Chelsea struck gold selling Blues star who Lampard thought was "top-level"

Chelsea’s dealings in the transfer market over the last couple of years have caught the eye, to say the least, investing more money over the last three years than any side in the Premier League.

Todd Boehly is largely responsible for that, taking over the club in May 2022 and splashing a lorry-load of cash on new players to push the club back towards the summit of the table.

The American spent over £100m on two different players during his time at Stamford Bridge, bringing Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernández to West London to bolster the midfield department.

The total spend since the 51-year-old’s arrival is now over £1.2b, with other clubs starting to ask questions about the Blues’ capabilities to meet the division’s PSR rules.

They’ve largely been helped by numerous high-profile departures, offloading multiple players no longer in the plans, preventing Enzo Maresca’s side from any financial implications.

Chelsea’s big-money sales in the Boehly era

German international Kai Havertz joined Chelsea with huge expectations after his big-money move to Stamford Bridge from Bayer Leverkusen back in the summer of 2020.

Whilst his spell in West London was overall a difficult one, he would score the winning goal in the Champions League final during his debut campaign at the club – forever cementing himself in the club’s history.

The Blues received a hefty fee for his services in the summer of 2023, joining rivals Arsenal in a mammoth £65m move – a deal that made him the second-most expensive departure in their history.

Conor Gallagher was another high-profile and big-money sale, leaving his boyhood club last summer in a £33m deal to join Atlético Madrid, with João Félix moving in the opposite direction.

The Englishman amassed just under 100 appearances at the Bridge, with numerous supporters disappointed at his exit after featuring in all but one league outing last campaign.

However, the club certainly made the right call in moving one player on, especially after he’s failed to live up to expectations since his transfer – with the Blues cashing in on him whilst his stock is at its highest.

The player who Chelsea made the right call selling

Chelsea’s academy has produced endless talent throughout the years, many of whom have thrived in the senior side after making the jump from the youth levels.

You only have to look as far as the current side in West London, with Reece James currently the first-team captain, rising through the ranks and becoming a key member of the side when fit.

Another player who managed to follow in the same vein was midfielder Mason Mount, who spent 18 years as a player with his boyhood side before departing.

The now 26-year-old endured two successful loan spells at Vitesse and Derby County – linking up with former Blues star Frank Lampard at Pride Park, scoring 11 times in the Championship, which catapulted him into the first-team picture.

Lampard was appointed manager of Chelsea back in the summer of 2019, utilising youth within the first team, which saw Mount receive the opportunity to star for the club he supported as a boy.

He would make a total of 195 appearances, racking up 33 goals and 32 assists, with former boss Lampard dubbing him a “top-level” talent as a result of his importance in the final third.

However, he would join Manchester United for £60m in the summer of 2023, in a move that has halted his progress, featuring just 33 times in the last 18 months, with injuries playing havoc in recent times.

Even when he has featured at Old Trafford, he’s only notched one goal and one assist across all competitions, struggling to match the levels he produced at the Bridge.

As a result, his value has plummeted, with the 26-year-old now only valued at £26m by Transfermarkt, a near 60% decrease on the fee he cost the Red Devils.

Given his rapid decline away from West London, the club certainly made the right call in selling him in 2023, allowing for the investment in the likes of Cole Palmer as a result.

There’s no denying that Mount is a quality player on his day, but he’s been a shadow of his former self over the last few years, needing a huge revival to return to the levels he’s previously showcased.

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