Palmer success and Buonanotte loan frame the debate
Chelsea are reportedly looking into an unexpected January signing, targeting an under used playmaker who has only been at his current club for six months. The idea is being compared to two recent creative deals at Stamford Bridge, with Cole Palmer held up as the model example and Facundo Buonanotte as the opposite case.
Palmer arrived from Manchester City two and a half years ago for £42.5m after pushing for a move to get regular first team chances. Since then, he has developed into one of England’s standout attackers and the fee is now widely viewed as a bargain.
Buonanotte’s situation has been very different. Chelsea took the Brighton creator on loan last summer in a move that surprised many, but his impact has been minimal. He has made just one Premier League appearance and often does not make the matchday squad under Enzo Maresca.
McAtee’s stalled Forest spell and the clubs monitoring a January deal
Despite Chelsea already having depth in the number 10 role, with Estevao in the squad and Joao Pedro also able to play centrally, they are said to be checking on Nottingham Forest midfielder James McAtee.
The 23 year old left Manchester City last summer in a deal that could rise to £30m, but his progress has slowed since joining Forest. He has struggled for consistent game time across the season, featuring sparingly under the club’s managers and totalling 428 minutes in all competitions.
Reports say Chelsea are one of five teams assessing whether McAtee could be available in January. The other clubs named are Leeds United, Bournemouth, Fulham and Sunderland. Chelsea are described as the standout name among that group, and the interest is presented as another example of the club continually scouting young talent who might benefit from a fresh start.
