Troy Deeney 'underwhelmed' by Chelsea's deadline-day deal

Facundo Buonanotte completed a deadline-day loan move to Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

Troy Deeney says he is ‘underwhelmed’ by Chelsea loan signing Facundo Buonanotte and doubts the attacking midfielder is an improvement on Enzo Maresca’s current options at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea spent just shy of £300million on new recruits across another busy transfer window, with Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens, Jorrel Hato, Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr all signing on the dotted line.

The Blues had also been credited with a strong interest in both Xavi Simons and Fermin Lopez, but the former went on to join Tottenham while the latter stayed at Barcelona .

However, Chelsea were determined to further strengthen their attacking options before Monday’s deadline, which saw the Club World Cup winners launch a late move for Brighton’s Buonanotte.

And with just hours remaining on the clock, Buonanotte – who had also been heavily linked with Leeds , signed for Chelsea on a season-long loan deal.

The west London giants agreed to pay around £2million to capture the promising 20-year-old, who has been capped twice by the Argentinian national team.

Buonanotte racked up five goals and two assists in the Premier League while on loan at Leicester last season, but his performances were unable to save the Foxes from the drop.

The Blues hijacked Leeds’ move to land the Argentine (Picture: Getty)

Buonanotte spent last season on loan with Leicester (Picture: Getty)

And while the youngster has been tipped for a big future in the game by fans and pundits alike, former Watford captain Deeney is yet to be convinced.

‘It wouldn’t be a transfer window if Chelsea didn’t sign anyone from Brighton!’ Deeney joked on the The Football Exchange podcast.

‘I’ve been underwhelmed, but he’s young, he’s 20 years old.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

‘He was at Leicester last year and showed flashes of brilliance, but, again, the fact that Brighton are willing to cash out on him and he didn’t play last year, he hasn’t played this season for them…

‘It’s Chelsea’s model again and I could easily see him getting sent to one of the 17 [sic] clubs they own in their pool!

‘He’s not going to be better than what Chelsea have already got.’

Deeney has been ‘underwhelmed’ by Chelsea loan signing Buonanotte (Picture: Getty)

Deeney went on to question Chelsea’s current recruitment model, arguing the club would have to ‘change tact’ if they ambitions of winning major titles in the not-too-distant future.

He added: ‘Is there not an element with Chelsea… they keep buying young, keep buying young, keep buying young, but they’re just missing a tried a tested player?

‘We’ve had the discussion about when Chelsea are going to be title contenders, but if you keep buying young then it’s always going to be about experience and it’s a younger squad.

‘So, at some point, Chelsea have got to change tact maybe.’

After signing on the dotted line at Chelsea, Buonanotte revealed the role that fellow countryman Enzo Fernandez had played in the move.

‘I spoke with Enzo and I think his message was very important because he is one of the captains of the team,’ he explained.

Buonanotte added: ‘I’m very happy to join Chelsea.

‘It’s a great opportunity for me and I’m just looking to add as much to the squad as possible, help the team and help the staff.’