Sold by Tuchel player – Chelsea must regret offloading Premier League “monster” now worth £75m
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Since Todd Boehly’s takeover in May 2022, Chelsea’s ambitious transfer strategy has seen them spend over £1.2 billion on new recruits. Among these, Cole Palmer has emerged as a standout, amassing 52 combined goals and assists across 56 appearances and proving to be a bargain at his £40 million fee. His contributions are bolstering Enzo Maresca’s hopes of achieving silverware in his debut season. Similarly, Nicolas Jackson, despite some criticism since joining from Villarreal in 2023, has consistently delivered goals, with 23 scored for Chelsea in the Premier League.
Yet, Chelsea’s approach has not always been successful, especially reflecting on the 2021 summer window. Following their 2020/21 Champions League victory, Chelsea, then managed by Thomas Tuchel, invested a club-record £97.5 million to re-sign Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan. The move proved ill-fated, with Lukaku scoring just 15 goals in 44 appearances before a series of loan moves culminated in a permanent transfer to Napoli this summer at a £67.5 million loss. To finance this move, Chelsea offloaded several academy talents, including Fikayo Tomori, Lewis Baker, and, perhaps most regrettably, Marc Guehi.
Guehi, who joined Crystal Palace for £18 million, has since flourished, establishing himself as a regular starter, club captain, and a notable player within the England national team setup. His exceptional performances attracted interest from Newcastle United, who made four bids for the defender over the summer but were deterred by Palace’s £75 million valuation.
Guehi’s success away from Stamford Bridge serves as a reminder of the risks in prematurely parting with academy talent. While Chelsea fans can celebrate the emergence of players like Palmer and Jackson, Guehi’s rise highlights the potential cost of letting promising talent leave too soon.
