03:05
A fair point to bring up, and something I hadn't thought about. I do think the 60m fee would be too good to pass up, although all indications are that he wants to play in Europe next year, so he may be one we are never considered for anyway.



Olmo would certainly bring the experience we've been talking about adding to the team. His injury history would worry me entering the Premier League, though. He has missed a tonne of football consistently over the past few seasons.

26 Jun 2026 12:19:59
Maybe go back for Fermin? We almost signed him last summer.

26 Jun 2026 12:35:04
Fermin is one of the reasons Olmo can leave Barca. He's a nailed-on starter there now. Unfortunately, no chance we get him.

26 Jun 2026 13:12:07
Paz going back to Como on new permanent transfer.

26 Jun 2026 14:13:48
Really smart decision by Como. Look forward to watching him progress.

25 Jun 2026 11:16:56
£75m for Gusto feels prohibitive to making a sale. If Chelsea are pricing him out of the market, they must be content with keeping him? Backup? Or will we see him start RB/RWB and Palestra over at LB/LWB?

Personally I have major issues with Gusto from a defensive point of view and don’t think he’s good enough technically, passing or finishing, in the offensive third - certainly not for what Alonso would expect from wing backs.

25 Jun 2026 12:09:10
J, I have seen the £75m number banded about, but it didn't mention a source. My guess is it's just pundit nonsense.

I would think £45m would be top whack.

I am not a fan of Gusto, but strangely I can see him doing well as a wingback. I assume Alonso doesn't.

25 Jun 2026 13:33:58
Guys, have you seen the fees being banded about this window?

25 Jun 2026 14:36:45
Yeah, but £100m for a midfielder has been normalised (mostly by us - Enzo, Caicedo, Lavia). That much for an average FB is crazy, even if he's a France international.

I was thinking £40-50m would be about right.

26 Jun 2026 07:33:43
I agree, J, but somebody had to start the 'norm' of £100+mil on midfielders. Why should we not be the ones who start the norm of £75mil for RBs.

24 Jun 2026 08:35:39
Obviously well happy if we are about to sign Palestra. I assume that that means we sell Gusto.

I was aware that Milan wanted Palestra but my Liverpool supporting mate tells me Liverpool also had a strong interest in signing the lad.

Let's hope we get this deal over the line asap.

23 Jun 2026 11:25:13
Watching developments with Paz closely. Reports that Real will recall this summer and look to immediately sell for £60m. As I previously mentioned, it's something that I think Chelsea should be all over, perfect makeweight for any deal Real want to do for Fernandez.

23 Jun 2026 14:01:31
Please, no. The last thing we need is another young prospect from a foreign league.
We need 2 or 3 experienced Premier League ready players to complement the wonderful array of youngsters already recruited.

23 Jun 2026 14:37:36
I'd usually agree with you this summer, but I think Paz qualifies as a special talent, or 'market opportunity' seems to be a vogue comment. Paz wasn't just another good player in a foreign league. He was one of the best players in Italy last season. I wouldn't mind him singing at all, not that there's anything suggesting that will happen other than my imagination.

23 Jun 2026 14:49:07
Agree completely, J.

He is an unbelievable talent and isn't far off the level of Enzo as things stand. I believe his preference is to stay at Como, with Cesc, and he wants to test himself in the Champions League, however, if we get the chance to sign him, he would be an instant starter for us.

23 Jun 2026 16:23:11
We have enough youngsters. We already have four new ones coming. We need experienced heads to assist our youngsters.

At the moment, we only need 2/3 experienced players, and we are good to go.

23 Jun 2026 17:49:28
Those saying they want experienced & PL ready players, who are these players? Morgan Rogers has played in the PL, but at 23 is that experienced? £100m price tag too. I struggle to see any other PL forwards that fulfil the experienced & PL requirements. Kroupi & Rayan are more prospects. Ndiaye? Not sure he has that top quality.



Outside the PL, Leao - awful, Barcola - speed merchant with little end product (young too at 23), Kvara, Doue, Rodrygo, Vini Jr, Olise, Musiala. None of them are likely to leave their clubs. Yildiz & Guler both 21.

So, genuine question, what are the experienced options out there?

23 Jun 2026 17:58:06
Fuser, I see it as something that us fans are often guilty of.

We say sack the manager, this or that player is embarrassing, the SD's are useless, and the owners are out of their depth.
Very few of us come up with alternatives. Our sometimes justified criticism is always very constructive.

23 Jun 2026 18:28:35
Tom

Last summer window we could have obtained Osimhen but lost him to Turkey, there were also transfers for Sesko and the striker Arsenal secured. That was the window we should have sorted out our striker situation, instead we got Delap.

Galatasaray are now demanding 150mil euros for Osimhen.

Also, we could have got our GK target, but we would not pay the smallish fee and he re-signed for Milan.

So yes, I would say there is a problem with our recruitment, and that's on the SDs.

23 Jun 2026 18:28:46
Bill, I agree with you. We have 4 young players coming in, and some will no doubt be loaned. That's enough for one window. We need to balance the squad with mentality. As for Paz, I know nothing about him. If Enzo goes, and he is good enough to start, that's fine with me. Following last summer's dire recruitment, there needs to be a big improvement.

23 Jun 2026 18:30:32
We can also put Paz to bed as a transfer, as there is a stipulation that if RM bring him back, they can't sell him for 12 weeks.

23 Jun 2026 19:05:40
Fuser, I would like 3 top players to come in: an experienced goalkeeper, an experienced centre back, and a top striker. My choice would be Diogo Costa as keeper, Alessandro Bastoni at centre back, and Victor Osimhen as a striker.

They won't be cheap, and that is why I would swerve more young prospects costing millions, and just pump the money into those 3. Maybe wishful thinking, but you asked the question, and that is my answer.

23 Jun 2026 19:53:02
Greenaway, fair enough. You’ve put your cards on the table. I would be happy with your choices, but as you say, wishful thinking. If Enzo goes, we need a replacement, and our options at left wing are very weak. As I said previously, it will be interesting to see who are our starting 11 on the first game of the season.

23 Jun 2026 19:54:43
Bill, I wanted us to sign Osimhen year's ago but apparently and if I remember from Ed002, "his" wage demands were ridiculous.

Sesko was a player I wanted us to sign rather than Delap and then had the p#as taken out of me for most of last season as he underperformed for a while at Utd.

As far as keepers are concerned, if we can't get Costa, stick with what we have got.

Anyway, my point remains I can't see the point slagging everyone at Chelsea without suggesting an alternative.

23 Jun 2026 21:19:51
Tom, stick with what we've got. If you mean Sanchez, we're screwed. Penders might be loaned. I can't see Alonso wanting Sanchez, he likes keepers who can take control of the ball when the opposition are pressing high. If not Costa, other options should be considered. Sanchez is a liability. Can't think of another PL club who would start him.

23 Jun 2026 21:29:12
Jimbo, the spuds keeper is the worst in the Premiership by a long way.
Also, I remember some fans saying we should sign the Sunderland keeper. I watched him in our game, and he looked very shaky, but that was only one game.


The only keepers I rate in the Premiership are Raya and Alisson.
As I say, if we can’t sign Costa, I can’t see the point.

23 Jun 2026 21:54:10
Looks like we have signed Marco Palestra for £60 million, so that is a big chunk of the transfer budget gone. Did Alonso want him? Or are the sporting directors still dictating? Has anyone heard of him?

23 Jun 2026 21:55:29
Tom, not sure which Spurs keeper you are referring to. Okay, Sanchez is the second worst keeper in the Premier League: that's the point, most options would be an improvement.

23 Jun 2026 21:58:40
RPD, my comment on this subject is on the "rumours" page.
I assume Gusto is being sold, maybe to City.

23 Jun 2026 21:59:46
Rpd, I should have added, apparently Alonso is a massive fan.

23 Jun 2026 22:19:20
Jimbo, I have mentioned the only two Premiership keepers I rate and I wouldn't want any of the others as our No1.

23 Jun 2026 22:29:52
Not sure it'll be as high as £60m for Palestra. Inter were mooted to be buying him for around €50m or £45m. That being said, it's someone Alonso likes, a replacement for Gusto, but equally capable of covering on the left. 🤷🏻‍♂️

23 Jun 2026 22:37:13
Fuser, just finished looking at him in some clips. It's never good making a judgement on a player from clips, but he does look useful.

23 Jun 2026 19:35:37
Great players Greenaway, I'd certainly be happy if we got them but it's just never going to happen. Osimhen wanted 400k/week or around that when we were trying to get him last summer and we obviously didn't want to pay that, I can't imagine his wage demands have gone down or our willingness to pay that much has gone up even with a 'change in direction'. I don't think Bastoni wants to leave Italy, although his stance may have changed recently. I believe it was ed002 or ed001 who mentioned it a few years ago.

Bill, Arsenal are looking for an upgrade on Gyokeres (or at least their fans want a new starting striker and their interest in Alvarez seems to indicate so) and United fans want another starting ST for Sesko to learn from. So even if we signed either of them last summer, would we not just be in the same position as their fans wanting another no9 to replace them?

I don't see us signing a ST unfortunately, both due to there being rather slim pickings out there and we have something like 6 ST's on the books. I think J.Pedro had a good enough season to remain our #1 striker for the upcoming season in the least. Depending on what formation Alonso goes for I'd be looking for a LW or no10 as that's definitely the weakest side of the pitch. My pick would be Yildiz, who despite being on the younger side is a very exciting player. Roger's probably being 2nd choice.

I think it's also likely we might go for Lacroix, there's been a lot of links to him and he's performed pretty well for Palace so I can see it happening. Maybe Diomande of Sporting. Haven't seen too many links to him recently though.

23 Jun 2026 23:11:00
Don't know anything about Palestra; however, if Gusto goes I won't be bothered, and if Alonso has influenced the signing, good enough for me. As for our transfer budget, I think (and hope) we will be shedding quite a few players, which should help us fund new signings.


Tom, by your post, it could be interpreted that you believe Sanchez is the 3rd best keeper in the PL; you must be joking! Next, you'll want Sterling back.

24 Jun 2026 05:33:18
Jimbo, I do not consider Sanchez as the third best keeper in the Premiership, but with the exception of a couple of keepers, the standard is so low any difference would be marginal. In my opinion, the worst standard of Premiership keepers I can remember.

24 Jun 2026 08:43:46
Tom

I think the problem is that many teams now concentrate on defence and midfield. As for the GK's, they are looked at more on how they distribute the ball than how good they are with crosses and shot stopping.

That being said, worldwide, are there no good strikers and GK's out there anywhere?

24 Jun 2026 10:17:20
Bill, you are spot on, mate. It's thin gruel out in the market at the moment.
It's ok, just saying sell this player or that player, but for whom?

I personally can't see us signing another striker or goalkeeper this season. I think we need defensive changes, especially an experienced ch.



I will stick with my prediction of us selling eight players. Cucarella, Enzo, Delap/Jackson, Badiashile, Disasi, Tosin, Gusto and Jorgensen.

Of course we will also have a few loans as well.

24 Jun 2026 13:50:19
I think there are goalkeepers out there; the issue is whether they would be sold by their club. I agree about strikers though; can't think of anyone who is available who would guarantee goals. I don't regard Pedro as an out and out No 9, but he did well last season. We need goals from our wide players and midfielders.