Chelsea’s transfer ban is currently in the middle of the appeals process. It is never too early to plan for the eventuality of the ban being overturned.
Frank Lampard and Petr Cech both returned to Chelsea knowing that the transfer ban would be a weight around their necks. The club planned for it and was okay with the youth filling in the gaps but the appeal process is ongoing. While it was always unlikely that Chelsea would get out of the ban altogether, it is not as unlikely to see the summer as time served and have January available.
Lampard and Cech have likely already discussed possible ideas for whenever Chelsea’s next transfer window is. At most, it was probably just a very generic “we might need this” but it is never too early to plan a window out. The Blues are sitting on quite a pile of cash that is only going to grow and plugging the holes and strengthen the right pillars of the team will go a long way towards making Chelsea a true juggernaut again.
The first question should be whether to go all in for the January window or wait out till the summer. It is very hard to bring players in during the January window and most come at a premium.
But there are also a lot of benefits to it which is why Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp almost always try to bring in one big name player during the January window.
The course of the season is nearly entirely settled by the time the January window opens and closes. If a team was not in a title race before, they are very unlikely to buy someone that puts them into the title race after. Really, most January transfers are about getting a head start on the summer. A player that comes in during January will have six months more bedding in time for the next season than anyone coming in during the summer. That may seem like a small thing, but for Klopp with Virgil Van Dijk is was a massive boost.
Quality is important but quantity could be too. Chelsea has the unique situation of having all of the summer’s money still burning a hole through their pockets. Because of that, they would be able to bring in both quality and quantity if need be.
The current squad will need to play to their full potential to keep any potential January business to a minimum.
The strikers very much have to stand up and keep Chelsea from buying a striker as soon as they can. The fullbacks and centerbacks should be feeling some heat as well. The wings could use a refresh and the midfield could really only do with one more warm body.
If Chelsea is able to buy in January there will be much to think about. Lampard and Cech could really flip the team into something incredible with all the cash on hand. That is of course, if they do not do that with the players already at the club.