The last 24 hours of the summer transfer window was as hectic as it has been for Chelsea in the last few years.
Deadline day in recent years hasn't been too dramatic for the Blues with the west Londoners getting their business done early during the Roman Abramovich era. However, that couldn't happen this summer with the changing of the guard from Russian to American ownership meaning that all of Chelsea's Premier League rivals had a head start in the window. Something manager Thomas Tuchel emphasised at many points during the last few months, especially after the Arsenal thumping in pre-season.
Therefore, whatever Chelsea did in the transfer window would for this one occasion be later than expected. Nevertheless, interim sporting director Todd Boehly recruited £250million worth of talent to set the club up well for the short and long term. Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana, Cesare Casadei, Carney Chukwuemeka, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Denis Zakaria have all been brought in to inject some new life into a Blues side that were starting to go stale towards the end of 2021/22.
READ MORE: Ajax boss confirms Edson Alvarez request after Chelsea missed out on deadline day transfer
Whilst the verdict is out on how they perform in their respective Chelsea careers, on paper, that can be considered a good transfer window. This itself will likely only be the part LA Dodgers owners' only transfer window as sporting director as the American is planning to hire a proper one in this profession fairly soon with Michael Edwards and Paul Mitchell the two frontrunners. Alternatively, a former player could be hired in this position or in a similar one to replace the already gone Petr Cech and Scot McLachlan.
On reflection, Transfer Deadline Day can be reflected as a success from Boehly's standpoint despite the late Memphis Depay heartbreak. However, it could have all been better if three deals could have gone through with two of them certainly unexpected ones.
The expected one was Dynamo Moscow youngster Arsen Zakharyan but problems with his Russian nationality amid the diplomatic issues meant that the FA took a tough stance on his potential registration. The player in question himself, who is expected to cost in the region of £13m, wants to complete his dream move come January 2023.
"There was an offer from Chelsea, but it was impossible to complete a transfer. Of course, I accepted - how can I reject that?," he told Russian media. "I hope everything will be done soon... maybe in January."
Further back in the midfield area, Edson Alvarez was an option to sign but Ajax prevented yet another big-name exit. football.london understands that the current Eredivisie Champions are willing to negotiate a potential £42m deal in the January transfer window. As already common knowledge, Juventus' Denis Zakaria was signed on loan but other options were considered like Ibrahim Sangare and other low-key ones. One of those was a certain Championship midfielder who has started the 2022/23 campaign well.
Sander Berge was a player that Liverpool and others looked at on the final day of the transfer window but Chelsea, who like the Reds, needed to address their midfield situations also gave the Norwegian a second look. This is according to local outlet up in Sheffield- The Star.
However, nothing came to fruition with Paul Heckingbottom's side in no mood to entertain a potential departure of a key player that scored in their latest win over Hull City this weekend. A goal that amongst others scored so far for the Blades have them top of the EFL Championship standings after eight games played.
Chelsea fans - Would you have preferred Sander Berge over Denis Zakaria? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
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