It’s a case of stick or twist for Carlo Ancelotti and his table-topping Chelsea side with the January transfer window looming. With a suspended transfer ban, ‘an aging squad’ and the loss of key players to the African Cup of Nations to contend with, Sport.co.uk examines if Chelsea need to splash the cash in January to maintain their push for domestic and European glory.
All eyes will be on Chelsea to make their move in the transfer window this January following the suspension of the club’s FIFA imposed transfer embargo.
Currently sitting five points clear at the top of a fiercely contested Barclays Premier League, Ancelotti would normally only be thinking about fine tweaking his squad over the winter break as The Blues look to maintain their impressive start to the season.
However, the next stage of Ancelotti’s Stamford Bridge revolution has been widely debated, with the 50-year-old having to effectively think two steps ahead of his Premier League rivals with a suspended transfer ban dangling precariously above the Italian’s head.
KAKUTA DECISION
Chelsea’s problems started in September after FIFA banned the club from signing players until January 2011 after they were found guilty of illegally inducing French teenager Gael Kakuta to break his contract with FC Lens in 2007.
Since then, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has suspended the transfer ban until the club’s appeal has been heard, giving the 2006 Premier League winners a stay of execution in the transfer market.
Former AC Milan boss Ancelotti must now decide whether to pay inflated mid-season prices for new recruits as a precaution against a potential year-long transfer embargo or to stick with the squad which has served him so well since his arrival in London this summer.
The Pensioners continue to be linked with mega-money moves for Spanish international David Villa and Argentine star Sergio 'Kun' Agüero, while sporting director Frank Arnesen has reportedly highlighted Benfica trio Angel Di Maria, Fabio Coentrao and Javi Garcia as potential targets.
The 2006 Premier League winners are convinced they will overturn their transfer ban; however a spell of panic buying in January would leave the club looking pessimistic ahead of their appeal hearing next Spring.
CONFIDENT ANCELOTTI
Ancelotti has publicly insisted he is happy with his squad, who have comfortably navigated their way to the knockout stages of the Champions League and already dispatched of Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham so far this season.
"It's a decision that gives us the possibility to buy new players if it's necessary but at this moment it's not necessary," the Italian told BBC Sport.
“I know the best players are not available in the middle of the season. But, for us, it is not a problem at the moment.
“I am happy with the squad. I have experience of working with older players and not having any problems. I've trained some players at Milan until they were into their 40s, so these players have a lot of time yet."
CUP OF NATIONS
Chelsea’s rise to the summit of the Premier League has been largely with the same squad that finished third last season, with summer signings Yuri Zhirkov, former City youngster Daniel Sturridge and goalkeeper Ross Turnbull remaining peripheral figures in Ancelotti’s master plan up until this point.
While Chelsea have seized the initiative from Northern rivals Manchester United and Liverpool, who both lost key players over the summer, it seems the overriding factor is Ancelotti’s stabilising management and ability to get the best out of his players.
Ancelotti’s hand in the transfer market may be forced however, with regular first-team players Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel all heading to the African Cup of Nations for between four to six weeks. The loss of influential pair Essien and Drogba in particular would be a huge blow to any side and the strength of Chelsea’s squad will be tested in their absence.
Nicolas Anelka will remain the only experienced striker at the club over the period and the pressure will be on the largely unproven Sturridge to make an impact. In the absence of Obi Mikel and Essien, Chelsea will lose their protection in midfield; making a short-term deal for former Gunners star Patrick Vieira a cheap and viable option.
MAKE OR BREAK
As Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to point out last season, Chelsea’s squad have nine first-team squad members at the age of 30 or over, however the average age of their squad last season was 27.32, an age considered by many to be the prime of a footballer’s career.
Ancelotti was expected to use the CAS reprieve to plan for the worst case scenario of failing to overturn the cub’s transfer ban, yet it now looks more likely the club will make moderate additions to their squad to build on the solid foundations already laid in the early stages of the season and to cover the absence of their African stars.
However given the club’s failure to land a ‘marquee signing’ as promised by chairman Bruce Buck in the summer and captain John Terry calling for the club to strengthen in January, Roman Abramovich would likely to be willing to release funds should a suitable player become available.
Ancelotti’s decisions in the New Year could make or break Chelsea’s season and he may be foolish to turn down the opportunity to tighten his grip on the Premier League trophy with an addition or two.