It was during the summer that Todd Boehly was accused of using Chelsea to play Football Manager. “When clubs are working well, you don’t hear who’s signing the players, you just sign them," added Gary Neville, who until October was chief executive at League Two side Salford City.
Neville's harsh criticism stemmed from the chaotic nature of Chelsea's transfer window. Multiple players were targeted. Countless deals were explored. And Boehly, acting as interim sporting director, racked up the air miles as he flew to meetings with clubs and agents on either side of the Atlantic.
It was all necessary work. The sanctions imposed by the UK government on Roman Abramovich – and by extension Chelsea – resulted in the club falling behind key rivals in the transfer market during the takeover process. It also meant first-team defenders Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger were able to walk away and join Barcelona and Real Madrid on free transfers.
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Boehly's work in the summer window wasn't faultless but few could doubt the new ownership group's ambition to fashion a competitive team for then-head coach Thomas Tuchel. More than £200million was spent with Wesley Fofana, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucurella, Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang added to the squad.
There were investments in younger players too: Omari Hutchinson arrived from London rivals Arsenal; highly-rated England youth international Carney Chukwuemeka joined from Aston Villa; Cesare Casadei swapped life in Inter Milan's primavera for a role in Chelsea's Development Squad.
They were the transfers that should have made pundits and critics sit up and take notice. They were proof that Boehly, Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano weren't simply focused on the short term. Early building blocks for sustained success were being laid, an approach anyone experienced at playing Football Manager can tell you regularly pays off.
An incredibly strong recruitment team has been put together since the summer – and may still be added to in the months ahead. That has been coupled with a focus on signing players under the age of 25 and, in turn, building a squad capable of challenging the juggernaut that is Manchester City for the Premier League title.
It has all led to greater clarity in Chelsea's approach to the January window. A deal to sign 20-year-old David Datro Fofana from Molde has already been confirmed. Midfielder Andrey Santos, 18 years old, is set to join from Vasco da Gama in the coming days. And discussions continue over a transfer for fellow Brazilian Vitor Roque, just 17 years old.
Then there are the potential big-ticket winter additions. football.london understands a move for Monaco centre-back Benoit Badiashile (21 years old) is progressing while Chelsea are prepared to break their transfer record in order to secure the signing of Enzo Fernandez from Benfica.
A World Cup winner with Argentina, Fernandez – who for the record is also 21 years old – is expected to cost in excess of £100million. That hasn't put Chelsea off and there is growing confidence the Portuguese giants will be talked into selling the midfielder when the window opens.
Improving recruitment staff. Investing in the club's future. Pursuing a handful of wonderkids. If this really is Boehly's attempt to play out a Football Manager save in real life, there will be many who are familiar with his game.
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