Chelsea are so active in the transfer market that it is unavoidable for another club’s fate not to be linked to them in some shape, way, or form.
It started this window when Liam Delap joined Chelsea by rejecting Man Utd, added a layer when Jadon Sancho returned to Old Trafford for £5m, and has reached a crescendo with Bryan Mbeumo’s transfer.
There might be additional layers to add as well, since Alejandro Garnacho is the subject of interest from the London club.
In the meantime, their £45m swoop for a Ruben Amorim favourite has been indirectly responsible for Man Utd sealing the deal for Mbeumo.
Chelsea’s £45m swoop for Geovany Quenda
When Ruben Amorim arrived at Man Utd, there were a few Sporting players whose fit at Old Trafford was so seamless it was almost too perfect.
It is just as well, then, that none of the players whose fit had seemed perfect have ended up signing for the club.
The train that is set to add Viktor Gyokeres started with Geovany Quenda, the right wing-back in Amorim’s system at Sporting, who broke out under his tutelage.
Chelsea secured a £45m deal for him before the window even began, and it came out of nowhere as they signed him and Essugo in a package deal.
Just like that, a player who would have been perfect at Old Trafford was snapped up by a direct rival, landing a blow to Amorim’s plans.
However, as the window has progressed, it has become clear that that move needed to happen for United to secure Mbeumo’s signature.
How Quenda to Chelsea cleared Bryan Mbeumo to Man Utd
If, at the start of the window, Man Utd fans were asked if they wanted Mbeumo at the club, but it meant Quenda would sign for Chelsea, they would have taken that deal.
For all his talents, Quenda is all about potential right now, while Mbeumo is as close to a Premier League guarantee as one can get in this market while still having his best years ahead of him.
When Chelsea swooped for Quenda, it forced a rethink at United, because the right wing-back spot was suddenly needing attention.
With the youngster off the market, Amorim found his own Quenda in Amad, shifting him to right wing-back permanently, a position where he thrived last season and started this season.
As Amad shifted to the right, one spot behind the striker opened up, and United promptly registered an interest in Mbeumo to add to Matheus Cunha for a complete revamp of their attacking midfield ranks.
Therefore, missing out on Quenda led to a butterfly effect of Amorim shifting Amad to wing-back, and a spot opening up to sign Mbeumo.
Quenda is undoubtedly a player with huge potential, but for what United need right now, the balance of the side looks much better with Mbeumo and Cunha as twin No. 10s, with Amad at wing-back.
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