The summer transfer window closed shut last night, and Antonio Conte has now been left with a far more depleted and inexperienced squad than when he ended last season’s title winning campaign.
Rumours of text exchanges between Diego Costa and Conte explaining that the Spanish forward wasn’t needed next season made sure Chelsea’s window started on the back foot.
A replacement was eventually found, however, as Alvaro Morata came in from Real Madrid for a club record £70 million fee, and he has since hit the ground running as Chelsea’s new frontman.
Tiemoue Bakayoko then completed his transfer to Chelsea for £40 million, coming in to replace Nemanja Matic, who was inexplicably sold to title rivals Manchester United.
Both Nathan Ake and Asmir Begovic left for Bournemouth, with German international Antonio Rudiger and former back up Manchester City ‘keeper Willy Caballero filling the void left by Ake and Begovic’s respective transfers.
Youngsters Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Nathaniel Chalobah also left the club, with the latter leaving on a permanent deal to Watford.
Having missed out on several key targets, Chelsea desperately needed to fill their squad with players happy to take their place on the bench in a World Cup year, and on deadline day they wrapped up two such deals.
First, bringing in Italy and Torino right wing-back Davide Zappacosta, to provide cover for Victor Moses. Leicester midfielder Danny Drinkwater was the final arrival of the window, and whilst also helping to add to Chelsea’s ‘home-grown’ quota, Drinkwater provides adequate cover in the centre of the park.
Here are my ratings of every player to come into the club this summer:
Willy Caballero – C
Provides much needed back up, but his performances in recent seasons at Manchester City have been dismal, to say the least. his performance against Chelsea last season serving as a particular example of his poor shot stopping, when he let an Eden Hazard shot squirm through his gloves.
Alvaro Morata – A
Two goals and two assists in three games is a superb return, and contrary to my previous belief that he would not provide the same sort of goal scoring prowess as Costa, I now have full faith in his ability to spearhead Chelsea’s attack this season.
Tiemoue Bakayoko – B
A more dynamic and versatile option alongside Kante, but his persistent knee injuries may well halt his progress at Chelsea. Fabregas’ home form also shows no signs of slowing down and increased opportunities for the Spaniard may also see Bakayoko limited to fewer games under Conte – who cited Fabregas as a key member of his squad this season.
Antonio Rudiger – C
He’s, in all honesty, a slower and slightly older version of Kurt Zouma. His inability to play the ball under pressure is a concern in a back three so heavily reliant on such attributes, whilst his positioning is non-existent at times. In his defence, however, he does offer a physical presence, and his gangly frame means he’s able to block and intercept shots with ease. His arrival has also halted the incredibly talented Andreas Christensen from getting more game time.
Davide Zappacosta – A
This man gets an A based purely on the fact that he offers experienced right wing-back cover for Moses, as well as the fact that he has previously worked with Conte. Zappacosta’s stats going forward are also mightily impressive, recording a goal and five assists in Serie A last season, and at 25 he is still yet to reach his prime.
Danny Drinkwater – B
Premier League proven and English is the route Chelsea were going for with this transfer, but quite frankly for £35 million less Chelsea already had a younger and potentially more talented player to fill that position in Nathaniel Chalobah – who last season proved himself to be a more than fitting replacement for either Kante, Fabregas or Matic. Drinkwater is a more than solid squad player, but with both Chalobah and Loftus-Cheek clearly up to standard last season, there seems no sense in splashing money on someone four/five years their senior.
