Craig Burley says Graham Potter wishes he ‘never took the job’ at Chelsea amid their ‘crazy’ spending in the transfer market, including hijacking Arsenal’s transfer of Mykhailo Mudryk.
When Joao Felix secured a pretty expensive loan move to Chelsea from Atletico Madrid, many felt that would have been the story of the window for the London club, but then they knocked Arsenal out of the way for Mudryk.
It left many shocked, perhaps even the player himself because he was sending out hint after hint that he wanted to join Mikel Areta’s side.
Either way, before Potter replaced Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge, new owner Todd Boehly was already going money-crazy in the market.
And this latest Mudryk deal has only thrown further claims that the American businessman is playing Football Manager in West London.
But former Chelsea man Burley thinks Potter himself will be questioning what he got himself into and possibly regrets taking the job following that Mudryk transfer, as he told ESPN.
“These deals just seem crazy,” said Burley. “This money just seems crazy. The belief was that the player wanted to go to Arsenal. But that has changed, whether it’s the money or not.
“This just seems like throwing a squad together, doesn’t it?! And see what sticks.
“He’s (Potter) is like a rabbit in the headlights, at the moment. He’s got players out injured. He’s got players coming in. He’s got crazy transfers. He’s got people calling for his head – I bet he is wishing he never took the job, seriously.”
ARSENAL NEED TO REMAIN LEVEL-HEADED
Yes, there will be many within Arsenal that will be disappointed by them missing out on Mudryk. But they should just look at the Premier League table for comfort.
They have made these big calls before and, in the long term, they have proved to be beneficial.
Regardless of what happens this season or whether or not the Gunners add attacking quality to their team during the January window, come next season, they will be challenging for the title.
The same can’t be said of Chelsea who are taking an almighty risk with their current approach, which could prove to be disastrous or a stroke of pure genius.
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