Chelsea

This weekend's Premier League action begins with the West London derby, as free-spenders Chelsea welcome Fulham to Stamford Bridge.

Two narrow 1-0 defeats to in-form Newcastle United and Spurs wouldn't have harmed their confidence much. And they are just the major permanent ones, we haven't counted the likes of Andrey Santos, David Datro Fofana, and Joao Felix (loan). Big-money high-profile signings, long contracts, and dizzying spending levels, Blues' American owners have truly taken the football world by storm, with heads spinning in the offices of every top club across Europe.

Graham Potter was left with a tricky balancing act after the club brought in eight players during the January transfer window. Chelsea were able to register ...

The move has not worked out for either party. Bettinelli has played one game for Chelsea since joining in 2021. Chelsea, who face Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 had selected only 24 players for the group stage and given themselves more wriggle room by selling Jorginho to Arsenal.

Chelsea · 1. Kepa Arrizabalaga · 24. Reece James · 6. Emiliano Thiago Silva · 4. Benoit Badiashile · 32. Marc Cucurella · 23. Conor Gallagher · 5. Enzo Fernandez · 19.

Madueke went to the right and Sterling, stationed on the left, became the latest to try his luck against the tenacious Tete. Bored out of his mind, Mitrovic then tried to score from the halfway line. With 10 minutes left the young Ivorian striker almost won it, racing through and rounding Leno, only for Tim Ream to clear his shot off the line. It was Fernández who sparked one of Chelsea’s better moment of the opening period, his ball over the top sending Mason Mount through to cross for Kai Havertz, who stretched and fired over from close range. The shot was blocked and Palhinha drilled the rebound over. Palhinha picked up yet another booking after cleaning out Mount and there was also the moment when Fulham’s assistant coach, Luis Boa Morte, exchanged some furious words on the touchline with one of Potter’s lieutenants, Björn Hamberg. Fernández was quickly involved, catching the eye with his switches of play, even showing appetite for the battle when he refused to let Aleksandar Mitrovic intimidate him early on. The window had passed by in a blur, eight new players arriving, culminating in the capture of Fernández on deadline day, but whether any of it is going to work is another thing. Reminders of the past jostled with the future. Rustiness did not appear to be a problem for the man pulling the strings for Chelsea in midfield. Does anyone know what Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang plans to get up to when Chelsea face Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 of the Champions League? Being generous, this is merely the start of a rebuild.

Get a report of the Chelsea vs. Fulham 2022-23 English Premier League football match.

"Defend from the front and attack from back. And Fofana nearly provided it with 11 minute remaining. It was Havertz, again looking unconvincing in the No. [Noni Madueke](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/293236/noni-madueke) and [David Datro Fofana](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/301047/David-Datro-Fofana) as he looked for a decisive goal. But Graham Potter's side, having scored just 22 goals from their first 20 games, again struggled to present a consistent attacking threat. [Enzo Fernandez](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/285450/Enzo-Fernández) just 72 hours after arriving from [Benfica](/football/team?id=1929) as well as [Benoit Badiashile](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/282585/Benoit-Badiashile) and [Mykhailo Mudryk](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/299911/Mykhailo-Mudryk).

Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, managers of England's most successful clubs in recent times, are baffled by the monumental spending spree of rivals Chelsea.

"The players they brought in, I didn't think once, 'Why did they do that?'. That is the reality." Hopefully, you all know exactly how it works, and then it's fine." However, it's a big number in the last two windows. That is what really counts to us. "We are the fifth team in net spend in the last five years.

Benfica wanted to include Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic in the deal that took Enzo Fernandez to Stamford Bridge.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Chelsea returned to the table for Fernandez in the last few days of January and resumed talks with Benfica. However, the Croatian's salary of £5.4 million per year ($6.6m) was beyond the budget of the Portuguese club. Finally, in the last few hours of deadline day, the Blues

Pierre Emerick Aubameyang has been omitted from Chelsea's Champions League squad to free up registration spots for the club's new signings.

"We had three coming in and two had to go out, so he was the one who missed out. He has not started for Chelsea since the World Cup break. He trained very well, and he has the weekend off so we can report on Monday. It's a free world." "It was a tough decision, but it was my decision. He's a top guy for us."

It seems Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was in no mood to stick around London after finding out he was left out of Chelsea's Champions League squad.

He was also absent from the matchday squad for the Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge. While his Chelsea team mates are in action against Fulham, the Gabon international appears to have flown to Italy with his family, going by an image his brother posted to Instagram. Aubameyang was pictured with his brother and some other relatives in Milan on Friday evening.

Mykhailo Mudryk was also given his Stamford Bridge bow, while Noni Madueke and David Datro Fofana came off the bench for their Premier League debuts. Watch the ...

Madueke was introduced in his place and Potter also threw on Raheem Sterling from the bench on the hour mark in the search for a winner. But the best chance fell to Fofana as the Ivorian rounded the stranded Leno, but failed to beat the covering Tim Ream on the line. Chelsea’s record investment of over £300 million in the January window took the total spend on new players in their first season under new ownership to over half a billion. The Moroccan is just one of a wealth of wide options now available to Potter and he wasted no time in hooking Mudryk despite his price tag after a disappointing first 45 minutes. Chelsea’s wait for a return on a world record investment in the transfer market goes on as the Blues were held 0-0 at home by Fulham on Friday. Enzo Fernandez made his Chelsea debut after becoming the most expensive player in British football history with a £107 million move ($132 million) from Benfica on transfer deadline day.

Blues' club-record signing Fernandez makes impressive debut but honours even at Stamford Bridge.

[Chelsea](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/4/Chelsea/overview) were held to an entertaining goalless draw by [Fulham](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/34/Fulham/overview) at Stamford Bridge. [Aleksandar Mitrovic](https://www.premierleague.com/players/5879/Aleksandar-Mitrovic/stats) came close with an audacious lob from the halfway line, while Chelsea pushed hard for a late breakthrough. [Southampton](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/20/Southampton/overview) face a tough trip to [Brentford](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/130/Brentford/overview), who are unbeaten in eight Premier League matches, and [Liverpool](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/10/Liverpool/overview) travel to [Wolverhampton Wanderers](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/38/Wolverhampton-Wanderers/overview). [Aston Villa](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/2/Aston-Villa/overview) welcome [Leicester City](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/26/Leicester-City/overview), while victory for [Brighton & Hove Albion](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/131/Brighton-and-Hove-Albion/overview) against [AFC Bournemouth](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/127/Bournemouth/overview) would move the Seagulls to within two points of Spurs in fifth. [Manchester City](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/11/Manchester-City/overview), who face [Tottenham Hotspur](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/21/Tottenham-Hotspur/overview) on Sunday. [Newcastle United](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/23/Newcastle-United/overview) and [Manchester United](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/12/Manchester-United/overview) looking to stay within touching distance of the top. [Everton](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/7/Everton/overview), led by new manager [Sean Dyche](https://www.premierleague.com/managers/8250/Sean-Dyche/overview), taking on leaders [Arsenal](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/1/Arsenal/overview). [West Ham United](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/25/West-Ham-United/overview) side hovering one point above the drop zone, while Man Utd, in fourth, face [Crystal Palace](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/6/Crystal-Palace/overview) at Old Trafford. [David Fofana](https://www.premierleague.com/players/112581/David-Datro-Fofana/stats) was denied a debut goal by [Tim Ream](https://www.premierleague.com/players/4276/Tim-Ream/stats)'s goalline clearance. [Kepa Arrizabalaga](https://www.premierleague.com/players/11373/Kepa-Arrizabalaga/stats) making a fingertip save to deny Fulham's [Andreas Pereira](https://www.premierleague.com/players/10476/Andreas-Pereira/stats). [Enzo Fernandez](https://www.premierleague.com/players/63741/Enzo-Fern%C3%A1ndez/stats) made his Chelsea debut following his [club-record arrival on Deadline Day](https://www.premierleague.com/news/3043376), while [Mykhailo Mudryk](https://www.premierleague.com/players/53991/Mykhailo-Mudryk/stats) started for the first time. [Noni Madueke](https://www.premierleague.com/players/67407/Noni-Madueke/stats) replaced Mudryk for the second half, and in so doing became the 31st player used by Chelsea in the Premier League this season, their most in a campaign since 1996/97.

LONDON, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez shone on his debut and some other new faces hinted at their potential but, after a 300 million pounds ...

and what we can do as a team," the Portuguese coach said. we deserved the result." Chelsea are currently nine points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United who have a game in hand. Register for free to Reuters and know the full story "From the first minute the players understood really well the plan and they executed really well," Silva said. "What we need to do now is gel the team.

Enzo Fernandez, the Premier League's record signee, enjoyed a promising debut for Chelsea, though familiar issues in front of goal remain.

Left out were new boys [Malo Gusto](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/308947/Malo-Gusto) and [Andrey Santos](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/314858/Andrey-Santos), with Joao Felix absent due to a red card on his debut. [David Datro Fofana](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/301047/david-datro-fofana) went close late on, when he showed skill in rounding goalkeeper [Bernd Leno](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/153765/Bernd-Leno) only for [Tim Ream](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/146290/Tim-Ream) to block his shot on the line. That rate is even more shocking when you consider no Premier League club has taken a higher percentage of their shots inside the box over that span (76.4%). will be using this week to train and for his new players to get to know each other before they travel to West Ham for a London derby on Feb. Fulham fans are wrong -- for a start, there are three Premier League sides in west London -- but Fulham remain on top of the pack. [Enzo Fernandez](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/285450/Enzo-Fernández), the new Premier League record signee who arrived in the final minutes of Tuesday's transfer deadline day. In football teams you sometimes need that connection and understanding to sharpen up the decisions. He failed to convert a diving shot at the back post early on, and then missed again moments later with a turn and volley. 11) and Tottenham (Feb. [Highlights and notable moments](#highlights) [Best/worst performers](#bestworst) [Kai Havertz](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/231182/Kai-Havertz) missed a trio of chances in the first half as Chelsea were frustrated by a resolute, counterattacking Fulham side.

There was no dream debut for Enzo Fernandez as Fulham held toothless Chelsea to a goalless west London...

"It is where we're at at the moment, but things to take forward and things to improve." "It's everything we have been doing this season, last season as well. "To take four points in six from Chelsea like we have done, it's a fantastic achievement by ourselves, but we respect all the players in the same way.

Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Fulham FC at Stamford Bridge on February 3, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.

Hakim Ziyech plays a delightful ball over the top to Kai Havertz who lifts it over Leno but his effort rattles the post and goes back into play! The visitors defended superbly - particularly in the second half as they frustrated a Chelsea side eager to kick start a good run of form. The 20-year-old was able to take it around goalkeeper Bernd Leno before striking towards goal but Tim Ream was on hand with a goal-saving clearance. It was the closest the Argentine came to getting his first goal for the club. It was the first warning shot from Marco Silva's side who looked to pose a threat on the counter. Fernandez came close to a dream debut goal after 70 minutes as his whipped effort from distance flew just past the far post.

Enzo Fernandez, the Premier League's record signee, enjoyed a promising debut for Chelsea, though familiar issues in front of goal remain.

[David Datro Fofana](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/301047/david-datro-fofana) went close late on, when he showed skill in rounding goalkeeper [Bernd Leno](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/153765/Bernd-Leno) only for [Tim Ream](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/146290/Tim-Ream) to block his shot on the line. [Enzo Fernandez](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/285450/Enzo-Fernández), the new Premier League record signee who arrived in the final minutes of Tuesday's transfer deadline day. Fulham fans are wrong -- for a start, there are three Premier League sides in west London -- but Fulham remain on top of the pack. That rate is even more shocking when you consider no Premier League club has taken a higher percentage of their shots inside the box over that span (76.4%). will be using this week to train and for his new players to get to know each other before they travel to West Ham for a London derby on Feb. Left out were new boys [Malo Gusto](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/308947/Malo-Gusto) and [Andrey Santos](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/314858/Andrey-Santos), with Joao Felix absent due to a red card on his debut. He failed to convert a diving shot at the back post early on, and then missed again moments later with a turn and volley. Last month, they beat Chelsea 2-1 at Craven Cottage in what was their first Premier League victory over the Blues since March 2006. 11) and Tottenham (Feb. [Highlights and notable moments](#highlights) [Best/worst performers](#bestworst) [Kai Havertz](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/231182/Kai-Havertz) missed a trio of chances in the first half as Chelsea were frustrated by a resolute, counterattacking Fulham side.

Chelsea head coach Graham Potter has said he remains "confident" his side can make a push to qualify for Champions League football next season, d.

"I think you have to look at it all in terms of transfer fees and salaries" Potter said. "That's the challenge, that's what we have to do. I need to focus on the next day, the training session and the next game." "He doesn't know us, we don't know him so well but I think you can see flashes of his quality and personality. "What we need to do now is gel the team," Potter added. When asked if he was confident the team could still qualify for next season's Champions League, Potter said: "I'm confident with the potential we have.

Is Chelsea Setting the Market, or Breaking It? The Premier League club's American owners have splashed roughly $750 million on new players since last year.

The deal had been in the works for a week or so. In the rest of Europe, the fear is a little more material. In interviews with a dozen executives at teams both in the Premier League and across Europe, all of whom spoke with The New York Times anonymously because they did not wish to be seen commenting on another team’s business strategy, few could immediately discern the logic of Chelsea’s approach. Among Chelsea’s peers and rivals, the reaction to the club’s spending spree on players has been one of puzzlement. The issue was raised at a meeting of UEFA’s executive board last month, and several teams have since contacted Andrea Traverso, the organization’s head of licensing, to ask European soccer’s governing body what action it plans to take to close the loophole. Though clubs pay the vast majority of a transfer fee upfront — or in a handful of installments over a couple of years — the price of the acquisition is often spread over the duration of the player’s contract, a process known as amortization. In several of its most expensive deals, Chelsea has sought to use that accounting to its advantage. Their preferred mechanism, it seems, has been to defer the official cost of the deals. Arsenal had been discussing the terms of a deal with Shakhtar for some time, and Mudryk had even seemed to welcome his imminent transfer on Instagram. Chelsea’s offer, Palkin said, had been more “concrete” than Arsenal’s: It had offered to pay the nine-figure fee for Mudryk over two years instead of the four Arsenal had proposed. That took Chelsea’s outlay in January alone to more than $370 million, the kind of spending that is criticized when done by oligarchs and nation states. Amrabat would, in the end, be a rare miss in what has been an eye-watering, gasp-inducing month of spending from Eghbali, Boehly and Chelsea.

Follow the action live as Chelsea and Fulham clash in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.

— These channels are available to stream via It kicks off at 8 p.m. Chelsea play host to Fulham at Stamford Bridge in London, England. Tinkerman.— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) Deadline day arrivals Sasa Lukic and Cedric are meant to serve squad roles and did not start. Mateo Kovacic cropped up with a new calf injury and missed the match. Reece James returned from injury, while Hakim Ziyech was also called upon after his loan to PSG fell short as a result of bungled paperwork. We're about to find out. They conceded that way when they last met Fulham, who have scored a division-high 11 goals from crosses in the Premier League this season. 40 mins from kickoff: Enzo Fernandez starts! As for Ziyech starting despite a botched move to PSG on Tuesday, Potter says the winger has "done well" in recent games.

After their lavish January spending, a new-look Chelsea side toiled to a goalless draw against west London rivals Fulham, although Enzo Fernandez did ...

The second half was similarly fractious and cagey, with a raft of chances arriving in the latter stages. After Kepa Arrizabalaga had got down expertly to turn a fierce Andreas Pereira strike round the post, the Argentine's long ball played Mason Mount in but Kai Havertz was unable to finish from his cut-back on the stretch. A feisty first half produced few chances, but Enzo was at the heart of the best of them.

Chelsea, despite their expensive new-signing Enzo Fernandez, have been held to a goalless draw by Fulham in their EPL derby.

"It is where we're at at the moment, but things to take forward and things to improve." "It's everything we have been doing this season, last season as well. "To take four points in six from Chelsea like we have done, it's a fantastic achievement by ourselves, but we respect all the players in the same way.

Graham Potter has revealed new signing Mykhailo Mudryk was subbed off at half-time against Fulham as he had been suffering from a cold.

While it is now understandable why he underperformed, Chelsea fans will be hoping for much more in the coming weeks and months after such a substantial outlay on him. WHAT THEY SAID: "He's had a heavy cold this week," Potter said. "He was feeling heavy legged at half-time and we didn't want to take a chance with him, he is still in a process where we are building up his minutes because of the break he's been on in Ukraine."

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is convinced Chelsea are trying to get rid of him after he was dropped from their Champions League squad.

They have been drawn against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League round of 16. He was left out of [Friday night's Premier League draw with Fulham](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/chelsea-fulham-winners-losers-ratings/blt4978b75003392542) altogether. Everything is up for grabs." Yes [he can fit in the system], everything is up for grabs and needs to train like today. Whichever decision there was always going to be a debate. It was my decision, a tough decision.

Chelsea are set to ask for an exemption to Premier League spending rules despite their lavish outlay since Todd Boehly took ownership of the club.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: The measures were imposed due to the oligarch's links to Vladimir Putin following the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces in February 2022, with Chelsea punished as a result. The Blues have come under plenty of scrutiny for their spending habits, but they are planning on asking for an exemption from the Premier League's spending rules after previous owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the British government last year, according to the Chelsea have splashed more than £600 million ($723m) in the last two transfer windows on 17 new players, including eight in January.

Chelsea opened themselves up to some friendly trolling from west London rivals Fulham on Twitter following their draw in the Premier League.

The replies were turned off, but Fulham responded via quote tweet with a picture of Kenny Tete, their own right-back who won player of the match after a staunch display at the back for his side. Their twitter account posted a picture of James as he played 59 minutes on his comeback from injury on Friday night against Fulham, with the caption: "Reply with a better RB." THE BIGGER PICTURE: James has endured an injury-hit season, being sidelined for extended periods twice since October.

With Enzo Fernandez the latest Argentine to step out in a Chelsea shirt, GOAL takes a look at the other Albiceleste stars to feature in west London.

With that in mind, GOAL takes a look at the Argentines to don the blue of Chelsea, as well as the one that got away... [and was one of the few high points in a drab 0-0 affair with local rivals Fulham.](https://www.goal.com/en/lists/chelsea-fulham-winners-losers-ratings/blt4978b75003392542) [£600 million ($723m) spending spree in 2022-23 was capped off with the £106.8m ($131m) signing of the 21-year-old midfielder](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/enzo-fernandez-blasted-benfica-president-rui-costa-record-breaking-chelsea-transfer/blt2f186e366183aab0), a British record fee.

Enzo Fernandez's Premier League debut didn't quite go as planned as Chelsea were held to a 0-0 draw by Fulham, but he produced an eye-catching individual ...

Only the Chelsea centre-backs Thiago Silva and Benoit Badiashile notched more. – The Argentina international won six tackles. The Argentinian World Cup winner produced an authoritative display in the centre of the park as Chelsea dominated Fulham but couldn’t quite find a breakthrough. He completed more than twice as many passes as any opposition player. [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1640902/Live/England-Premier-League-2022-2023-Chelsea-Fulham) rating of 7.6, Fernandez was Chelsea highest-rated player on the night. For reference, Casemiro’s first Premier League start for Manchester United wasn’t until 47 days after he signed.

Blues chairman is wandering around football's shark-infested casino halls with a sack of money asking how you play blackjack.

The first is the total destruction of trust in football governance. Boehly has a background in hedge funding where the single most important quality is to make sure you have inside knowledge, that you’re ahead of the punters. Nobody is paying Chelsea prices except Chelsea, who are top, not bottom, of the money tree, who basically need another Chelsea, Dumb Chelsea, to pay this new Smart Chelsea market rate. The idea is out there that what we’re witnessing is masterplan stuff. Another flaw is that there is no obvious market to sell this product on to. What is perhaps most startling is the total lack of doubt, the instant boomer-style conviction that only he, Todd Boehly, knows how to fix this European football industry thing that he’s never looked at before.

Benfica president Rui Costa has hit out at Enzo Fernandez for his behaviour before leaving the club to join Chelsea for a British record fee.

We want a team committed to the fans. "Enzo was treated well by everyone from the moment he arrived until he left. "We never managed to get through to him to convince him. "He showed no commitment to Benfica. "[I] don't cry for players who don't want to be here. But I also understand that the player wants to settle immediately, afraid of losing an offer that he would consider huge.

Huge spree on Fernández, Mudryk, Nkunku and Madueke raises more questions about the coherence of Boehly's plans.

But can any analysis predict whether [Mykhaylo Mudryk](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/20/rise-of-mykhaylo-mudryk-no-surprise-to-old-teammates-chelsea), [David Datro Fofana](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/28/chelsea-agree-deal-to-sign-striker-david-datro-fofana-to-boost-attacking-options) and Noni Madueke represent a balanced forward line? And while the long contracts protect the value of assets, they also mean Chelsea have substantial liabilities – and if the plan is to push the Premier League into what is effectively a monopoly position, who are they protecting the value for? Given the one concrete idea any of Chelsea’s new owners have proposed was [Boehly’s north v south all-star game](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/sep/14/chelsea-todd-boehly-premier-league-north-v-south-all-star-match), it’s perhaps best not to get too excited. [Paul Winstanley as head of recruitment from Brighton](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/oct/25/chelsea-paul-winstanley-brighton-laurence-stewart-monaco-recruitment), whose transfer activity in recent years has been exemplary. In that month Chelsea played six times and won just once, [going out of the FA Cup](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/08/manchester-city-chelsea-fa-cup-third-round-match-reporta) while the gap between them and Champions League qualification grew from eight points with a game in hand to 10 points without. [forced to sell the club](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/may/28/roman-abramovich-bids-his-farewell-as-chelsea-takeover-nears-confirmation). There’s been a lot written over the past few months about how [Chelsea can afford a spree ](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/feb/01/chelsea-put-faith-in-potter-and-young-signings-after-500m-spending-spree)that will hit £620m when the [Christopher Nkunku](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/oct/03/chelsea-close-to-agreeing-2023-deal-for-rb-leipzig-christopher-nkunku) deal happens next June. [20 years behind US sports](https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/news/behdad-eghbali-chelsea-25823329) in terms of sophistication on the commercial side”. An all-star game would be a dreadful spectacle because the best football teams are coherent interdependent units forged over months, not grab bags of excellent players. [Chelsea](https://www.theguardian.com/football/chelsea) cost him £900,000 a week: you can’t expect that sort of expenditure under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, we were told. Or perhaps there is a sense that the Premier League is becoming that Super League – after all, Southampton, as well as Chelsea, spent more than every other major league combined this winter. That is a long time to wait for profits.