OPINIONJules Kounde decision proves Chelsea have learned from their mistake in the transfer window

Chelsea chose not to push for a £65m deal to sign Jules Kounde on transfer deadline day and the decision not to should be seen as good news.

On this day in 2017, Chelsea in a panic secured the services of Danny Drinkwater and Davide Zappacosta. It is a window that will go down in folklore for all the wrong reasons.

It was a window defined by transfer blunders, rushed acquisitions and missed targets that has led to a trail of collateral damage the club are still feeling the effects of in 2021. The window bled into a miserable season in which the Blues finished outside the top four.

But as the transfer deadline approaches four years on, and with any deal for Jules Kounde having collapsed, Chelsea may be learning the lessons of previous transfer errors and that can only be a good thing.

"Transfer periods can be mood breakers," Blues boss Thomas Tuchel said earlier this year.

"Do we have some ideas how to improve the squad? Yes, but will we fight about it? No. We will discuss it and first of all we will finish this season. I embrace the simplicity. I hope I can continue to live like this because it is pure fun."

It's understandable why supporters want to see all transfer deals go through once interest has been reported. We cannot deny the excitement that is generated by a new signing and Chelsea have the licence to spend vast amounts each window. Most of the time they do flex their financial muscles. Though having a licence to spend is also having a licence not to.