As the Premier League's early skirmishes give way to a blistering title race, reportedly claimed as one of England's most forthright voices has turned his guns on Chelsea's chaotic summer dealings. This critiquing voice reportedly lands like a thunderclap for Enzo Maresca's side, who sits at fourth place after seven games, buoyed by a 2-1 upset over defending champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge earlier this month. Yet, it is claimed by reports that beneath the surface, Chelsea's transfer merry-go-round continues to spin wildly.
Former Arsenal and Leicester striker Alan Smith, has reportedly branded the Blues' £52 million splash on Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens as a “strange” misstep. He reportedly said, “Who knows how Chelsea feel
when it comes to these comings and goings.” He further said, “Jamie Gittens hasn’t been an upgrade though, he’s just been disappearing up blind alleys, and we’ve not seen the best form from him yet. That was a strange move. It felt unusual at the time, and it looks even more out of place now. But that’s Chelsea at the moment, isn’t it?” The 20-year-old England Under-21 star, snapped up in July for an initial £48.5 million plus £3.5 million in add-ons, arrived amid as the right-footed left-winger to reportedly inject dynamism into a squad already bloated with attacking talent.
Jamie Gittens has been signed by Chelsea on a seven-year deal until 2032
Signed to a seven-year deal until 2032, It can be said that Gittens was meant to be the heir apparent to Jadon Sancho's ill-fated loan stint, providing balance opposite Cole Palmer and easing the load on Nicolas Jackson. But three months in, Gittens has featured in seven matches across all competitions, logging just 312 minutes, yet remains goalless and assist-less; reportedly earning him an unwanted spot in the “007 club” of high-profile imports who've failed to register a direct goal involvement in their first seven outings. His Bundesliga flair of 12 goals and five assists in 48 appearances for Dortmund last term has reportedly evaporated in the Premier League's cauldron. “He's looked lost out there,” Smith reportedly elaborated, drawing a stark contrast to the man he replaced: Noni Madueke, offloaded to Arsenal reportedly for over £50 million in a swap that now reeks of revisionist regret.
Reports claim that Chelsea's summer was a frenzy of incomings with Liam Delap from Ipswich (£30m), Joao Pedro from Brighton (undisclosed), Dario Essugo from Sporting, and the post-Club World Cup arrivals of Estevao Willian and Mamadou Sarr all aimed at fortifying a squad that lifted the FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. this July. Additionally, Alan Smith's broader musings on the title race reportedly paint a three-horse epic: Arsenal, Liverpool, and a resurgent Manchester City. “As good as they were against Liverpool the other week, I don’t think Chelsea will be in it,” he reportedly cautioned, nodding to the Blues' Anfield scalp but dismissing their credentials. Arsenal, fresh off a 3-0 demolition of West Ham, top the table by a solitary point after Liverpool which leapfrogged via consecutive Reds' stumbles, a 2-1 loss at Chelsea and a shock Champions League exit.
