Chelsea transfer ban: What it means to the club and players and what they should do to avert disaster

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri in deep trouble after ban [Courtesy]

Football can be frustrating at times, especially when you are enduring a winless streak due to tactical issues.

It could get worse if you stumble on an unexpected wave while trying to navigate through an already angry sea of the football faithful.

On Friday, February 23, Chelsea Football Club were handed a two-window transfer ban for breaching FIFA rules on the transfer and handling of players under the age of 18. They will now be unable to sign players until the summer of 2020.

That means that should under fire Maurizio Sarri stay on as manager, he will have work with the players he has at his disposal.

Many fans around the globe, especially the rivals think that the London-based club is as good as dead at least for a year. But the London giants do have a lifeline - if they make the right calls.

The players

Eden Hazard

Eden Hazard could be denied a way out of the club [Courtesy]

Belgian forward Eden Hazard has been allegedly looking for a move away from Stamford Bridge for some time with European giants Real Madrid sniffing around, trying to get his coveted signature. At 28, he is at the peak of his career and needs one last payday, but the ban jeopardises the Belgian’s dream as Chelsea will look to hold onto their big guns at least until the ban ends.

Callum Hudson-Odoi

Callum Hudson-Odoi celebrates a goal in a past match [Courtesy]

The youngster has been showing glimpses of greatness in recent times but has failed to earn a starting berth in Maurizio Sarri’s lineup. His talent has caught the eye of several European clubs but Bayern Munich have registered the strongest interest after having their bid for the player knocked back in the summer.  The transfer ban means he will have to stick around for a while with Chelsea set to put the available young talents to work.

What Chelsea should do

Keep senior Members

When a storm comes your way, it is what you do in that storm that makes you great or makes a difference between life and death. Chelsea should stamp their authority and use their financial might to tie down the pair along with other senior members of the squad to lucrative long-term deals. But this means they will have to fork out large sums of money.

Call on the loan army

Alvaro Morata, currently at Atletico Madrid Could come back to reinforce the squad [Courtesy]

Chelsea is one of those clubs with the highest number of players on loan totaling up to 41. The club should recall the players who are currently on loan and draft them into their squad in the summer. Some of the players have been showing class at their respective clubs and deserve chances in the squad for next season.

However, Chelsea have vowed to appeal the decision by FIFA and whether they succeed in overturning the decision remains to be seen.