If it seems like this summer transfer window at Chelsea FC has been extremely uneventful that’s because it absolutely has been every bit as boring as it seems. The assumptions one might hold for why that is- they have to resolve the manager situation before buying or selling players, are spot on as well.
Chelsea’s star player of star players, Eden Hazard, has publicly clamored for clarity on the managerial picture not once but twice. The second time, he even did so in the midst of the World Cup, and essentially extended an invitation to Real Madrid to acquire him.
According to a new report in the Times of London, potential summer transfer window additions are being held back by the uncertainties surrounding the status of current Chelsea FC manager Antonio Conte.
“Antonio Conte is expecting to be sacked despite winning the Premier League and FA Cup in his two seasons at the club, but the two parties have yet to agree a severance package that could cost Chelsea more than £10 million if the Italian does not take another job in the next 12 months.
“Chelsea have been pursuing several transfer targets despite the managerial stasis, but the talks have not progressed as planned.”
Those targets, the report goes on to say, include Poland/Bayern Munich superstar Robert Lewandowski and Nice’s Jean Michael Seri. Numerous outlets have reported that former Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri is pegged to be Conte’s replacement, but his situation is complicated as well.
Sarri has been sacked and replaced by Carlo Ancelotti, and his contract dictates that Chelsea will have to pay a hefty fee in order to acquire him because he’s still getting paid by Napoli.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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