Chelsea banned from signing players for two transfer windows

[robfosters]

It’s for breaching rules with regards to signing minors. They’ve also been fined £400k.

It couldn’t come at a worse time for Chelsea. They need to bolster their squad to have any real chance of competing. Big implications for Hazard as well. Can’t see them letting him go if they can’t buy anyone.

Can’t say they don’t deserve it though, they broke the rules 29 times!

 

[robfosters]

I don't think they need to sign a Hazard replacement necessarily, which isn't that easy even without a ban. It's currently quite hard for them to play Pulisic, Pedro, Willian and Hazard all together so gives them more options to utilise those guys with also more potential game time for RLC/CHO. I think their bigger issue is up front, as Higuain's loan expires in the summer whereas Morata's has another year to run after that. Effectively that just leaves them with Giroud and Batshuayi as realistic options through the middle, neither of whom are absolute top drawer compared to what their rivals have.

I think Giroud will go back to France in the summer and Bats is not the required level.

They need to get a top striker, and in this day and age, that costs an absolute fortune. And who’s available?

Chelsea really are poor with strikers. Who have they had since Drogba who is in the same league as say, Aguero, Auba, or Kane?

 

[robfosters]

I can't see how Chelsea could allow Giroud to leave if this ban isn't either overturned or suspended while they appeal to CAS and it really wouldn't shock me if Abramovic blocked any deal to sell Hazard if this ban stands. Chelsea's attacking options without him (and Higuain) leave a hell of a lot to be desired both in the wide/attacking midfield roles and the CF position. This squad without Hazard has next to no chance of making the CL imo and to potentially miss out for 3 seasons running (if they didn't make it this season) could hit Chelsea hard and make regaining their place in the top 4 hugely difficult for a number of years.

This June, Hazard will enter the last year of his contract. If he doesn’t sign and Real want him, can Chelsea really refuse and risk losing him for nothing? I don’t think passing up on 70-100 million is an option for them. He’s no guarantee of top four either. He’s there this season and they’re still outside of the top four. Can you imagine the prospect of failing to get top four and losing him for nothing!!! It would be the season from hell for Chelsea.

If he wants to go, I think they’ll have to take Reals money and bank it.

If the transfer ban stands, they may just have no option but to accept a few years in the wilderness, so to speak. Also, it’s not as if Roman is as free with his cash as he used to be either. He won’t bankroll them out of trouble willy nilly any more.