Chelsea are not planning to add to the first team squad in January, with the focus being more on the summer.
The club could still put a deal in place for a young player in the new year (or the summer), in view of them joining in future seasons as they have done in the past.
The onus is on adding to the squad depth, and the possibilities (in terms of what areas of the pitch) will continue to be assessed. It obviously also depends on who goes.
One of the areas Chelsea readers regularly ask about is the goalkeeper position. Chelsea are happy with their current options in Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen and Mike Penders (who is currently on loan at Strasbourg). That means a move for Milan’s Mike Maignan, to give just one example, will not be revisited, having held negotiations with the Serie A club in June.
Chelsea are also content for the time being with their centre-back options, especially with Levi Colwill returning from a knee injury next year and the prospect of Mamadou Sarr coming back from a season-long loan at Strasbourg.
"POTENTIAL" targets?
Chelsea’s strategy is geared towards finding a rising talent rather than a finished article.
This means that their long-standing interest in Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers has cooled, and he has signed a new long-term deal at Villa Park in any case.
Chelsea continue to be linked with Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, but he does not fit the profile of what they are looking for either. Besides, they are well stocked in wide areas.
The club have held a long-standing interest in Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, but he is considered at the starter level, so again is not on their radar. The focus is more on succession planning and players for the future.
Looking to sell?
In terms of January, defender Axel Disasi is one of the exits they will be looking to get done. The France international has not played for Chelsea this season and has not even been named in a matchday squad.
Disasi has begun training again with the first team recently and also played for the Under-21s against Reading in November. This is all to ensure he is fully fit to make a move.
Raheem Sterling is in a similar situation, and both parties are keen to part ways if the deal suits both sides.
Tyrique George had a transfer to Fulham collapse on deadline day (September 1). There are more teams showing an interest in the academy graduate now than in the summer due to how he has responded (three goals and one assist for Chelsea in 10 appearances, plus his first two goals for England Under-21s). Chelsea have not made a decision on whether to sell him, but clubs may try to lure him away with the promise of more first-team minutes. The attacker’s contract situation is another factor — it expires in 2027, although there is an option in place to extend for another 12 months.
As for the summer, striker Nicolas Jackson will be one they try to sell, even if Bayern Munich decide against buying him permanently after his loan there.