29 May 2020 11:21:28
Morning Ed, firstly I hope you and your family have stayed safe has can be throughout this horrible virus.
If you don’t mind I have a couple of questions .
1. How are Chelsea set financially I know we missed a couple of windows but due to C.V. has it had a major effect on money’s available to transfer or do you feel we are reasonably well set to push on with transfers we had in mind pre C.V..
2. I have searched the engine but couldn’t find the answer to this, obviously is has fans all have opinions of what we need as a club but what positions has the club identified has problem areas and want to bring players in.
Oh and one more sorry for your time it has been a real pleasure this year watching some of these young lads and to be 4th I think is a huge achievement one player I think is well ahead of the curve is billy gilmour just wondering your thoughts on the player seems really well grounded along with his talent possible world class player on our hands ?
Thank you take care with the travelling and my thought to you all in tough times hope everyone is keeping well has they can all the best guys and girls
{Ed002's Note - (1) Chelsea are fine financially and have already agree £75M worth of January and summer sales. (2) A striker is wanted and much of the rest depends on departures. A left back and a winger are likely the next priorities. A young CB may arrive in addition to two young GKs who have joined. (3) Much is expected of Gilmour but the term "world class" is used all too often.}
29 May 2020 14:34:26
Thanks for the reply Ed and very good post Lampsy. Cheers to you both.
29 May 2020 14:48:03
Is the £75m just Morata and Pasalic Ed?
{Ed002's Note - Chelsea already has £50M coming in for Morata’s sale in the summer, £12M or so from Pasalic. Plus an additional £10M for Hector, Lamptey and Clinton Mola being sold in January and assorted loan fees totally a little more than £1M. Moses if the asking price is reduced will bring more - but not the £10M agreed.}
29 May 2020 15:18:56
Nice one Ed. Hopefully we can sell Batshuayi, Bakayoko, Kennedy, Van Ginkel and one of Emerson or Alonso to boost up that fund. Think Roma are pushing for another Zappa loan last I heard which is a shame as we could do with getting him off our books for good. Is there any strong interest in the players I’ve mentioned?
{Ed002's Note - VAn Ginkel is out of contract. I have explained before about the potential outgoings - nothing has changed.}
29 May 2020 16:54:31
Thanks for that Ed very much appreciated.
{Ed002's Note - You are welcome.}
29 May 2020 17:07:07
Do you think Chelsea might make some allowances with the Morata money in terms of when its due or possibly having it paid in instalments considering I would assume AM will be feeling the effects of C.V. much more significantly then us in terms of finances. Lawfully I presume we could refuse but I would imagine they have asked for some kind of help 50m a lot of money to find at the best of times let alone now.
I think if we could get a st a winger and lb that would be fantastic but don’t want to be greedy really looking forward to lad from Ajax joining.
Be very interesting to see this team with a decent goal scorer in it I wouldn’t even know where to start I’ve seen a few names on here and online but what’s everyone’s thoughts including Ed’s who do you think we should be looking at we haven’t really had a talisman upfront since Drogba.
Thank you again for your time Ed.
{Ed002's Note - Chelsea will listed to proposals that are put to them about the money. Finding a striker will continue to be difficult to find.}
29 May 2020 17:26:12
Thanks enjoy the rest of your day.
{Ed002's Note - And you.}
29 May 2020 18:07:12
Thanks for you’re time Ed.
{Ed002's Note - You are welcome.}
29 May 2020 19:20:06
Lampsy, I've actually become more and more interested in Haller from West Ham. He's one of the absolute best target men in the world, and Chelsea over the past years have looked to be doing better with that kind of striker up front than with a pure goalscorer like Shevchenko, Torres etc.
Physically very strong, and his technique is really underrated to. He's one of the best at getting involved in general attacking play, and due to his immense physique he brings a significant presence in the box. Pretty sure he'd be an excellent target for Reece and Ziyech's crosses from the right!
Another advantage of Haller is that he functions well with another striker next to him, so we'd have some added flexibility in terms of playing Tammy next to him for example when situation calls for it.
The main drawback with him for me is probably his lack of speed to get in behind. But in matches where we expect to have space to work with we could easily go with Tammy instead.
All in all I think he'd make for a very underrated buy and could turn out to be a really good and important player for us. Especially if West Ham were to go down to the Championship (they probably won't) it should be more than possible to get him.
Other than Haller I quite like Moussa Dembele. Perhaps a deal can be done involving Giroud as well, who could maybe become a starter for Lyon then (satisfying his wishes as well in the process) . I'd say Werner or Lautaro as well, but both of them want to play for a specific club that's not Chelsea. So I don't want them then. Odsonne Edouard and Alexander Isak are 2 wildcards. Largely unproven, but clear to see that both are full of talent. The classic risk-reward tradeoff with those.
29 May 2020 20:15:53
Not seen much of Haller but I know a lot of West Ham season ticket holders who would pay us to take him and carry him to West London. Been shocking for them this season apparently, has had very little support but has shown no willingness to get into games.
I can't say he stood out against us last season, did he even play?
I'm fine with Abraham and Giroud as our more target man options. Personally think we need a different option, Werner and Martinez are the best options but highly unlikely signings. Chiesa is a winger who can also play as a central forward, could kill two birds with one stone.
29 May 2020 20:40:47
For sure he hasn't performed like a star at West Ham. But I really don't think we should underestimate the effect of them having played like absolute rubbish this season. Their team is way too good to be struggling to avoid relegation.
I think Haller would look like a completely different player in a better team. In our team ;-)
29 May 2020 21:26:56
Haller's attitude is appalling. Steer well clear.
29 May 2020 22:14:17
Ed002, the young CB that you mentioned. Is he one for the academy team like Brad Young?
{Ed002's Note - Not for the academy - but not for the first team.}
29 May 2020 22:18:47
Oh ok!
30 May 2020 13:19:02
Ed002, who are the 2 young GKS? And will one of them be 3rd choice next season?
{Ed002's Note - Brad Young from Hartlepool will go in to the U23 squad and the other is a youth player. There will be no change to the third choice GK.}