Fulham had reached a £22m agreement with Chelsea to sign winger Tyrique George. But, the deal got called off last minute.
Chelsea youngster was set to join Fulham, but the deal is off
Chelsea’s transfer window has been chaos from start to finish, and the Tyrique George saga adds another twist. The teenager had grown frustrated with a lack of minutes at Stamford Bridge. He wanted out before the window slammed shut.
RB Leipzig had shown interest, but George chose to stay in the PL. He was set to join Fulham where he was very likely to get more game time under Marco Silva. But, as per Fabrizio Romano, the contract was agreed, the personal terms were already established and but the deal collapsed.
What could’ve made this deal spicy is the price tag. The £22m fee for a youngster who barely got a sniff at Chelsea feels like a risk. But, Fulham saw him as a potential star. George brings raw pace, flair on the wing, and that fearless streak Blues never truly unlocked.
Fans at Fulham were expecting him to hit the ground running. Meanwhile, the Blues fans were left wondering if their club just handed a rival the next big thing.
The Blues’ strategy under fire
Chelsea had inserted a sell-on clause, which tells you they knew of George’s talent. Still, their habit of buying players and cashing out on academy talent is becoming a pain point. From a business perspective, the move works for all parties. From a footballing perspective, it raises serious questions.
Why can’t Chelsea integrate their best prospects instead of selling them off? Fulham, on the other hand, would’ve gotten a better deal here. They were very close on getting a hungry young winger who fits Silva’s attacking plans. George was finally set to get his shot to shine in the top flight.
Author’s Opinion:
This move could’ve been a win for Fulham and a big risk for Chelsea. If George lived up to the hype, the Blues may have regretted letting him walk across London for a relatively modest fee.
As featured on Chelseanews.com
