The Hard Tackle assesses three missed opportunities for Chelsea in the summer transfer window despite being busy throughout the near-three-month period.

After an impressive debut campaign for Enzo Maresca in the 2024/25 season that spanned nearly 12 months, Chelsea embarked on another riveting summer transfer window that witnessed a player either arriving at or departing from Stamford Bridge almost every week.

The Blues have been infamous for their escapades in the transfer window since BlueCo took over from Roman Abramovich, as they have never shied away from beefing up the squad, irrespective of the players already occupying each position. That continued this past summer, as the West London club added nearly a dozen players to Enzo Maresca’s group.

Joao Pedro has already produced exceptional performances in half a dozen outings in the final third for Chelsea. Meanwhile, along with Pedro, Liam Delap, Alejandro Garnacho, Estevao Willian, and Kendry Paez promise a bright future for the offensive unit, as they can play around Cole Palmer.

However, as we discussed in our review of Chelsea’s performance in the summer transfer window, the incoming business paled in comparison to the departures, as the West London club parted ways with nearly two dozen players. Several exits were inevitable, as Djordje Petrovic, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Renato Veiga, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Lesley Ugochukwu, Carney Chukwuemeka, Joao Felix, Armando Broja, and many others had no future at Stamford Bridge.

However, despite the never-ending outgoing business, which stretched until the final seconds of the summer transfer window, the 2024/25 FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Europa Conference League winners failed to part ways with a few other players who remain in the “bomb squad”. With that, we begin our discussion of the three missed opportunities for Chelsea this past summer.

The departures that were not to be

Considering how bloated Chelsea’s squad has been for several seasons, it is hardly surprising that they have either sold or loaned out over half a century of players in the last 12 months. However, despite the relentless efforts to offload outcasts, a few remain at the West London club.

Axel Disasi, Raheem Sterling, and David Datro Fofana already knew they had no future at Chelsea before the summer transfer window opened. However, they could not seal their departures despite links on deadline day with English and foreign clubs.

Disasi rejected Crystal Palace and West Ham United, even though the Premier League clubs were among his dwindling options in the final hours of the summer transfer window. Meanwhile, Sterling’s stock has plummeted after a disastrous loan spell with Arsenal, and Fulham ruled out a late move for the English international.

The veteran attacker may remain at Stamford Bridge until January, even though the transfer window remains open in Turkiye and Saudi Arabia. However, a recent report has suggested that Chelsea may terminate Sterling’s contract after he could not secure a summer departure.

As for David Datro Fofana, Celtic mulled over a last-gasp move for the Ivory Coast international, and reports also suggested Charlton Athletic wanted a loan agreement. However, it will not be surprising to see the 22-year-old securing a move to the Turkish Super Lig or the Saudi Pro League in the coming days.

Marc Guehi

After discussing unsuccessful departures, we will talk about players Chelsea should have signed in the summer transfer window. We start with a centre-back, as Enzo Maresca went on record to demand a new central defender after Levi Colwill picked up a long-term knee injury.

No centre-back fit Chelsea’s requirement any better than Guehi. The English international can play on either side of a central defensive unit, making him an appealing short-term cover for Colwill and a long-term partner at the heart of the defence for his compatriot.

The Crystal Palace captain would have also boosted Chelsea’s homegrown arsenal and added another leader to Enzo Maresca’s squad, thus bolstering the West London club’s long-term project. While Liverpool came close to signing Chelsea’s academy graduate, a concerted effort by the Blues may have been a game-changing eventuality.

While Oliver Glasner eventually intervened and blocked Guehi’s move to Liverpool, it is unclear what a timely bid by Chelsea may have done. The 2024/25 FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Europa Conference League winners have undoubtedly missed a sensational market opportunity.

Xavi Simons

The other missed opportunity in the market was Xavi Simons, who joined Tottenham in the final week of the summer transfer window after Chelsea chased the former RB Leipzig playmaker’s signature for several weeks.

Widespread reports suggested the Dutchman’s heart was set on joining Chelsea despite his links with Manchester City, Tottenham, and many European bigwigs. However, with the West London club taking excruciatingly long to launch a bid, Tottenham pounced and hijacked the move.

The Blues found themselves in a situation where they needed to sell players before completing new signings, which delayed the move for Simons. The West London club eventually signed Facundo Buonanotte after the playmaking options reduced.

While the Argentine international has the quality to be an able backup to Cole Palmer, Simons’s versatility would have helped him coexist with the Chelsea talisman. Additionally, it is highly unlikely that the 2024/25 FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Europa Conference League winners would have omitted the Dutchman from their UEFA Champions League squad, as they have done with Buonanotte, thus adding to their options in the final third in Europe’s premier competition.