Chelsea has reached this point in the January transfer window without completing any deals, a notable departure from the previous year’s activity.
By this stage last year, the club had secured signings such as Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana, Andrey Santos, Joao Felix, and Mykhailo Mudryk. Further additions, including Noni Madueke, Malo Gusto, and Enzo Fernandez, occurred in the final 11 days of the window, elevating Todd Boehly’s expenditures beyond £300 million.
This season’s limited activity at Stamford Bridge can be attributed mainly to the Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Ideally, Mauricio Pochettino would welcome several new players to reinforce his squad.
In light of this, football.london examines what Chelsea should aim to achieve in the remaining two weeks of the January transfer window.
Critical areas requiring reinforcement for Chelsea include a new center-forward and center-back. Various strikers have been linked to the center-forward position, with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko emerging as a noteworthy candidate, reportedly having a £43 million release clause in his contract.
Despite the release clause becoming active in the summer, paying a fee close to that amount should be sufficient to secure Sesko this month. With 29 goals in 79 games for Red Bull Salzburg and a playing style suited for the attacking role, he could serve as an ideal replacement for Nicolas Jackson.
Chelsea reportedly initiated talks with Sporting CP for striker Nicolas Jackson last month, but his £69 million release clause poses a challenge. The club would be wise to act swiftly before he potentially joins a Premier League rival.
Navigating PSR restrictions may involve exploring a loan move with a stipulation to fulfill the release clause in the summer, a strategy prevalent in today’s football landscape.
In terms of defense, Alphonso Davies from Bayern Munich emerges as a notable target for Chelsea. With concerns over Ben Chilwell’s ongoing injury issues, Davies could provide defensive stability and offensive potential. Reports suggest that Chilwell might be included in the proposal, aligning with Bayern’s recent trend of recruiting England internationals.
To be active in the January transfer window, Chelsea must also consider player sales. Ian Maatsen has already left on loan to Borussia Dortmund, but there are potential departures for players like Trevoh Chalobah, Malang Sarr, Conor Gallagher, and Armando Broja.
Gallagher, despite being a fixture in Pochettino’s side, has attracted interest from Tottenham due to a contract deadlock. His potential departure, along with that of Broja, could help Chelsea address Financial Fair Play (FFP) constraints and enhance their chances of making additional signings.
