Madueke's return to London : PSV legend insists Chelsea have not made any marquee signings

PSV Eindhoven legend and retired Netherlands international Wim Kieft has insisted that Chelsea have not made any marquee signings since the start of the season despite the new owners investing close to half a billion euros to bolster the squad.

England U21 international of Nigerian descent Chukwunonso Madueke is the latest player signed by Chelsea, with the winger joining from PSV for a transfer fee of 35 million euros.

The Blues have also acquired Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Gabriel Slonina, Carney Chukwuemeka, Marc Cucurella, Cesare Casadei, Wesley Fofana, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, David Datro Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Andrey Santos and Mykhailo Mudryk, while loan fees were paid for Denis Zakaria and Joao Felix.

Madueke turned out for London clubs Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur before making a bold decision to move to PSV in the summer of 2018 in search of first team football.

Kieft has suggested that the Anglo-Nigerian was overvalued by PSV, who were happy to let him go as he wasn't on the same level as Cody Gakpo.

Writing in his column for De Telegraaf, via Soccernews, Kieft criticized Chelsea's transfer policy, saying that they have completely lost their way.

"Noni Madueke returns to London. In 2018, as a 16-year-old, he came from the youth of Tottenham Hotspur to the PSV Academy.

"Now Chelsea buy him for 35 million euros. It is understandable that at the age of 20 he would like to return to England and Chelsea is not a small club.

"Yet it also tells the madness of football if you compare Madueke's performance at PSV against the amount that is paid for him.

"However, at Chelsea they are completely lost with half a billion in investments without having picked up one top player."

Madueke was involved in 34 goals in 80 appearances during his time at the Philips Stadium, while Gakpo directly participated in 105 goals in 159 games for the Eindhoven club and was one of the exciting young players at the 2022 World Cup.

“From that point of view, it is a no-brainer and get out and you understand them in Eindhoven. They did not immediately need that 35 million euros at PSV, but saw this as a great opportunity.

"The 35 million euros for Madueke also means that PSV has received too little from Liverpool for Cody Gakpo.

"He cost 'only' fifty million euros and scored an enormously high return at PSV last season and until the World Cup this season. And another three goals at the World Cup," Kieft added.

Madueke has already started training with his new teammates at Chelsea ahead of a possible Premier League debut against Fulham on February 3.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : chelseafc.com

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