It was a transfer which just made sense. Manchester United need defensive reinforcements, and are facing up to a substantial summer overhaul while needing to strike the right balance to avoid potential Financial Fair Play sanctions.
So signing a self-professed ‘top Premier League centre-half’ for absolutely nothing? A man who not only possesses the height, the aerial prowess and the passing range to succeed Raphael Varane, but would add quality depth to a paper-thin Red Devils backline?
A man who Manchester United‘s new technical director Jason Wilcox knows and admires? Surely it was too good to be true, right?
Well, yes, that is exactly what it was. BBC Sport reported Manchester United tried to convince the defender to sign.
United were unsuccessful, his move to Chelsea has now been confirmed.
Manchester United held Adarabioyo talks but target seals Chelsea move
Signing free agents can bring high salaries, and with Man United looking to bring an end to an era of forking out eye-watering wages for players not even guaranteed to start in that red shirt, Ineos were never going to match the offer on the table from Chelsea.
Adabarioyo insist the move was about more than money, however. He told the Chelsea website: “Chelsea is a huge club and this is a full-circle moment for me. I was born three miles away from Stamford Bridge and made my professional debut there.
“I’m very excited and looking forward to helping push the club in the direction we want to go. Before confirming the move, I gave Raz (Raheem Sterling) and Cole (Palmer) a call and they had nothing but positive things to say about the club and the project, and how excited they were that I was coming to the club.
‘I’ve developed leaps and bounds. I’ve become a man and established myself as a top Premier League centre-half. That’s why I’ve joined Chelsea.”
Ineos targeting multiple centre-halves
Man United have reportedly touched base with a number of other central defensive targets, including Jarrad Branthwaite, Jean-Clair Todibo, Leny Yoro and Goncalo Inacio.
While none will come quite as cheap as Tosin in terms of transfer fees – all are allegedly valued in and around the £50 million bracket – it feels fitting in the week Kylian Mbappe joined Real Madrid with a signing on fee in excess of £100 million to point out that a free transfers are never truly ‘free’.
In the absence of a transfer fee, free-agents tend to arrive at new clubs commanding far higher wages than those under contract. That may go some way to explaining Tosin’s eye-watering demands.
“We are delighted to bring Tosin to Chelsea,” write Chelsea’s co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart in a co-statement. “Throughout his career, he has showcased his maturity and defensive qualities and has gained a wealth of experience in the Premier League in recent seasons.
“He is ready to make the step up to Chelsea and work alongside the talented players in our squad. We look forward to Tosin joining up with us for pre-season.”