Huge £111m deal is now inevitable at Chelsea as Frank Leboeuf hits the nail on the head
While it is just Clearlake calling the shots upstairs at Chelsea now, the turnover of players is likely to remain high, and Frank Leboeuf has just explained why a £111m deal is now inevitable.
Chelsea spent north of £350m in the summer, bringing in a whole new team, and yet they made a profit – even before the sale of Enzo Fernandez. Nicolas Jackson, Marc Cucurella and Liam Delap also left Chelsea.
That willingness to wheel and deal is unlikely to go away despite the change in ownership. Xabi Alonso’s first season at Chelsea will determine who stays and who goes next season; Estevao could well depart.
Frank Leboeuf thinks Chelsea need to bite the bullet with Estevao
The Brazil wonderkid is unhappy at Chelsea, with Alonso affording Estevao less than 30 minutes of Premier League football. Reports say Estevao is unwilling to change and is growing frustrated in London.
Carlo Ancelotti has questioned Alonso’s usage of Estevao, publicly declaring that Estevao will be first choice and a key part of his tenure as Selecao manager. Leboeuf thinks Chelsea should just sell Estevao.
Chelsea signed more experienced players this summer to get SERIOUS! What impact has it made on the team so far? 🤔
Speaking to My Gamble, the former Chelsea defender said: “I think Estevao might have to leave Chelsea and it’s a shame because he is a pure talent. But Xabi Alonso proved at Leverkusen that his system works.
“He did that by going undefeated and winning the Bundesliga. Why change it? He joined Chelsea when Estevao was already there, he didn’t choose him. Estevao might be sacrificed. It might be time to sell him.
“If you’re not going to use him, sell him, because he deserves to play and could be well-utilised by other teams. He has great talent. If Alonso doesn’t need him, why keep him instead of letting him move?”
Leboeuf is right, Estevao’s future is heading in one direction
The former Chelsea man is right. Estevao is not going to change; he doesn’t want to add more physicality to his frame because it will take away from his speed and agility. But Alonso shouldn’t change, either.
This system works for Alonso. He’s perfected it; Chelsea have the players to make it work. He shouldn’t change the system to simply meet Estevao’s whims and demands. A parting of ways is inevitable.
Barcelona are keeping tabs on Estevao and Chelsea’s price tag
Former Chelsea midfielder Deco is a big admirer of Estevao. Reports say Barcelona are keeping tabs on the Brazilian, who many believe is the next-best thing to come out of Brazil since Neymar at Santos.
The big stumbling block for Barca will be Chelsea’s enormous £111m price tag. Barcelona do not have the cash flow to make that work, unless they sell three or four key players before sorting a deal for Estevao.
Barcelona wanted Estevao before he moved to Chelsea from Palmeiras. Estevao needs a big move, but to a club where he is going to play regularly, and the Nou Camp could be the perfect fit for the winger.
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