Chelsea set to abandon key transfer policy as Behdad Eghbali reveals new recruitment plan | OneFootball

Blues set to bring in some established names in the summer transfer window

Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali has revealed plans to move away from a youth-focused recruitment policy.

Eghbali has considerable sway over Chelsea’s transfers, and played a key role in bringing the likes of Enzo Fernandez to Stamford Bridge.

But he has also been a driver of the club’s much-criticised new transfer strategy, which focuses on signing young players with high potential before selling them off at a profit.

Recruitment strategy will be a key driver behind this weekend’s planned protest against the BlueCo ownership group, which will take place ahead of the Premier League match against Manchester United.

Chelsea players have joined fans in their complaints, with Marc Cucurella also calling for the club to sign more experienced talent in a recent interview.

And the club seem prepared to heed their call, with Eghbali committing to bringing in ‘ready-made’ players this summer.

“The view was to recruit and build elite players that can, frankly, be together and have that stability in the squad. We're still in the 40th, 50th minute of that process," he said, speaking at the CAA's World Congress of Sports conference in Los Angeles.

“But the view is to keep, sign and retain and compensate and extend some of the world's best players, and ultimately the view was you need eight, 10, 12, 15 elite players to win and win sustainably, year after year.

He continued with a message to the club’s supporters, insisting that all those in Chelsea’s hierarchy are desperate to see the club succeed.

“For the fans, we care. We want the club to be successful. We're focused on delivering that on-pitch performance.

“I think six months ago everyone was super happy. Results have been mixed, disappointing more recently. There's a full reflection on what we can do better, what we can improve on.

“There is a plan. We reflect on the plan. We try to improve the plan and tweak the plan if it's not working. The message is we're committed.

“Can this be successful without winning? The answer is no. We've got to win.

“And it doesn't mean you're going to win every game, it doesn't mean you don't make mistakes, that you don't have downturns, but ultimately the objective, and especially the objective that a club like Chelsea is, you've got to win, you've got to win trophies, and you've got to win consistently again.

“We were fortunate enough to do so last year. We've had a bit of an up and down year this year, but the objective hasn't changed.”