Chelsea transfer window review (Part four): Forwards

This series will serve as a review for the transfer window Chelsea had and I’ll rate all the deals out of five. Each piece will include both incomings and outgoings, highlighting a specific position group. The final group to be featured is the forwards. One of the most important positions to strengthen from last season was by far the forward department and boy, didn’t the club do that well? When it comes to outgoings, the Blues seem to have sanctioned deals keeping their future in mind as it relates to these players’ development into stars. Building a Champions League winning squad is in no way easy, but the club has done that. Title contenders are now very close to becoming the title favorites now because of Marina Granovskaia and Thomas Tuchel’s excellent summer.

Here are all of the moves made up front:

Incomings

1. Romelu Lukaku (5 out of 5)

Probably one of the most important signings for the club in recent memory is that of Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian international was signed for a club record fee of £97.5 million from Inter Milan. From the go against Arsenal, Lukaku has shown what Chelsea was missing up front after woeful finishing last season. Hopefully many good seasons and trophies will come soon with Lukaku leading the line.

Outgoings

1. Tammy Abraham (4 out of 5)

Tammy Abraham was sold to AS Roma for £36 million—although the payment will be spread out over a couple of seasons. The deal for Abraham also includes an option to buy for £68 million, which will be active starting in June 2023. Maybe the striker could have been used more by Tuchel, but it seems that Abraham never fit in the German’s plans moving forward, so a move was best.

2. Ike Ugbo (5 out of 5)

Ike Ugbo was sold to the Belgian club, KRC Genk, for £3.1 million toward the end of the window. After having an impressive loan spell at fellow Belgian side Cercle Brugge, the striker could not see a clear pathway to the first team, which saw him leave the Blues for Belgium once again.

3. Olivier Giroud (5 out of 5)

Olivier Giroud was the third player to join AC Milan from Chelsea this summer, joining Tomori and Bakayoko. The French striker’s move was finalized for £900,000 and thanks to bonuses, the deal could arise another £900,000. This deal brings an end to Giroud’s two-and-a-half-year association with the Blues, in which he won both the Champions League and Europa League.

4. Armando Broja (4 out of 5)

Armando Broja was sent out on a well-deserving loan to Southampton after having signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea. Having impressed last season at Vitesse and during the preseason too, a good season with Saints can ensure that the Albanian striker will be a part of the first team squad next season and in years to come.

5. Kenedy (3 out of 5)

Kenedy has joined Brazilian side Flamengo on a season-long loan. The forward from the aforementioned South American nation has joined for an initial loan fee of £450,000 and this deal includes an option to buy the forward for £8.5 million. Before going out on loan, Kenedy’s contract was extended by Chelsea; it will now expire in June 2023.

6. Michy Batshuayi (3 out of 5)

Michy Batshuayi has joined Turkish giants Besiktas on a season-long loan after extending his Chelsea contract for another year. Besiktas paid an initial loan fee of £135,000 and it is reported that the Turkish club will have the option to make the deal permanent for between £5 million and £11 million next summer.

7. Izzy Brown (5 out of 5)

Izzy Brown has joined Championship side Preston North End after his contract expired at Chelsea. The forward has signed initially on a one-year contract with the option to extend for another year. Unfortunately, Izzy Brown suffered a ruptured Achilles during training, sidelining him for the majority of the upcoming season. Best wishes, Izzy.

What do you think of the Blues’ business up top? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!