The January transfer window saw no new additions at Chelsea, despite their mounting problems at wing back, and according to reports this was a deliberate ploy as they focus on recruitment in the summer.
The Blues are without first-choice pair Ben Chilwell (knee) and Reece James (hamstring) due to injuries at present, with the former out for the rest of the season and the latter nearing a comeback.
Chelsea tried and failed to recall Emerson Palmeiri on loan from Lyon, while decided against making a move for Lucas Digne before Everton sold him to Aston Villa.
And according to the Athletic, the club are thinking of the bigger picture by pursuing their main targets in the summer rather than looking for stop-gap alternatives in the January transfer window.
They cite that Sevilla's Jules Kounde, West Ham talisman Declan Rice and Monaco's Aurelien Tchouameni are high on the west London outfit's wishlist at the end of the season.
Elsewhere, Kounde has a reported £75million release clause, Rice is valued at £100m while Tchouameni has a £83m price-tag.
If Chelsea were to sign all three players in the summer that outlay would cost £258m. As a result, the club decided it would be better to save their money for those targets rather than take part of that budget out on someone else.
This is evident with Digne, who they wished to sign on loan rather than permantely - with Chilwell set to return to action at the start of next season.
