Chelsea will not sign a new striker this month and have decided to keep Olivier Giroud, according to multiple reports in the English media.
While there is still some time for that to change before the transfer window closes tonight, it looks like the Blues have failed to find a forward for manager Frank Lampard. Needless to say, the news has not gone down on Twitter with supporters unhappy with the club’s board:
The board are an absolute joke
— Greg Lee (@greglee91) 31 January 2020
We ain’t getting top 4 were done shambles
— banj (@Banjworld1) 31 January 2020
— Ricardo Adams (@Ricardo78272139) 31 January 2020
The planning is very disappointing. They could have identified targets earlier and started making moves for them once the window opened. Now we’re feeding off scraps. Watch us sign a misfit striker in the last minutes. Papy Djilobodji Style.
— Garçon (@BadmanTee_) 31 January 2020
Shambles of a club
— Kay (@b_cfc11) 31 January 2020
We’re a horribly run club. Have been since 2015. When we don’t get Sancho/Werner ect then everyone will see our board aren’t up to it. Can’t back our greatest ever player ffs. Now he’s got to try and work a Miracle to get top 4
— Kam (@kamvirdee21) 31 January 2020
Those at the club behind this should feel very embarrassed.
— Dean Drury (@dean0drury) 31 January 2020
We are dead
— ARTY (@CFCArty_) 31 January 2020
Everyone knows and I hope the fans remember this when they want to blame Frank for our failings
— AJUK00 (@ajuk00) 31 January 2020
The irony is that Chelsea signed more players when they had a transfer ban in place in the summer (Mateo Kovacic) than during the winter transfer market when they have been free to make signings.
It may be the case that the London club have simply been unable to find the right target, but the board must have known that Lampard was unhappy with Giroud and they should have been seeking a new addition much sooner.
The inability to move quickly in the transfer market has been the source of much frustration from supporters and it does appear that it has cost them dearly this month.