Chelsea has an ambitious transfer plan for the summer. But first, they need to secure a spot in European competitions. Without that, the big targets will vanish.
Chelsea's executive board has accelerated its transfer plans after the harsh 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City, which exposed the squad's lack of physicality. The Blues have four losses in five games, and their season is falling apart. It is the first time since February 2018, under Antonio Conte, that they have conceded three or more goals in two consecutive league matches.
Rosenior admitted that the recent internal meetings have focused on the specific profiles needed to develop the team's identity, while highlighting three weak points of the squad that must be improved immediately.
Referring to the strategic talks taking place at Stamford Bridge, the 41-year-old coach said: “Yes, even during the last week, we have had many detailed conversations about how we should approach the future, starting from the summer transfer window. We are talking about all aspects of the game: physical, technical, and positional issues.”
The transfer window opens on June 15 and brings challenges: the World Cup will complicate negotiations for some international targets. Additionally, Chelsea's spending depends on qualifying for European competitions, which would ease the restrictions of the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) thanks to higher revenue.
Rosenior sums it up: “These are issues we are discussing; we know what we want to improve and where.”
Chelsea is sixth with 48 points, four behind Liverpool in the fight for the last European spot. Rosenior faces a demanding April against Manchester United and Brighton, before the final stretch in May against Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Sunderland. If they do not close the gap, the Blues could be left without Champions League football.
This would also mean that the planned signings by the Chelsea board would become quite complicated, because players usually look for teams that compete in the most prestigious tournament in the world. If Chelsea does not step on the gas and qualifies for the Europa League or Conference League, it is very likely that the players who did want to come to Stamford Bridge will choose another alternative.
And let's not even talk if Chelsea ends up out of European competitions... For now, the club's main goal must be to finish among the top five places in the Premier League. Otherwise, the summer transfer window could be a nightmare for them.
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