They say every cloud has a silver lining and with Chelsea subject to a transfer ban, our silver lining could come in the form of the club being forced to bring players like Franco di Santo back from loan.
Let’s face it, we might have bought a few decent young players (or indeed kidnapped them, depending on which version you go with) but we’re never really going to make good use of them unless a hip-replacement forces someone out of the first team. And yet this ban might change all that.
Di Santo had a good game for Blackburn against Burnley at the weekend, scoring his first Premier League goal and manager Sam Allardyce acknowledged “Di Santo was terrific – he is a young man learning his trade. He has finally got a chance to start some games and he has grasped it. What pleased me was the lay-off for Dunny’s goal. He will take confidence as well from his first goal in the Premier League. If he can continue to play like this it will be good for us and Chelsea.”
Personally though, I hope that come January, it turns out to be better for us than them. As Allardyce rightly points out when asked whether he’s likely to get to keep our young striker “I do not think that there is any real chance of that. There is a transfer ban on Chelsea and with the African Nations coming up they will probably need him.”
Of course we need him. I’ve always thought Di Santo had potential and he should absolutely get the opportunity to prove it during Drogba’s absence. Surely that’s exactly why he’s at Blackburn getting Premier League experience right now? We might have Sturridge as well, but how likely is he to be thrown in come January when he’ll have gone months without a competitive game? Another one who could end up regretting his move if he doesn’t already.
This ban really could be a blessing in disguise.
Blue is the colour
