ROMAN ABRAMOVICH is not tightening the purse strings at Chelsea any time soon, Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck has declared.
Frank Lampard’s youth revolution has reinvigorated the Blues this season with Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Co setting the team on course for a top-four finish.
Chairman Buck, pictured (left) with Man City counterpart Khaldoon Al Mubarak, wants to keep spendingCredit: Getty – Contributor
Abramovich has big plans despite not attending a game since the Europa League finalCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Many suspect things would be a little different had the club not been banned from signing players this summer.
And Buck admits Russian oligarch owner Abramovich will be raring to go when Chelsea get the green light to spend again.
Speaking to The Guardian, Buck said: “It is hard to disprove [the doubts], except to say, ‘Let’s see what happens in the next transfer window.’
“The point I am making – it’s a glib one – if we go out in the next window and spend a zillion, it’s pretty hard to argue that things are on hold.”
The Blues are currently appealing their ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and are reportedly optimistic they will get the green light for a January spree.
Wilfried Zaha, Ben Chilwell and Timo Werner are all reportedly on the shortlist with the club prepared to enter the market in January if allowed.
The side Lampard could deploy if the ban is overturned for January
In reacting to Buck’s comments, many fans were excited at the idea of Chelsea bolstering their young team with further big-name additions.
Twitter user Udit wrote: “Bruce Buck giving it away that Abramovich will go prime Abramovich of 2004-05. Chelsea taking over the league again.”
Another Blues fan added: “Looking at comments coming from Bruce Buck looks like Chelsea gonna be very busy in the transfer window. Well I guess our love story with the media and pundits will be over soon.”
One fan account joked: “All fun and games until Sancho becomes Zaha, Werner becomes Wilson, and Chilwell becomes Steve Cook.”
Even the Chelsea chairman admits the academy stars currently excelling would have been kept back somewhat if the ban had not come in.
Buck continued: “The transfer ban has led to more opportunities for the young players.
“I can’t deny that if there wasn’t a transfer ban we might have splurged out on one or two or three players.
“So, yes, it was some of that. It was Frank Lampard, the players that were ready, a whole collection of things that resulted in where we are now.
“It makes Mr Abramovich very happy, because he is very interested in the academy. I would guess he’s one of the very few owners that have been to lots of academy matches.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk