Chelsea fans are outraged over summer transfer targets - but they need to be realistic

Chelsea are a club catalysed, muddled, and kneecapped by their own ambition. This week, the Blues passed the two-year anniversary of Todd Boehly’s takeover at Stamford Bridge, and in doing so, have rekindled a series of conversations on where they are at, where they have been, and where they are going.

Having spent in excess of £1 billion on new signings since the American’s arrival, Chelsea currently find themselves without a manager, without Champions League football, and, in the opinions of many, without any meaningful signs of progression to show for their rampant shopping spree. Some would argue, justifiably, that the Blues represent a project which needs to be approached with a certain measure of patience, given the youth and inexperience of their assembled squad, but then again, to see the ruthlessness with which they go through appointments would suggest that their expectation is one streaked with immediacy.

But perhaps that is something that those in charge at Stamford Bridge will be forced to reconsider over the coming months. Unlike transfer windows of the recent past, it is understood that Chelsea will be relatively limited in their spending this summer. For the most part, that is because of the tightening grip of Financial Fair Play regulations, and there are suggestions that several players could be sold in an effort to balance the books in West London. The likes of Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah have already been touted as prospective departures.

Naturally, such enforced frugality could have an impact on incoming transfers too. Indeed, compared to the big money swoops of the past couple of seasons, reports are already suggesting that Chelsea could be primed to show a much greater sense of restraint in their targets between now and the end of the summer. Relegated Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford has been mentioned, as has Fulham defender Tosin Adabarioyo, set to become a free agent imminently.

Some fans have been horrified at the prospect of such modest acquisitions, and have made their thoughts known vocally on social media, but regardless of your personal opinion on the respective quality of the likes of Trafford or Adabarioyo, the reality is that this is where Chelsea currently find themselves.

They have spent exorbitantly and now must adjust accordingly. Their ambition has catapulted them into all kinds financial excess, has left them confused as to where exactly they should pitch themselves and their on-field expectations in relation to their Premier League rivals, and now means that they must reel things in so as to not overstep the mark and create further problems for themselves in the future.

To that end, complaining about Trafford and Adabarioyo feels a touch shortsighted. If those are the players that Chelsea can afford this summer, then those are the players that they can afford, and no amount of griping is going to change that. Maybe then, this is Chelsea’s Icarus moment under Boehly - they’ve pushed too far and now they must deal with the consequences. Here’s hoping they don’t crash to earth in the process.