Chelsea’s scheduled transfer date could become a PR disaster

According to Spanish paper AS, the Estevao Willian to Chelsea deal is on the verge of completion, with writer Eduardo Burgos Rodriguez revealing that the agreement will be finalized “During the current week, the deal has attracted considerable interest, purportedly valued at €65m, taking into account all clauses and add-ons.

This attention intensified following Chelsea scouts’ observation of the 17-year-old’s recent display against Independiente del Valle.”

While the timing of the signing doesn’t impact immediate footballing matters, it carries weight in terms of public relations. Announcing the acquisition of a highly sought-after young talent could be seen as a significant triumph for the club’s owners and sporting directors. However, there’s also the risk of a potential backlash. If, as suggested, the Willian deal is confirmed this week, it could influence perceptions of Chelsea’s actions in the coming weeks.

Given the looming deadline of June 30th to balance the books for the season, crucial sales must be completed before then. Any unpopular decisions, such as selling Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah, may be met with even greater resistance if announced following news of a big-money signing.

The rationale behind selling key first-team players becomes less convincing when juxtaposed with significant spending on a player who won’t be able to contribute on the pitch for at least 18 months.