Chelsea's latest pursuit PROVES they haven't learned from recent transfer errors

Cameron Smith

10 Mar 2024 16:58 GMT
3 min read

Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Chelsea, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Conor Gallagher continues to be linked with a Chelsea exit this summer amid repeated reports that he will be sold by the Blues.

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The England international has started every single Premier League match that he's been eligible for so far this season and has worn the captain’s armband on numerous occasions, but Gallagher seemingly doesn’t have a long-term future at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea signed Moises Caicedo, Lesley Ugochukwu and Romeo Lavia as deeper midfield options last summer, while Cole Palmer, Carney Chukwuemeka and Christopher Nkunku are also in-house candidates to replace Gallagher in the No.10 position.

If Gallagher does leave, however, the west London club have been tipped to sign yet another midfielder.

Bruno Guimaraes and Frenkie de Jong are reportedly admired, while HITC’s Graeme Bailey has also stated that Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha is another Chelsea transfer target.

Although the Portugal international is a classy player, signing him would be a massive error by Chelsea.

Chelsea don’t need Vitinha

Despite his evident talent, Vitinha isn’t the right player for Chelsea.

The Blues already have a midfield roster stacked with talent and signing another small, diminutive figure alongside Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez isn’t needed.

Those two players cost Chelsea over €230 million and although they have shown glimpses of their potential together, their relationship in the middle of the park is yet to blossom.

Furthermore, neither player is particularly strong from an aerial standpoint and that is why Mauricio Pochettino has often deployed three or four centre-backs in the same starting XI this campaign.

Ugochukwu would fix that issue, but the Frenchman is still incredibly raw and he is unlikely to displace Fernandez or Caicedo just yet.

Adding Vitinha into the mix therefore makes no sense.

Furthermore, signing another midfielder isn’t really needed at all even if Gallagher does leave.

Fernandez, Caicedo, Lavia, Ugochukwu and Chukwuemeka is already a strong core, while Palmer and Nkunku can play in an advanced midfield role; in addition, Cesare Casadei and Andrey Santos may also play a squad role next campaign.

If anything, Chelsea should use the money they would spend on Vitinha to purchase a new medical department to fix the injury problems suffered over the past few seasons.

A new left-back is also needed and a world-class number nine is Chelsea’s priority ahead of the summer window.

Signing Vitinha would be an unnecessary expense and proof that Chelsea have not learned from their recent transfer mistakes of signing too many players in one position and neglecting other areas of the pitch.