More than £600m came in and out of Chelsea over the summer and Pat Nevin believes the Premier League club will already ‘regret’ one deal.
Chelsea’s incredible spending under Todd Boehly and BlueCo continued in the last transfer window with the signing of ten first-team players.
Joao Pedro was Chelsea’s most expensive signing at £60m but the Blues also spent bid on the likes of Jamie Gittens, Jorrol Hato and Alejandro Garnacho.
Chelsea still managed to almost break even in terms of summer spending, however, raising over £300m on player sales.
Noni Madueke was the most lucrative sale but ex-Chelsea winger Nevin believes that is the one transfer his former club will be ‘regretting’.
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Eyebrows were raised when Arsenal paid over £50m to sign Madueke given his inconsistent form at Stamford Bridge.
Madueke only scored 13 goals across two-and-a-half Premier League seasons, although he was part of the Chelsea team that won the Conference League last season and qualified for the Champions League.
Still, a large section of Arsenal fans were underwhelmed by his arrival, with some even signing a petition to try and block the transfer.
Those doubters could soon be eating their words, however, as Madueke has enjoyed a bright start to his career at the Emirates Stadium, helping Arsenal shoot to the top of the Premier League.
The 23-year-old has also impressed during this season’s two international breaks and looks set to be included in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for next summer’s World Cup.
Asked whether Chelsea will live to regret their decision to sell Madueke, Nevin told Escapist Magazine: ‘It’s a good question because usually I would say no because Chelsea sell so many players that you forget after where they’ve gone. But this time maybe.
‘I have to say my eyebrows were raised when they let Noni Madueke go. And to bring Garnacho in… I’m not sure yet. Really not sure.
‘Between Garnacho, Gittens and Madueke, to choose one of those three to play each week at the moment I would be choosing Madueke. I wouldn’t really be hesitating over that for a second.
‘Chelsea are thinking of the value, the trading costs and all that sort of stuff. And I get that, because it’s kind of partially worked for them in some ways.
‘I think a lot of people at the end of this season will look at how Madueke’s done and look at how Garnacho’s done and compare them. I think there might be a wee bit of regret there.’
Chelsea will hope the likes of Garnacho and Gittens can fill the void left by Madueke’s exit.
But Nevin was ‘really surprised’ Chelsea decided to sign Garnacho given their depth in the wide positions and his drop-off at Manchester United.
‘Chelsea, it’s a real surprise,’ he told Bet Ideas. ‘I was surprised by that one.
‘When I was first asked about it, when it was being mooted I thought maybe I got it. Then somebody said £40m and I didn’t. That’s a big, big call given the players already there.
‘Is Garnacho going to be in front of Pedro Neto? Is he going to be in front of Estevao Willian? Because Estevao could be a very, very special player. He’s not going to be in front of Cole Palmer.
‘So there’s a lot of players in those positions. We’ll see. It’s hard if you’re not playing all the time and you’re a creative player.
‘Jadon Sancho found it at Chelsea. Madueke found it at Chelsea. It’s one of those intriguing, tough ones.
‘But I will say one thing to Garnacho – if you’re a wide player and you’re skilful and you do well at Chelsea, the fans like you. I remember that.’
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