‘Bemused’.
Maurizio Sarri’s reaction to Rob Green pitching up at Chelsea having not played a league game since May 2017 was understandable.
The new Chelsea boss had no say in the deal leaving coaches and scouts at the club baffled, according to The Times.
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Bobby Verde’s arrival echoed Lee Grant’s move to Man United earlier in the transfer window.
The 35-year-old played three times in the Premier League for Stoke last season which was enough to convince Jose Mourinho to sign him up.
So why have clubs used to breaking world transfer records started sweeping up ageing goalkeepers?
Quotas. Let me talk to you about quotas.
Premier League rules dictate that each squad must have at least eight homegrown players.
To be ‘homegrown’ you must have been in an English academy for at least three years before the age of 21.
What better place to hide one of these homegrown players than a third-choice goalkeeper who’s never going to kick a ball in anger?
A cursory glance at Chelsea’s current transfer targets throws up the names of Gonzalo Higuain, Daniele Rugani, Miralem Pjanic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Now, unless there’s an English grandparent we don’t know about, none of that quartet would qualify as ‘homegrown’.
Green’s signing means Chelsea can sell Danny Drinkwater or Gary Cahill, neither of whom are likely to be first-team regulars, without having to worry about not fulfilling their homegrown allocation.
So don’t be surprised to see Man City linked with Victor Valdes, or Spurs signing Brad Jones.
Actually, do be surprised if Spurs sign anyone. Lock your doors and find a safe hiding place because the apocalypse is coming if Spurs sign a player this summer.
