Chelsea have already completed four signings in the January transfer window after completing deals for eight new arrivals in Todd Boehly’s first summer as Blues co-owner
Chelsea have signed 12 players since Todd Boehly and the Clearlake consortium completed a £4billion takeover at Stamford Bridge. The Blues’ total transfer spend in that time has surpassed £300million and could continue to rise before the January transfer window closes.
Graham Potter was appointed as Thomas Tuchel’s replacement in September – but things haven’t quite gone to plan for the former Brighton boss so far. Chelsea currently sit 10th in the Premier League table following their 2-1 defeat against Fulham, having already been dumped out of both domestic cup competitions after reaching the Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals last term.
The Blues have been severely hampered by injuries this season with Denis Zakaria becoming the latest player to be sidelined after picking up a thigh problem in the defeat against Fulham. The Swiss midfielder joins the likes of Raheem Sterling, Christian Pulisic, Wesley Fofana, Reece James and Ben Chilwell in the treatment room – but there are other issues that need resolving by Potter if Chelsea are to turn their form around.
football.london understands the west London outfit have opened talks to sign PSV winger Noni Madueke in January as they target a fifth signing this month. Christopher Vivell is pushing the move to sign the 20-year-old who could cost the Blues a fee in the region of £40million.
A report from the Telegraph has detailed a number of key players at Chelsea that are now facing uncertain futures following their poor form, with Todd Boehly set to stand firm on his backing of Potter by moving underperforming players on in the transfer window. The report states that there is no option or obligation for the Blues to buy new signing Joao Felix in his loan agreement until the end of the season, but the club remain confident they will be able to sign him permanently from Atletico Madrid should he perform well and if the club wish to.
Player sales will be just as important as new signings in the summer, but Chelsea’s biggest issue will be finding buyers and interested clubs for the highly-paid stars they are willing to sell and loan out. Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz and Pulisic are all facing uncertain futures at Stamford Bridge given their poor form for the club this term.
Jorginho may be allowed to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season and interest in captain Cesar Azpilicueta could be considered, despite the Spaniard signing a new deal at the start of the 2022/23 campaign. The report goes on to state that there is also the possibility of Chelsea cutting their losses on defender Kalidou Koulibaly if an offer arrives from Italy, while the club are unlikely to stand in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s way if he decides he wants to return to Spain or move elsewhere.
Potter’s position as Blues boss is thought to be safe regardless if the club miss out on a top-four spot. Boehly is ready to continue ringing the changes at Stamford Bridge by selling out-of-form players to raise funds to bring in replacements if needed.
SOURCE: football.london
