More Signings Needed at Stamford Bridge?
Chelsea is in danger of missing out on UEFA Champions League soccer for next season after a poor Premier League season so far. The pressure is on Graham Potter, but will a few new faces in the January Transfer Window lift the doom and gloom at Stamford Bridge?
Tough Season So Far
Chelsea has had a pretty miserable 2022-23 season so far. They have had to sit back and watch London rivals Arsenal dominate the division, as the Gunners have kicked on this year and turned themselves into genuine title contenders. In contrast, the Blues face a battle to make the top four. There are some great odds around in the Premier League right now, and New Zealand bettors can take advantage of this bet365 NZ bonus code and get +700 for Potter’s men to break into the Champions League places. In the title race, Arsenal are available at -138, while Manchester City are currently priced at -125.
Chelsea has been well off the pace this season. Thomas Tuchel was harshly sacked after a European defeat at Dinamo Zagreb in September, with Potter swiftly brought in as his replacement.
The former Brighton & Hove Albion boss worked wonders during his time at the Amex Stadium and fully deserved a chance with a big Premier League club. Potter made a good start to life at the Bridge, but Chelsea’s form dipped drastically from October, as they suffered five defeats in seven Premier League matches.
After their win against Liverpool, Brentford are the highest-ranked west London club in the Premier League.
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) January 2, 2023
Fulham follow in eighth, with Graham Potter's Chelsea in ninth. pic.twitter.com/cKrojLHEHE
Boehly a Busy Man
Since taking over in May 2022, the new co-owner and chairman of Chelsea, Todd Boehly, has been a very busy man. He backed Tuchel in the transfer market last summer, with the likes of Marc Cucurella, Raheem Sterling, and Wesley Fofana arriving in west London in big-money moves.
Potter has his own philosophies, and Boehly’s checkbook has seen a lot of action this winter, too. Joao Felix has arrived on loan from Atletico Madrid, but the Blues have paid fees for Andrey Santos, David Datro Fofana, and Benoit Badiashile. A few have been brought in for the future, but the Londoners need players to make an impact now.
Chelsea recently paid over $100m (in total fees) for Mykhailo Mudryk, who caught the eye during his five-year stint with Shakhtar Donetsk. The Ukraine international is hoping to hit the ground running in the English capital.
It's a chilly one up here! 🥶#LivChe pic.twitter.com/cLlsBslK1s
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 21, 2023
Who Else Could Arrive at Stamford Bridge?
Chelsea has been linked with a whole host of players since the Winter Transfer Window opened. The latest name to be heavily linked is Enzo Fernandez, while Jude Bellingham and Alexis Mac Allister are also reportedly on Chelsea’s radar.
Despite Boehly spending serious money on improving this Chelsea team already, the Blues are still nowhere near the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City in the Premier League table, and a few more faces still need to come in before the window slams shut.
On paper, Chelsea has one of the strongest squads in the Premier League, but neither Tuchel nor Potter has managed to get the best out of this current crop of Blues players so far this season. Their form has been poor over the past few months, but surely it is only a matter of time before Chelsea starts firing again.
