Chelsea spent well in the transfer market last summer to sign some players to occupy certain key positions they needed strengthening in, but for one player, according to former player and coach Ray Wilkins.
Tiemoue Bakayoko was signed for around £40million to replace Nemanja Matic, who departed the Blues to join Manchester United.
The Frenchman has not yet taken the league by storm, cutting a frustrated figure at times in the Chelsea team although there have been signs of his qualities in some games.
Nathaniel Chalobah, one of Chelsea’s academy graduates who was allowed to leave this summer, has also improved Watford since his arrival at the Vicarage Road, as Chelsea fans bemoan his sale.
Former Chelsea assistant coach, Wilkins has added his voice to the angry Chelsea supporters, insisting Chalobah does not look way off the standard of Bakayoko.
“Chalobah went for £6million. I can’t quite see that at £6million. I don’t really see the differential between Bakayoko at £40million and Chalobah at six.
I can’t see £34million difference between the two guys. Chalobah just comes back from the Under-21 European Championships and all of a sudden he is bombed out for £6million.
£34million comes in and we sell the best holding midfield player in the country to one of our biggest rivals. I can’t really see how that happens.”
Ray Wilkins, Daily Express
Bakayoko still has time to win hearts of critics though and can draw inspiration from Willian and Ramires whose careers at Chelsea kickstarted several months after their arrival at the club.
It is the decision to sell Matic to Man United that seems to anger Blues fans more, and may yet prove a very expensive mistake if he helps the Red Devils to titles under Jose Mourinho.
