Chelsea Legend Speaks On Transfer Blues Will Regret This Summer

Former Chelsea defender Glen Johnson has expressed concern over the club’s decision to sell Mateo Kovacic to Premier League champions Manchester City, as Mauricio Pochettino officially takes over at Stamford Bridge.

Pochettino’s arrival comes after Chelsea’s disappointing 12th-place finish in the Premier League last season, leaving them closer to the relegation zone than the coveted Champions League places.

Despite the new manager’s arrival, Chelsea has already seen several high-profile departures during the early stages of the summer transfer window.

Notably, Kai Havertz has joined Arsenal, Mateo Kovacic has moved to Manchester City, and Mason Mount is on the verge of a £65m transfer to Manchester United.

Additionally, N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy have completed moves away from Stamford Bridge, while Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic are reportedly set to follow suit.

Johnson, in an interview with Betfred, expressed his belief that Chelsea may come to regret the sale of Kovacic to Manchester City, considering him “one of the biggest losses of the summer.” Johnson emphasized the Croatian midfielder’s potential to thrive at Manchester City, surrounded by world-class players.

“It was obviously a tough decision for Chelsea to sell him to City, but he’s going to thrive at Manchester City as he’s going to be surrounded by world-class players, and he himself is a world-class player,” said Johnson.

The former Chelsea defender commended Manchester City’s business, highlighting their top-quality players in all positions and the positive impact Kovacic can have as a midfielder focused on his defensive duties.

Johnson further discussed the decision-making process at Chelsea, acknowledging Todd Boehly as a key figure but stressing that negative outcomes would ultimately reflect on him.

He also expressed concern that if the players Chelsea sold perform well at their Premier League rivals while the club’s expensive signings struggle, it would be an embarrassing situation for Chelsea.

With Chelsea allowing key players to join direct rivals, Johnson questioned the strategy, particularly considering the club’s current position outside the top four.

However, he acknowledged the need for Chelsea to recoup funds spent on transfers and emphasized that time would reveal the success of their decisions.

As Pochettino takes the helm at Chelsea, the club faces the challenge of rebuilding and strengthening their squad while ensuring they do not regret parting ways with valuable assets.

The upcoming season will shed light on whether the departures and arrivals at Stamford Bridge prove beneficial or detrimental to the club’s ambitions.