CHELSEA BOARD: A CAUSE FOR WORRY

By Rildwan Oladejo

Since the opening of the January (winter) transfer window of 2018, Chelsea football club has been linked with several football players from home and abroad. Most transfer windows are characterized by reports from various sources (confirmed and unconfirmed), but in every rumour there's an iota of truth.

Inarguably, the team is currently rocked by crisis. Whatever it is that is the main cause of this "shadow-crisis" remains a mystery. However, a few options come to mind - Conte's future, the formation change, rumours of players likely departure and/or new arrivals struggle to adapt to life in the English premier league. Could this be why numerous players are constantly being linked to the club?

Morata; the team's main point man is misfiring; Hazard's contract extension talks ongoing and Bakayoko is another player struggling with confidence in the midfield... where is the Chelsea Football Club we are accustomed to? The midfield options available at the club can do the job at hand, if effectively managed. Why then is the club still linked to several midfield options (whether true or otherwise)? Vidal, Nainngolan and Richarlison would only be surplus to requirements, while Mahrez on the other hand can only fight for minimal playing time.

Oh! My darling pensioners, where did you go wrong? Back in the days, Chelsea football club were linked with players with prospects and big guns. What happened to the transfer board - has Enemalo's departure ushered in a new transfer policy era? The club is gradually becoming a joke, just like the men with no bullets in their guns from North London (smiles). For instance, there was news of the club making inquiries about Stoke City's "long forward" Peter Crouch. Shouldn't this be the joke of the transfer Window?

One could remember when Chelsea football club signed the likes of Drogba, Lampard, Ballack (one of the best free transfers in history), Ivanovic, Gallas, Makelele, etc, prospects who went on to become club legends. A look at the current squad, it is visible to the blind that all the club needs is a top notch forward to rival Morata, as well as few decent defensive cover for the regular starters. However, the likes of Kennedy and Ampadu have shown that the manager can also keep faith in the young blues. BUT the club needs another prolific striker and the transfer board needs to tighten their belts to get what's right for the club.

Conte Press Conference after the League Cup loss against Arsenal is a big indicator to what has been going on behind the scenes. Conte stated that the Board is behind all the players coming into the club and he has little say over it. Conte also raised a very serious point; how can he perform well with a small squad at his disposal.

Chelsea club needs to do a lot better with the transfer policy by listening to the manager and bringing in better football players that suits the status of the club.