Chelsea have thrown a ton of money around since Todd Boehly took over, yet the Blues have very little to show for it.
Boehly already ran Thomas Tuchel and then his own pick Graham Potter out of town, leaving Mauricio Pochettino in a precarious position. There are certainly a fair number of fans and pundits who believe Pochettino has run out of chances to turn it around.
Yet Chelsea continue to stand by Poch, knowing full well that the summer transfer window will be a critical one, especially after the organization somewhat prudently elected not to spend big in the winter.
Pochettino probably didn’t appreciate that, but the virtues of Chelsea finally exercising patience could pay off this summer if they pounce on the right players – unlike last year when they invested heavily in Nicolas Jackson.
Another LaLiga superstar with a better track record could intrigue the Blues in 2024, as Fabrizio Romano reports that they will compete with fellow Premier League giants Arsenal for the signing of Nico Williams.
Flash back to the winter 2023 window when Chelsea just barely squeaked out Arsenal to sign Mykhaylo Mudryk. Perhaps they regret slamming down 100 million euros for the unproven Shakhtar Donetsk prospect, but maybe Williams can be an upgrade.
On paper, he sure looks like a better signing. Williams wouldn’t cost as much as Mudryk, even with a bidding war against other clubs like Arsenal.
Additionally, Mudryk was more of a “for the future” player, while Williams is already working on a second strong season in LaLiga. He is still raw, but he is already one of the best players at his position in the Spanish top flight,
Mostly operating as a left winger for Athletic Club across big brother Iñaki Williams, Nico has been a menace to LaLiga defenses with his creative capabilities, never-say-die attitude, and ridiculous explosiveness.
The younger Williams has three goals and six assists so far in the 2023/24 LaLiga season, averaging 1.8 key passes and more than 4 dribbles completed and fouls drawn per game.
Last season, the 21-year-old had 10 total goal contributions as a “rookie” at San Mamés, putting up 1.3 key passes and 2.3 dribbles completed per game.
Williams was already a very good player for Athletic Club and now he is legitimately one of the best attackers in the league.
Call that a safer signing than Mudryk was. Williams is outperforming the current Chelsea man, so watch this space if the interest becomes serious in the summer.
Former editor of The Real Champs and Old Juve, covering Real Madrid and Juventus
