Chelsea FC’s Timing’s Been Right In Baiting Transfer Of Fernando Torres From Liverpool FC - We Ain’t Got No History
As we get closer to a sale that seemed improbable days ago, we should consider how well Chelsea FC have played the Fernando Torres negotiations with Liverpool FC. While not being so naive to believe that this deal has been clear of the behind-the-scenes unsettling that's obligatory to turn a star's head, Chelsea has avoided the same backlash Aston Villa incurred when drawing Darren Bent to Villa Park.
Perhaps, as Graham MacAree writes at We Ain’t Got No History (SB Nation’s Chelsea FC community blog), the difference is timing:
Chelsea's timing seems to have been brilliant here, but Liverpool's actions in making the bid public seems totally bizarre. By publicly rejecting the initial £35M offer from the Blues, Liverpool managed to spur Torres into handing in a transfer request, one it looks like they'll be forced to honour despite publicly (again) rejecting it. Fernando Torres looks like he's there for the taking - but only if Roman Abramovich ponies up enough cash to break the British transfer record. Despite the David Luiz talks breaking down, Monday is certainly going to be an interesting day for Chelsea fans.
The ball's in your court, Roman.
The final aside has been the most interesting part of this story. Throughout fall and winter Carlo Ancelotti has consistently intimated that his squad was fine. Perhaps that was just a way to keeping the ship on course, but let’s take the man at his word. Now comes this move and the feeling it’s being motivated by Roman Abramovich.
After speculation that Chelsea was trying to tighten their purse strings and come to grips with a new world order, Abramovich has used the winter transfer window to illustrate little has changed around Stamford Bridge. Roman is Roman, and Chelsea still has to win. If the owner has to spend money to do so, that’s nothing new. Regardless, and just as it was under Luiz Felipe Scolari, competing at the edge of Champions League is unacceptable.
If Roman is intent on improving his team, then Graham is right. Monday will be an interesting day, though not only for Chelsea fans. Liverpool fans will carry a different type of interest, and who knows? Would anybody deny the idea that Chelsea has one-or-two other plans in motion.
For all such plans We Ain’t Got No History has you covered. Check out SB Nation’s Chelsea community blog for coverage of Chelsea’s transfer window dealings.
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