Since Todd Boehly took over Chelsea they have outspent everyone in world football.
The Blues have spent close to €1.5 billion on 47 players according to Transfermarkt, and currently have nothing to show for it.
The 2024 Carabao Cup final is the closest they have come to silverware, but there is a strong chance they will win the Europa Conference League this season, marking a step in the right direction for the current ownership.
Chelsea want striker with €100 million release clause
Now the Premier League is guaranteed five Champions League places next season, a return to Europe’s elite competition looks closer for Chelsea, however everyone around the club will still feel there is room for improvement.
Last season, Cole Palmer was a revelation, scoring goals for fun, but since Christmas the goals have dried up for the Englishman, and injury issues have left the looking rather devoid of ideas up front.
A report in Portuguese outlet Record, suggest Chelsea are one of several European clubs monitoring Benfica’s Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis.
Pavlidis has scored 24 goals in all competitions, including a hat-trick in a crazy game in the Champions League against Barcelona, one of the clubs rumoured at being interested in his services.
However, the striker has a €100 million release clause in his contract which doesn’t expire until 2029, and as Chelsea are reportedly looking for competition for Nicolas Jackson, it doesn’t seem likely they’ll splash this cash on Pavlidis.
Newcastle and Atletico Madrid, alongside the two clubs already mentioned, are all suggested to have interest in Benfica’s frontman, but again, it seems unlikely they will spend such a large sum when they all have top level strikers currently leading their attacks.
In FourFourTwo’s opinion, while Pavlidis clearly has an eye for goal, Chelsea should look closer to home before throwing around stupid sums of money again. Paying his release clause would represent dreadful business from Chelsea, with Transfermarket valuing him at jsut €28 million, €72 million below his release clause.
Last summer they brought in highly rated youngster Marc Guiu who is yet to be given a chance in the Premier League, and the arrival of Estevao and Kendrey Paez may help ease some of the burden on Palmer.
Focus should remain on the current season, with the Europa Conference League representing a great opportunity to turn a mediocre season into a good one.
