After buying Jorrel Hato from Ajax for £ 37 million, the total amount that Chelsea spent for the defenders over the past 2 years has exceeded the 360 million pound threshold. However, the question is making fans and experts worried: How many of which are really effective?
Hato is the 12th defender to join Chelsea during the Boehly dynasty. The 18 -year -old Dutch player is highly appreciated and used to be in the sights of Arsenal as well as Liverpool.
The fact that the Blues surpasses other big guys to own Hato is a remarkable success. However, the expectation for him not only comes from potential, but also by the fact that the Chelsea defense is missing a real leader.
Among the defenders that Chelsea recruited, only Marc Cucurella was considered to be satisfactory at the present time. Despite difficulties in the first season after moving from Brighton for £ 62 million, Cucurella regained impressive performance and contributed greatly in the Euro 2024 championship of Spain. He is also the brightest name in the defensive system of coach Enzo Maresca.
Many other players such as Wesley Fofana (£ 75 million), Kalidou Koulibaly (£ 35 million), Axel Disasi (£ 38 million) and Benoit Badiashile (£ 35 million) did not meet expectations. Fofana had only played 34 matches since coming from Leicester due to continuous injury; Koulibaly officially left after the first season of struggling; Disasi and Badiashile have been expected but unable to maintain the main kick for a long time and are showing signs of being purified from the squad.
On the two borders, Malo Gusto, rookie from Lyon with a transfer fee of about £ 30.7 million, is rare for a successful contract. He played stable in the replacement role for Rece James, especially during the time the defender was pushed into the middle role. However, with the tactical layout of coach Enzo Maresca, Gusto is not sure to keep the main stone position for a long time.
Trevoh Chalobah, an adult player from the Academy, has a good performance after being borrowed at Crystal Palace. But he is also facing the possibility of being sold to create a clean profit for the club (about 40 million pounds), if Chelsea received the proposal.
If Chalobah left, Tosin Adarabioyo, the defender joined from Fulham in the form of CNTD, could be used. Although he has the Premier League experience and the role of the spiritual leader in the dressing room, but is not considered to reach the top level.
In addition, Chelsea also invested in many young talents such as Renato Veiga, Aaron Ansymino, Caleb Wiley and Mamadou Sarr. However, most of these are sent on loan to gain experience, and no one can afford to squeeze into the main squad.
After spending more than 360 million pounds, Chelsea had only one -class defender Cucurella, a disappointing number if placed in the context of the team's ambition. Procurement is spread, lacking a consistent strategy makes the defense become a “unsolved problem”. Jorrel Hato is expected to change that, but at the age of 18, can he carry the pressure from an unstable operation system?
Chelsea is still building the foundation for the future, but if not shaped a quality defense soon, Boehly's “long -term project” may fall into a vicious cycle: buying a lot, less success.