Transfer ban could hinder Chelsea’s long term plans

Maurizio Sarri is pretty much set to leave Chelsea at the time of writing and the Italian is desperate to go back to Italy, with a deal with Juventus waiting on the table.

It is crucial to note that Chelsea are not sacking Sarri. It is the decision of the manager to be allowed to leave and Chelsea are simply going by the Naples man’s wishes. As the compensation fee is being waited, Chelsea should know that they are in quite a mess. Especially if a transfer ban is upheld on them in the upcoming two transfer windows.

What Sarri had installed at Chelsea was a specific identity and a playing style that the side stuck to. While it was never perfect and he still needed players to better the Sarriball approach, him leaving means that the Blues will be forced into resetting the whole process all over again. That too, a season after they had done the same after the sacking of Antonio Conte.

While Chelsea are not new to this process of restarting a whole process again, this one could well be very different. Every new and shiny manager that Roman Abramovich brings home is backed by the toys he wants play with. From Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti to Conte and Sarri- they were all backed in the market till a certain point. That is obvious considering managers need players of their type to play under their system.

But that is where the limitation comes in for this summer. The new manager will not have the assurance of getting his shiny new toys in the summer window. He will have to make do with the players Chelsea have and with the youngsters that the club has loaned out- players like Tammy Abraham, Ola Aina, Mario Pasalic and the likes.

While these players may or may not be good enough, they will have a big chance to prove that they were wrongly kept out of the first team and they will have the chance to prove how good they can be for the first team on a regular basis.

Many of them have impressed, including Abraham, Aina and even Tiemoue Bakayoko, who has caused some controversies but was AC Milan’s most important player throughout the season. Michy Batshuayi too has done well for Crystal Palace and could well start again for the Blues next season.

But much before that, the crucial question which would worry many Stamford Bridge faithfuls is as to why a manager would want to join Chelsea if there is no assurance of transfers for the next two transfer windows? Massimiliano Allegri is being linked with the job and while players are already in his pragmatic mould, he would need certain players to make this team his own. But he can’t do that for two transfer windows. Neither can any other manager.

That is why the ban could have a detrimental affect on Chelsea’s long-term future. But it will be very interesting to see what path the club takes in this utterly unique situation.