Why Chelsea won’t sign Grealish this summer

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 22 Jun 2021 14:07 BST
• 4 min read

Jack Grealish is currently on England duty for the delayed 2020 European Championships, but his involvement with his country hasn't stopped the rumour mill about his future from churning.

Manchester City and Manchester United are among the clubs who have been linked with the Aston Villa man, and according to reports, Chelsea have also joined the race for Grealish.

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The interest from top Premier League clubs will come as no surprise to Grealish's current club, as their captain has scored 17 goals and assisted 18 over the past two seasons.

Furthermore, Grealish completed 2.5 dribbles per 90 in the Premier League last season, and created 14 big chances, which ranked fourth in the entire league, behind only Kevin de Bruyne, Bruno Fernandes, and Mason Mount, despite missing three months of football with a shin injury.

He's almost reached untouchable status at Villa, although a large bid would likely tempt them, especially as they have spent £33 million on Emiliano Buendia, who was the best creator in the Championship last season.

With rumours of Grealish leaving, his options for a destination are limited due to the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic, and it seems as though Chelsea are right in the hunt for him; but why won't they sign him?

Why Chelsea don’t need Grealish

Grealish is of course a wonderfully gifted footballer, and arguably had a better season than any of Chelsea's current options in the forward area, with the aforementioned Mount the only one who runs him close. But the Blues don't need him.

Sure, he would add to their attack, and in an ideal world, Thomas Tuchel would love to have the talented Englishman, but it isn't feasible. Not only would Grealish cost an arm and a leg, but Chelsea already have a plentiful supply of attackers. Supply is full to the brim.

In fact, Tuchel is looking to offload a few attackers due to the fact that several weren't afforded many minutes under him last season. Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud could be on their way out, and the same goes for Hakim Ziyech, although the club reportedly want to keep hold of the Moroccan.

Tuchel has almost solely adopted a 3-4-3 system since arriving at Stamford Bridge, and it doesn't look like he's willing to change that. After all, he won the Champions League playing that formation.

So, with just three designated attackers available for selection in the starting XI, Tuchel already has to choose three from: Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Christian Pulisic, Mount and Ziyech. That's assuming both Giroud and Abraham leave, and the Blues aren't able to sign a replacement, which is extremely unlikely.

Hence, there isn't room for Grealish. He may be a better player than the likes of Pulisic, but Chelsea don't have the capacity, or the need to sign him. Tuchel was able to win the Champions League with his current squad, so a signing like Grealish isn't necessary.

Furthermore, they're looking at other targets, and their money isn't limitless.

What positions will Chelsea prioritise this summer?

The unlikeliness that Chelsea sign Grealish is further enhanced by the fact that a centre-forward, right wing-back and perhaps even a central midfielder all appear to be on their shopping list.

Tuchel is after a clinical striker this transfer window, after Werner finished last season as Chelsea's top-scorer with just 12 goals in all competitions. It appears that Erling Haaland is their number one target, and the Norwegian centre-forward is expected to cost at least £100m, making a move for Grealish almost impossible.

Achraf Hakimi has also been identified as a target after the Inter man scored seven and assisted eight in Serie A last season as he helped the Nerazzurri to win the Scudetto. It's believed that Reece James will move to right centre-back to accommodate Hakimi if a deal is completed.

A defensive midfielder is also a possibility, but a move does seem unlikely given Billy Gilmour's recent rise to prominence.

Grealish would be a luxury signing for Chelsea, but it's a luxury that at the moment, is neither feasible nor necessary.