Should Chelsea sell Oscar in the January transfer window?

Chelsea playmaker Oscar is being linked with a big money move to China in January

According to reports from the Brazilian media, Chelsea playmaker, Oscar is wanted by Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG.

The reports suggest that the deal is “90 per cent right – it just depends on some bureaucratic details”.

However, reports from Sky Sports suggest that Oscar favours staying with Chelsea over a move to the Far East, despite the prospect of a bumper payday in China.

Struggled for first team football at Chelsea

Oscar is currently struggling to break into the Blues starting line-up, as Blues boss Antonio Conte has had a settled starting line-up this season.

The 25-year-old has made nine Premier League appearances this season, but only five of those have come from the start of games. He just does not seem to be a player that Conte can or wants to fit into his currently successful system.

In truth, though, Oscar has struggled to sustain his place in the Chelsea starting line-up for most of his Blues career. He has never started more than 26 games in the Premier League, which is pretty poor for a player of his profile and supposed talent.

Oscar has not fulfilled his potential at Chelsea

At one point Oscar was being talked about as the next big Brazilian superstar. He was playing as the Brazil number ten and supposedly had a lot of potential to improve in the future. Unfortunately, he has flattered to deceive at Chelsea.

Undeniably talented, he has shown tantalising flashes of his silky ability. However, he has struggled to find any real consistency in a blue shirt. Chelsea fans have been waiting for him to find that decent level of consistency, but he has failed so far.

Whenever a new boss has taken over at Chelsea, I have thought I wonder if he can help Oscar fulfil his potential. His best season came back in season 2014/15 when he produced a very creditable six goals and eight assists.

Fans would have expected him to push on from there and fulfil some of that potential. It just never happened.

It would be fair to say that not all Blues fans would be disappointed to see Oscar leave in the near future. He is definitely not one of Chelsea’s star players and therefore is expendable in January.

Chelsea could definitely win the Premier League title without the Brazilian, with the Blues currently odds of 10/11 to win the title this season.

A reportedly mega fee

According to the aforementioned reports, the Chinese club are prepared to pay £52million for Oscar in the January transfer window. Even for a club like Chelsea, that sort of money would be highly tempting.

The Blues can no longer spend big without selling due to the financial fair play rules, so if the Blues receive £52 million by selling Oscar, boss Antonio Conte would be given an even bigger transfer kitty to spend on players he actually wants in January.

The Blues have been continually linked with a move for a centre-back. The Italian boss may feel that Oscar is worth selling if he gets to bring in a player that fits better into his system.

No doubt Oscar would prefer to stay at Chelsea than move to China. Not many high-profile players would move to the Chinese Super League at 25. The league is considered a developing league rather than a major league by most observers.

It remains to be seen whether Oscar will make the big money move to the Chinese Super League. However, it would make sense for the Blues to sell the Brazilian in January, as he just does not seem to be in the plans of boss Antonio Conte.

Should Chelsea sell Oscar in the January transfer window?