'It doesn't feel right' - Carragher SLAMS Chelsea transfer policy
FT Desk
- 22 Aug 2023 15:25 BST
- 3 min read
Jamie Carragher had harsh words for Chelsea's summer transfer policy, claiming that the Blues still do not look like contenders in spite of the millions spent overhauling their squad.
The Londoners have been among the Premier League's most active clubs over the past three windows.
Since Todd Boehly took over in the summer of 2022 Chelsea have forked out almost £1 billion in transfer fees alone, by far the most of any club in the world over the same period.
READ MORE: Premier League 2023/24 summer transfers: All the Done Deals
So far, however, Boehly has little to show for his investment, as Chelsea slumped to a 12th-placed finish last season well outside of the European qualification places.
And Carragher doubts whether things will improve greatly in 2023-24.
Little return on 'unbelievable' money
“I do feel when you spend that amount of money, it does feel strange when we’re all asked before the start of the season, not many people are putting Chelsea in the top four," the ex-Liverpool defender told Sky Sports.
“We’re not all top tipsters, we know that, we know when the results come out. It doesn’t mean they won’t finish there but not many people are thinking that squad with that much money spent on it will finish in the top four.
"That doesn’t seem right to me because that is an unbelievable amount of money.
“And I do feel, even though we were really impressed with them the first two games, if you said to me ‘how many players do they need to challenge Manchester City, I’m not speaking about winning the league?’
“I still think they need a goalkeeper, even though they just signed [Roberto] Sanchez. They probably still need a top centre-half because Thiago Silva’s 38. I don’t think there’s a real out and out goalscorer.
"Your goalscorer doesn’t have to be your centre-forward, Liverpool’s is Salah who plays on the right-wing so it’s not a dig at Jackson.
“But you think of those really important decisions, it still feels as though four players would have to go into that team to get them to just challenge Manchester City and that doesn’t feel right considering the amount of money that they’ve spent.”
Chelsea are still seeking their first victory of the new season, kicking off at Stamford Bridge with a 1-1 draw against Liverpool before falling to West Ham last time round.
