Chelsea are heading towards one of the most important summer transfer windows in the club’s history. That might feel like an exaggeration to some. But if you ask me, it is a very real situation. After four unsuccessful years under BlueCo ownership, the club must simply turn things around.
The appointment of Xabi Alonso has been viewed as the move that can help do that. If it fails as well, it is hard to imagine where things would go from there.
Obviously, just hiring Alonso is not going to be the solution for Chelsea’s problems. They need more than that. The right players need to be signed as well.
Centre-back is one area where Chelsea simply must strengthen. But it looks like one of their top targets in that position might be headed elsewhere. In fact, he could be set to join one of their London rivals. According to Fabrizio Romano, negotiations for Jan Paul van Hecke to Tottenham continue. Personal terms were agreed days ago.
Van Hecke seems out of Chelsea’s reach
Van Hecke is one of the centre-backs to be linked with Chelsea as well. But it looks like a move might already be out of their reach.
It is not just because of the personal terms with Tottenham, who are believed to be pushing to get the deal done.
The transfer fee is a stumbling block as well. Chelsea will need spend north of £70 million to sign Van Hecke from Brighton.
That might not be viable for them. They simply might not have the finances in the absence of Champions League football.
Which other centre-back could Chelsea sign?
Chelsea might now need to move their sights elsewhere. They passed on the chance to make a move for Ibrahima Konate, who would have been available as a free agent.
The Blues have been linked with Maxence Lacroix of Crystal Palace as well. But considering what Brighton want for Van Hecke, it is bound to raise the Frenchman centre-back’s transfer valuation as well.
Some of the transfer fees that are being demanded this summer are just a bit absurd, to be honest. Even the big six Premier League clubs might no longer be capable of making more than a move or two at this point.
So, they might have to look in other leagues in order to sign players. Chelsea have been linked with a few such centre-backs, to be fair.
Joel Ordonez of Club Brugge and Strahinja Pavlovic of AC Milan are two names that come to mind immediately. Do not be surprised to see more crop up over the coming weeks.
