Chelsea were by far the busiest Premier League club in the summer transfer window, spending close to £300million on eight new signings.
The defence was a key area to reinforce ahead of the 2022/23 campaign after the Blues had lost Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger on free transfers. Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella and Kalidou Koulibaly all arrived for a combined fee in the region of £165million, whilst Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Denis Zakaria both arrived on Deadline Day.
Thomas Tuchel passed up the chance to strengthen his attack with the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United, with Raheem Sterling signing from Manchester City instead. Boehly then took the decision to sack Tuchel just days after Deadline Day, leaving Graham Potter to inherit the overhauled squad with Chelsea now sitting eighth in the Premier League table heading into the World Cup break.
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Former Blues defender William Gallas has blasted Boehly's summer transfer strategy, with many of his signings failing to perform since completing the move to Stamford Bridge. Speaking to Genting Casino, Gallas said: "I'm very disappointed, I'm very disappointed with where Chelsea are.
"They are not picking up any results, and I think the club are suffering after a transfer window and period where Tuchel was sacked that lacked any form of strategy. They spent a lot of money in the summer.
"The players that they signed have been performing below the expected level of a Chelsea player. Wesley Fofana is injured, but we all knew about his injury record.
"I don't know what they are getting from Cucurella, who was signed for £60 million! He doesn't play for Spain. He isn't in the Chelsea starting eleven. £60 million! Wow!
"They signed Aubameyang. He doesn't look good - he did nothing against Arsenal and was on the bench against Newcastle. The club didn't have any strategy in the transfer window. They rushed it.
"They tried to buy players for Tuchel, then they sacked him. At the moment, it is a big mess at Chelsea."
Gallas is unsure whether his former side have the capabilities to secure a top-four spot come the end of the season, judging by their performance in the first half of the 2022/23 campaign. The former France international added: "Look, they are in eighth position. Tottenham and Arsenal look better than Chelsea.
"Newcastle are in third - I'm not sure if they will stay there, it will be difficult for them - but they are doing a good job. They are playing well, with commitment, and everyone at the club seeks to be united, that is good to see.
"Liverpool are coming back. For Chelsea, it will be really hard to finish in the top four. Chelsea have the World Cup to deal with.
"They have twelve players going to the World Cup, who could return very tired or get injured during the tournament. I think it will be very hard for them."
Former Arsenal midfielder has agreed with Gallas' claims and argued that none of Chelsea's five big summer signings have paid off this season. Speaking on Soccer Saturday, Merson explained: "You know you've got to play to people's strengths, but Koulibaly doesn't play because he goes with Chalobah. You know I like Chalobah, I think he's done very well.
"Cucurella is a prime example: its different clubs. You play at Brighton, you get beat at Brighton, and you probably get a little line in the paper that Brighton get beat 1-0. At Chelsea, he's getting absolutely slaughtered, you know, people saying he's not good enough, picking him out when goals go in and all that. That didn't happen at Brighton.
"It's a different game, and it's a different game for the manager, you know, he'll get used to it. I think he's a very good manager, I think he will get it right.
"I think you're right as you say, there's players in there that I don't think he would have at the club if he had a choice, and I think we should give him until next season or the season after. Chelsea are not a team where you want to come fourth one year and third the next year, it's win or nothing.
"So, for me, you look at Graham Potter, you go 'right we want Graham Potter' if it means coming fifth or sixth this year and we win the league next year."
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