Surprising reports of Middlesbrough’s Adama Traore to Chelsea are circulating after a transfer window where no significant inbound movement to the club has so far come to fruition.
The only real action has been outbound, where the growing Chinese financial influence in world football has taken two of the club’s bit-part players for £52 million, Oscar and John-Obi Mikel, while also threatening to destabilise Diego Costa, the Premier League’s joint top-scorer.
After a 13-game winning run that has propelled them to the top of the league with a seven-point lead, the use of a consistent team and a recent lack of injuries or disciplinary issues has left some observers believing that Chelsea have hit a perfect formula. If they can continue their efforts through to May, the title should be returning to SW6.
Other linked players so far have included the likes of Geoffrey Kondogbia, Radja Nainggolan and Tiemoue Bakayoko, all players who would fit in the defensive midfield positions competing with Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante.
Options that don’t seem to be better than the current starters, or even necessary for the ongoing title challenge.
With Cesc Fabregas still displaying his exquisite passing range, Nathaniel Chalobah is being given a chance to impress and looking solid.
David Luiz is able to step forward and with Nathan Ake returning from a very productive loan spell, with only 17 Premier League games left it is certainly not imperative to add a player in this position during January.
Victor Moses is showing his quality in a position that looks ready-made for him, Kurt Zouma has returned from injury and the highly rated Andreas Christensen looks likely to return from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer, defensive reinforcements at this stage seem unnecessary and chances should be given to the youngsters for them to flourish.
With Ake returning to cover the impressive Marcos Alonso, and Kenedy returning to the club from what can only be described as a pointless loan spell at Watford, there appears to be little to fear as long as the core of the group stays fit.
Fernando Llorente or Javier Hernandez seem like the type of players that Chelsea should be after as a potential clinical second-choice striker behind Costa.
This would allow Michy Batshuayi the remaining part of the season to leave on loan for some regular first-team football elsewhere and gain further experience.
The away fixture against Leicester City proved that playing without a recognised striker is incredibly effective with good movement and pace.
It’s not uncommon for managers to bring in players they know and enjoy working with, and a natural link with Alvaro Morata as a summer signing would be welcomed by Chelsea fans. He is clearly a young and versatile talent.
Freshening up the team is also important, however with a team that has won 14 from 15 in the league, stagnation doesn’t appear to be setting in.
The key message that is coming across at the Bridge currently is that additional options would be nice, however, key strengthening and big money spending will most likely occur in the summer and there is little need to panic buy.
