Opinion: Chelsea’s rumoured pursuit of PL midfielder makes perfect sense
Chelsea could be set for another interesting transfer window ahead, as Mauricio Pochettino looks to potentially add further depth to his squad, as they look to steer themselves up the Premier League table, after what has been a hugely disappointing start to this year’s league campaign.
Their summer signings haven’t been all that convincing, which has led to them struggling on a consistent basis in the top-flight, much to the frustration of the club’s supporters, who would have expected much better from a side that has plenty of upcoming talent coming through their ranks.
One player that has found it somewhat tricky to make his mark on the team is Moises Caicedo, who found it difficult to justify the sizeable price tag that was originally paid by the Blues for his services. In a recent interview with BonusCodeBets, former England forward John Barnes has issued his thoughts on Caicedo, whilst also speaking on Fulham’s Joao Palhinha, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea in January.
“Well, you wouldn’t have thought that he would have been better than Caicedo and look what happened there. So, you know, of course, he’s a good player, but Caicedo is a fantastic player.
“Chelsea have got enough players so I can’t imagine Chelsea signing more players. But you know Palhinha is doing very well for Fulham.
“When you look at the Chelsea squad and the amount of players they have, that would just be adding to the amount of players they already have. I can’t imagine them signing more players. But if you ask me whether I think he’s a good player? Yes.
“Is he an upgrade on Caicedo? Caicedo last season at Brighton was their best player. So how come all of a sudden Palhinha is better?
“I think he’s a very good defensive field player who could probably fit in at Chelsea.”
Palhinha has been with Fulham since 2022, and has caught the eye with plenty of strong performances. The Portuguese midfielder had been close to a move to German giants Bayern Munich at the end of the summer transfer window, but a move fell through in the final stages of the window, as the relevant paperwork wasn’t completed in time for the deal to be finalised.
The 28-year-old hasn’t let that failed transfer move impact him though, and has continued to impress for Fulham, who have put together a much-needed strong run of form during the festive period. Chelsea have struggled to do just that, and it wouldn’t come as much of a surprise to see further depth added to their squad in the New Year, and signing a player of Palhinha’s quality would be a smart move for the Blues.
They need experienced and proven players that have played in the Premier League and Palhinha certainly fits that description in a short space of time. A move to Stamford Bridge could be the ideal move for him as well, as if Chelsea can hit form, then they could soon find themselves challenging for a top-six finish, although they’ll need to find some wins sooner rather than later if they’re to do that.
