Merson expressed his disappointment in a recent column, stating that the team did not need to bring in another winger, especially one from a rival club.

He wrote that Chelsea must be "flabbergasted" by the deal, and that it's unlikely they would have expected this move. Merson also wondered if the signing was a strategic move to pave the way for the sale of another player, such as Bukayo Saka.

Merson questioned the logic behind spending £52m on a player who might only be a backup to someone like Saka, and wondered why the team would invest so heavily in a player who might not even see regular playing time.