Occasionally, the sources hide interesting bits of information in articles about something unrelated to the article. Apparently Chelsea wants a defender.
Big sources are the most trusted sources. And sometimes they like to play a game. They will write an article about one topic, and then buried within is a nugget of information that is new and interesting but does not yet warrant its own article yet.
This is probably to ensure readers go all the way through the article. It becomes a fun game because it does not always happen, but when it does it is like finding a little gold coin.
The Telegraph does this more often than most. Buried deep inside an article about Eden Hazard waiting for Real Madrid to make a move is a bit about Maurizio Sarri wanting one more defender for Chelsea in January. Then, the Blues might be capable of challenging for the title. It might be the first legitimate rumor about January this year.
The article mentions that the club has targeted Alessio Romagnoli for some time but does not directly say that he is the target. But that does imply that “defender” means “centerback” which is very interesting in the current context of the club.
Gary Cahill could be leaving in January if playing time is not present, but he did get more wishy washy about that declaration in recent weeks (since he started playing and making the bench). Andreas Christensen has also stoked the fire by saying he needs to be playing. Chelsea is unlikely to allow a move for him in January, though if he pushes hard enough the club will probably cave. And Ethan Ampadu is sure to be linked to a loan away. Whether or not the Blues allow that is another question.
Antonio Rudiger and David Luiz are the current starters and appear to be the only players “safe”. Rudiger has been by and far Chelsea’s best defender (though Marcos Alonso has a shout for non defensive reasons). Luiz may be on the verge of extending his contract which would be a pretty clear declaration that he is staying put.
So the new defender could be covering for some of the expected departures. But the new guy would be hard pressed to start over Luiz or Rudiger right now. Even if Sarri is looking for a starter, that is sure to upset whichever striker drops. Overall, this makes it very difficult for Chelsea to acquire a good center back without hurting somewhere else.
Furthermore, buying any center back at all is sure to justify Christensen’s comments. It is sure to justify Cahill’s as well. So one defender could enter while burning relations with another two. Ampadu will fall further down the chart with a newer (and presumably younger) center back blocking his pathway.
Frankly, why Chelsea would buy a new center back before giving Christensen a proper chance is a complete mystery. The club supposedly wants to use the academy and Christensen is the sole product to have any significant playing time since John Terry. The club should be telling Sarri the Dane needs a chance before buying anyone else.
But that is rarely how Chelsea operates. If Sarri says he wants just one player, the club is likely to oblige. Especially if results are still going the Blues’ way. But if it costs the club Christensen (in the short term) and possibly Ampadu (in the long term), will it be worth it?
The club needs to start thinking about the long game. Yes, the point of football is to win trophies. That is goal number one every time. But if it comes at the expense of the guys you can build around to win more long term, is it worth it? Probably not and it is a lesson Chelsea still needs to learn. They keep avoiding it because it is working. But when it does not, they will have nothing to fall back on if they keep undercutting the potential of the guys next on deck.