The clock is ticking on Chelsea’s January window, and fans are starting to get nervy.
With just days left to go, there have been no permanent signings and no sales. Despite the critical need for both, according to supporters.
The club aren’t nearly as worried as the fans however – Kieran Gill’s piece for the Daily Mail today claims that they expected a quiet January: “Chelsea weren’t planning on being too busy, so there is no panic within the club,” he wrote.
A season that started so well is falling apart, and as always in these moments there’s a belief (sometimes justified, sometimes not) that we can buy our way back on track with a few smart additions.
Gill’s piece says that Chelsea “have capital to spend”, but only “if the right opportunity presents itself.” They’re interested in a left winger, depth in central midfield and an alternative for Nicolas Jackson up top.
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So what do we make of the attitude from those at the top? Are they blind to the deficiencies of the squad they’ve built? Surely not.
But the problem they face is this – while we would certainly benefit from the addition of an elite striker, goalkeeper, central defender or quality depth in central midfield. But who is available in January? There are gems out there, but we are far more likely to end up signing more mid-level players of the type the squad is already filled with than anyone world class.
Of course we’d love to sign someone like Nico Williams – but a £100m deal like that just doesn’t happen in the dying days of the winter window. All eyes are on the clock as we count down to Monday night.