Do Chelsea need more than ‘2 or 3’ new signings?

Now in mid-june, there are still no developments on Chelsea’s search for a manager or quest for new signings: With Manchester United and Liverpool both securing high profile signings, should Chelsea fans be concerned by the current lack of activity?
Furthermore, recent quotes from the Chief Executive of the club, Ron Gourlay, suggests that although both managerial and player issues are close to being resolved, there may be ‘introduction of two or three players’ but do Chelsea need more player recruitment to challenge on all fronts?

Although still early on in the transfer window, Chelsea fans have seen the sacking of their manager rewarded merely with rumours and speculation regarding players, not action. Whereas there is still no need to fans to be concerned by the lack of activity, it has been shown that this could be a transfer window of swift action following the respective captures of Jordan Henderson and Phil Jones being completed sooner rather than later by Manchester United and Liverpool. This and similar action by many Premier League clubs make it seem possible that without proper instruction of who to acquire from a prospective manager, Chelsea may miss out on signing potential players.

As per every pre season, a host of names have been linked with Chelsea, none less so than young Belgian international striker Romelu Lukaku. Despite this being positive news in the respect that Chelsea need young players to replace their apparent ageing squad, it is somewhat confusing to see why Chelsea’s main transfer target appears to be a striker when they already boast an array of strikers; Fernando Torres, Daniel Sturridge and Salomon Kalou, all being under 27 and not to mention Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba (the latter who Lukaku is reportedly being brought in to replace) Although it seems evident that Chelsea are exploring different avenues for transfers and this is pleasing, some Chelsea fans may want to see the team strengthened in other areas.

Which leads me on to another name who sees his name continuously linked with Chelsea, Luka Modric. Of all the players linked with Chelsea recently I would most like to see Modric at Stamford Bridge. Perhaps not as eye catching as Lukaku or young Brazilian Neymar da Silva, Modric possesses a simple yet very effective style of play which sees him regularly put teammates in key positions and whereas people who have watched Tottenham over the past year rave about Gareth Bale and Rafael Van der Vaart, I believe Tottenham are a far weaker side without Luka Modric in the team.

With Modric reportedly on his way out of White Hart lane, Chelsea, supposedly only after a handful of players, should definitely make the little Croatian a prime target as he offers a directness which could see him and Chelsea flourish next season. He could even lead a new line of Chelsea midfielders with Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda no longer spring chickens.

Most distressing to Chelsea fans (after the lack of a manager or first team coach) ought to be the number of players being linked with moves away from the club. There seems to be more outgoing rumours than incoming rumours, which would be ridiculous on many fronts. Firstly, if the identity of a new manager is still out in the open, surely any candidate would want the current squad to work with and then trim or bolster as he pleases, selling players before any manager comes in could end up being counter productive as any of the first team squad could be in his plans. Secondly, the Chelsea squad is not a big one as it is and the majority of said squad are nearing or over 30. Thus it would be silly to sell and especially, as reported, sell some of the younger players.

Michael Essien and Jeffrey Bruma have been linked with moves away from the club but both, particularly Essien, need to be held on to to secure the stability and growth of the club. Selling more players than they buy should be out of the question to the board and any possible manager.

Although, according to reports, Chelsea are after half the footballing world, recent word would lead us to believe they are after only a handful of players. Chelsea fans who crave drastic change may find this disheartening. However, if the current squad is kept in tact, I believe a few signings in crucial positions, such as across the midfield, could be more beneficial than wholesale changes in the squad and keep a sense of continuity that they can build on for next season.

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