Only one better than grade 3! The winter newcomers in the intermediate check

João Felix

Came from Atlético Madrid on a €11m loan

Made the worst possible start for Chelsea when he was sent off in mid-January against Fulham for a gross foul. He then had to watch three games and only celebrated his comeback a month later.

Since then, however, he has not really arrived at Chelsea. He scored for the Blues in a 1-1 draw with West Ham United, but otherwise paled. In the Champions League game in Dortmund, he indicated his class by repeatedly being able to free himself from tight situations and cause danger in counterattacks – but his exploitation of chances was devastating.

The Chelsea commitment could still continue beyond the summer. According to various media reports, both sides can imagine a permanent commitment. Only Atlético’s replacement ideas could become a problem.

Grade: 3.5.

David Datro Fofana

Came from Molde FK for €12m

The striker has been under contract with the Blues since January 1, but he hasn’t really gotten a chance so far. He was granted 15 minutes in the 0-0 draw against Fulham on Matchday 22, and two weeks later he was substituted at half-time in his debut against Southampton (0-1). After that he didn’t play any more games.

Chelsea are already thinking about giving up Fofana – a loan move to a club with better chances is being sought. According to reports, Leverkusen expressed interest before the transfer deadline, but the move didn’t materialize. So the Ivorian will have to wait at least until summer.

Grade: 5.5.

Andrey Santos

Came from Vasco da Gama for €12.5m

The Brazilian youngster was even worse off than Fofana. Absent a Premier League work permit, Santos has not been allowed to play a single minute in Chelsea dress.

Fortunately, the Londoners found a solution to this problem. Like the Brazilian one SBT Sports-Journalist Lucas Pedroza reports, the 20-year-old will be loaned back to his homeland by the summer. One of the basic conditions for the loan was that the youngster be able to take part in the U20 World Cup in Indonesia (May 20 to June 11).

No rating.

Malo Gusto

Came from Olympique Lyon for €30m

An investment for the future. Because Gusto hasn’t played a game for Chelsea yet – because he was loaned back to Lyon straight away. Accordingly, it will not be possible to rate it until summer. That’s where he’s supposed to make his debut for the Blues.

No rating.

Noni Madueke

Came from PSV Eindhoven for €35m

The right winger has been used three times in the Premier League so far and has not played the full distance in any game. He has not yet managed to get involved in a goal either. He’s also struggled to find his rhythm at PSV Eindhoven after a protracted ankle injury.

“I’m 20 years old, I know I’m not a finished product yet,” the offensive man told Chelsea club media recently: “I know I’ll have ups and downs.” From first impressions, it’s highly questionable whether Madueke can be a real asset for Chelsea.

grade: 5

Benoît Badiashile

Came from AS Monaco for €38m

The 21-year-old played his way straight into the starting XI at Chelsea despite not being eligible to play in the Champions League. And in fact, unlike his offensive colleagues, he made a good impression. “He brings calm, is good with the ball, he’s left-footed so he gives us balance on his side,” Graham Potter told club media in mid-February.

It is also true for him that he still has a lot of potential for development. And given the high transfer fee, there’s enormous pressure for him to develop into a real performer sooner rather than later. But the start, without the really big highlights, indicated that he could do it in perspective.

Grade: 2.5.

Mykhaylo Mudryk

Came from Shakhtar Donetsk for 70 million euros

Six appearances, no goal, no assists – Mykhaylo Mudryk has not had a good start with the Blues, if you look at the numbers. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian is one of the few newcomers to give fans some hope. His dynamism and his dribbling are already delighting the spectators at Stamford Bridge.

In this respect, he could actually justify his high transfer fee in the future. At 22, he still has plenty of room for improvement. Once he has gotten used to his new club, he should become one of the key players on the offensive. So far he isn’t.

Grade: 3.5.

Enzo Fernandez

Came from Benfica for €121m

Fernández should also become a leading player in the future, but is not doing it justice at the moment. The world champion has teething troubles and is good for a blunder here and there. He was left alone by his teammates against BVB, but didn’t look good in the running duel with Karim Adeyemi either. In a duel with Tottenham, he cleared a ball straight into the feet of Oliver Skipp, who heaved it into the Blues goal. Bad luck, but also a clear misjudgment by the Argentine, who could have just let the ball go to Kepa, who drained it earlier but was still close.

After all: The midfielder showed good approaches against the ball. All things considered, Fernández is not yet the €121m signing Chelsea were hoping for. What is not, can still be. Disappointment is likely to prevail for the moment, but hope is of course unbroken.

grade: 4