There are doubters within Chelsea’s academy regarding the club’s transfer strategy. These skeptics argue that numerous homegrown talents possess greater potential than the costly recruits brought in to replace them.
Since the Clearlake takeover, the Premier League giants have invested over £1 billion in acquiring new talent, aiming to form a squad brimming with the world’s best young players.
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Notably, significant funds have been allocated to players like Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and Mkyhailo Mudryk, yielding mixed results.
Mauricio Pochettino has faced challenges in maintaining a consistent lineup due to erratic form and a slew of injuries this season.
Despite the substantial investment, the club’s relatively new owners might have anticipated better than eight wins from 20 Premier League games.
In a setback to Pochettino’s ambitions, a strong XI suffered a 1-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Middlesbrough.
The Independent reports that the mood at the Cobham training base is not improving, exacerbated by the stagnation of several academy stars whose progression is hindered by new signings.
According to the report, there is a belief among some staff that the £32 million signing Benoit Badiashile is not necessarily more talented than the emerging centre-half Bashir Humphries.
The club’s squad-building approach appears confused, further underscored by the situation of Conor Gallagher. He was on the verge of leaving in the summer but has since become a crucial part of Pochettino’s rebuild, earning promotion to the vice-captaincy and experiencing the best phase of his Chelsea career.
Despite this, Gallagher’s future is once again surrounded by speculation, with reports suggesting that Tottenham is back in contention to sign him.
Asked about Gallagher’s situation ahead of last week’s FA Cup third round tie against Preston, Pochettino said: ‘I think we need to talk about many, many things but I think it’s clear Conor still has a one-and-a-half year contract with us.
‘And that is like all the different players at different clubs when you arrive in this point it’s always time to talk and take some decisions for the future.
‘Of course always it’s going to be between the club and the player. At this moment there is nothing to announce, nothing to say.
‘The club is happy with him, I think he is happy here and at the moment nothing to say and nothing to announce.’
Pressed on whether Gallagher would still be a Chelsea player after January, Pochettino added: ‘Look, I cannot guarantee I am going to be here tomorrow I can’t guarantee another thing. Look, in football with us, it’s different part of things can happen.
It’s between the club and the player. Only the player can guarantee or the club. The player more than the club because he has a one-and-a-half year contract he can say yes I am going to be here because my contract allows it.
‘The club will make the best decision for the club.’
