The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg has this afternoon followed up on yesterday’s surprising news about Chelsea’s interest in Nottingham Forest’s classy defender Murillo, claiming that the Blues are going to try and use Trevoh Chalobah as part of their bid to sign the Brazilian.
It’s all rather odd. The Blues have already signed Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer this summer to replace the departed Thiago Silva, and will also welcome back Wesley Fofana from injury to join Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi and Chalobah as central defender options.
There doesn’t seem to be a pressing need for another player there at all, especially given he’s likely to fetch a major fee, even with Chalobah offsetting part of it. Transfermarkt value him at €35m, and we reckon they’d demand a lot more.
Steinberg claims that Manchester United are also interest in buying Chalobah, and also that the defender is only interested in joining a club playing in Europe – potentially scuppering a Forest move.
A curious determination to sell a good player
You can probably already guess what we’re going to say here – it’s been the same for a while now. Yes Murillo looks like a great player, but honestly, what is our club’s aversion to just keeping Chalobah? He’s home grown and proven quality. He was our best defender once he returned from injury last year.
Is it just FFP / PSR concerns which are making us so desperate to sell him? The plan seems to have been to shift him from the moment the new co-sporting directors arrived, and hasn’t shifted since despite his quality performances.
Why trade something you know to be good for something which only has the potential to be better? There are plenty of other players on the books with high ceilings, why give up one with a high floor for another punt on potential?
