Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel says the transfer fees required to sign elite-level players have become "a bit scary" but accepts clubs will not always be able to find value in the market.
This summer alone, Chelsea have invested more than £150m in Tuchel's squad under the new ownership group of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. Raheem Sterling was first to arrive from Man City for £47.5million and was soon joined by Kalidou Koulibaly (£34m) from Napoli. Carney Chukwuemeka (£20m) and Marc Cucurealla (£60m) have since arrived.
Chelsea are not done. Either the Blues are intent on signing Leicester City centre-back Wesley Fofana, but a fee close to £80m may be needed to land the 21-year-old. There is also interest in Barcelona duo Frenkie de Jong – who could cost around £60m – and Pierre-Emerick Aubamayang, who the La Liga giants have reportedly priced at £25m.
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The money is eye-watering – and is in stark contrast to the cost of living crisis many in the United Kingdom and further afield are experiencing. And that is why Tuchel insists rising transfer fees should not become normalised, even if Chelsea are prepared to pay them.
He said: "I have almost a feeling that every two or three years, we think it's crazy. It's a huge economical wheel, and it's become entertainment. This is a very, very popular sport. Unfortunately, I have to say it is a bit scary that you get used to these numbers. They become normal numbers, and that's a bit scary because these are not normal numbers.
"At the moment, there is a value for these kinds of purchases and transfers that the big clubs do, and we are a part of it and want to strengthen our squad. Not everything is 100% reasonable in this."
The departures of director Marina Granovskaia, who oversaw Chelsea's transfer business, and technical advisor Petr Cech have resulted in greater responsibility for Tuchel over potential incomings and outgoings. It's not something he wants long-term nor has overly enjoyed. Yet he says it was important to step up following the takeover of the club.
"It's stolen a bit of free time and sleeping time, but it's shifted," explained the German. "We needed to adapt. We were in a delay given the situation [the club being sanctioned], it was nobody's fault, but changes came within the structure. Everybody needed to step up in terms of responsibility.
"In the end, it is my responsibility to give my opinion, to have a strong opinion on how we build the team for the future and for the next weeks and years. This included also being actively involved in talks to the players, which is a normal thing because it does not make sense so much to sign players without speaking to them between the coach and the player, to get a feeling for each other. That's what it is."
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