Chelsea FC Winter Transfer Window Targets

It’s never too early to start talking transfer rumors, and with Chelsea FC’s rough start to the season, it’s almost assured that the Blues will be looking to make some moves in the January transfer window.

During the summer, Chelsea mostly only made like-for-like moves. They brought in Asmir Begovic for the departing Petr Cech, the disappointing Radamel Falcao for club legend Didier Drogba, and Baba Rahman for Filipe Luis, who returned to Atletico Madrid after only one season in West London. In terms of net additions, only defender Papy Djilobodji and forward Pedro came in to bolster the squad.

Chelsea have been relatively active in the past two winter transfer windows. With the relatively disastrous purchase of skillful winger Juan Cuadrado last winter, and the purchases of Nemanja Matic, Mohamed Salah and Kurt Zouma the winter before.

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Even with mostly the same squad from the Premier League-winning team from a season ago, the Blues ranks need reinforcement at every level–defense, midfield and attack.

With John Terry seemingly on his last legs, once and for all, and Djilobodji unable to break into the first team at all, Chelsea would be wise to secure a central defender. Real Madrid centre-back and French national, Raphael Varane has been linked with a move to West London for what seems like years now, but it is now time for the club to pull the trigger.

Selling Filipe Luis back to Atletico Madrid has had more repercussions than the club probably anticipated. Branislav Ivanovic’s never-ending loss of form has left Chelsea with a gaping weakness along the back-line. With Cesar Azpilicueta’s natural position being right-back and Jose Mourinho preferring to play Kurt Zouma out of position rather than start Rahman, Chelsea should invest in a quality left-back. Portuguese national and AC Monaco player Fabio Coentrao would be a perfect addition, especially given his prior playing experience under Mourinho at Real Madrid.

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On paper, what looks like a stout, world-class midfield has been anything but this season. Nemanja Matic’s up-and-down form, Cesc Fabregas’ defensive deficiencies, as well as Oscar’s tendency to drift in-and-out of games all mean that Chelsea could use some cover in central midfield. Despite much talk during the summer about the Blues adding world-class midfielder Paul Pogba from Juventus, common sense would indicate that Pogba is not likely to join Chelsea anytime soon.

Many would argue that the midfield solution already lies right in the Chelsea dressing room in 19-year-old midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek. However, the English midfielder is the long-term solution for the Blues; the club need a player to help rectify the situation now. With Pogba likely out of the picture, the club should turn their attention to signing Porto midfielder Ruben Neves. The teenage starlet has been attracting attention from many of Europe’s biggest clubs, so Chelsea need to get in line and seize their opportunity.