Sports
Chelsea Ridiculed as £88m Forward Urged to Join Rival Premier League Club for Upgrade
Chelsea‘s recent struggles have drawn further criticism as a pundit suggests that an £88 million European star should consider a move to Newcastle United this summer for an upgrade.
Since a consortium led by Todd Boehly took over the club, Chelsea has spent £600 million in the last two transfer windows.
They have made high-profile signings such as Enzo Fernandez, Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Mykhaylo Mudryk, while also undergoing managerial changes from Thomas Tuchel to Graham Potter.
However, Potter failed to replicate the success he had at Brighton and was subsequently sacked in April. Despite being linked with managers like Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique, Chelsea opted to appoint club legend Frank Lampard on an interim basis.
READ ALSO: Arsenal Set To Hijack Chelsea Target, Prepare £75m Bid As Club Change Transfer Stance
Unfortunately, Lampard was unable to turn the team’s fortunes around, and Chelsea’s performance worsened under his leadership.
Fortunately for Blues supporters, the club has acted swiftly by appointing former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach.
Pochettino will have the luxury of solely focusing on the Premier League and domestic cup competitions next season, as Chelsea finished 12th in the Premier League, ruling them out of any European competitions.
One positive aspect of this is that Chelsea can channel all their attention towards securing a top-four finish next season and potentially winning the FA Cup or Carabao Cup. They will also have fewer fixtures compared to some of their rivals.
However, there are some downsides. Without the allure of UEFA Champions League football, Chelsea may find it challenging to attract some of Pochettino’s preferred targets to their squad.
One such player who may catch Pochettino’s eye is Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix, who spent the second half of the season on loan at Stamford Bridge.
While Felix didn’t set the Premier League alight, only scoring four goals in 16 appearances, he provided a rare source of creativity for Chelsea even during their poor performances.
READ ALSO: Pochettino Loses Chelsea Great And Most Loved Player To Insane Contract Offer
Newcastle could capitalize on this situation and potentially lure the “really dangerous” attacker away from Chelsea.
Former Tottenham and Aston Villa right-back Alan Hutton, in an interview with Football Insider, suggests that Felix should snub a return to Chelsea and consider a move to Newcastle instead.
Hutton views Newcastle as an “upgrade,” especially since they have qualified for the UEFA Champions League next season.
“I thought he was one of the sparks for Chelsea,” Hutton stated. “He looked really dangerous even in his first few games. It has been difficult considering the pressure surrounding Chelsea, the managerial situation, and the money that has been spent.”
“He is obviously enjoying himself in the Premier League, Newcastle is an up-and-coming team, and they are in the Champions League next season, so he might see that as an upgrade at this moment in time. Obviously, Chelsea will come back next season, but it does not look like his future is at Atletico.”
READ ALSO: Reece James Speaks On Chelsea Team-Mate Mason Mount’s Potential Man Utd Move
Chelsea supporters will undoubtedly be frustrated to witness Newcastle’s success while their own team languishes in mid-table.
The two clubs were worlds apart in 2021, with Chelsea finishing fourth in the league and clinching their second UEFA Champions League crown, while Newcastle managed only a 12th-place finish.
However, the two clubs have embarked on vastly different paths since then, with Newcastle showcasing how significant investments should be made.
It will be intriguing to see if Pochettino can galvanize the Chelsea squad next season and restore them to their rightful place. Meanwhile, an era comes to an end at Chelsea as a prominent player decides to depart Stamford Bridge for an incredible contract offer.