On the back of their one-sided 3-0 win over Barcelona, Chelsea are riding high right now. The result showed that the Blues are once again capable of competing with the best in Europe. The Club World Cup final triumph against PSG was no fluke. And this time around, they did it without Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill.
So, the sky might be the limit for Enzo Maresca's side. That being said, one cannot afford to get carried away. This team still needs to strengthen in a few positions.
To be fair, Alejandro Garnacho had a good night against FC Barcelona. Jamie Gittens has grown in confidence over the course of the season as well. And Pedro Neto is more than capable of playing on the left flank.
That being said, if an elite player did become available, Chelsea should consider making a move. Could Vinicius Jr be that player?
Chelsea named favourites to sign Vinicius Jr from Real Madrid
As reported by Football Insider, Manchester City and Chelsea will be two of the frontrunners in the race to sign Vinicius Jr if he becomes available. His talks with Real Madrid over a new contract are believed to have stalled.
There have also been rumours that Vinicius does not share a great relationship with Xabi Alonso. Many will point towards his reaction to being substituted against Barcelona as proof. Of course, the manager does not seem to agree with that viewpoint. He said to TNT Sports Brazil (via Fabrizio Romano):
"The relationship with Vini Jr is very good; Vini is considered a key player and there's mutual trust between us."
Well, let's see how Vinicius' contract situation plays out at Real Madrid. If they are not able to agree on an extension, an exit would be very much a possibility.
That being said, one has to wonder how much Chelsea would be willing to shell out to sign Vinicius, who would surely want an astronomical salary as well. This is not the type of move that the Blues have made under the new ownership.