04 January 2023 , 08:10
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Chelsea 's summer spending spree could roll over into January as they eye three new faces.
Thomas Tuchel spent over £200m on the likes of Raheem Sterling and Wesley Fofana before he was sacked. Graham Potter is now at the helm and this month presents him with his first opportunity at putting his stamp on the squad.
The Blues boss has previously had to work under serious budget restraints, often taking unknown quantities and then tasked with improving them. In west London he now has the luxury of shopping, more or less, wherever he wants as Todd Boehly looks to flex his financial muscles once more.
Despite Chelsea's major recruitment drive they have failed to live up to expectations this term. They find themselves in tenth, albeit with several games in hand on the sides above them, and are 19 points off pace-setters Arsenal. Their new hierarchy seem intent on making a statement and capturing the World Cup's best young player would certainly do that.
Enzo Fernandez was a star for Argentina as they claimed glory in Qatar. The Benfica midfielder only moved to Europe from River Plate back in the summer, but has continued to enjoy a rapid rise. Benfica have a £100m plus release clause, but Chelsea seem prepared to meet it.
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The Argentine will offer competition for the likes of Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount. Potter is not likely to spend that sort of sum and make Fernandez a squad player, which does spell danger for their current crop of midfielder.
Mykhaylo Mudryk continues to be linked with a move to Arsenal, but the Blues are also keen (Getty Images)Chelsea are also looking to steal a march on Arsenal, whose main January target is Mykhaylo Mudryk. Shakhtar Donetsk have indicated their willing to sell but the Gunners remain someway off their asking price. It means the Blues could yet join the race and bolster their forward ranks.
Potter is not short of wide forwards, even if scoring goals has been a problem this year. Sterling, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz are all options, but none of them have scored more than four times in the league.
Already Chelsea have agreed a £35m deal for Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile. The Frenchman is set to soon complete his move, which will bolster the club's defence. Fofana has only played two league games as he deals with injury problems whilst Thiago Silva, at 37, remains the most used defender.
Graham Potter will have a host of options available to him if he completes his January businessChelsea may have failed to deceive this term but we take a look at how they could line-up if they land their three January targets with the top four in danger of slipping away.
The Blues boss has confessed the rumour mill can be a distraction, but called on his players to deal with it. “It’s part of the season that we all have to deal with so I won’t complain about it," he said. "While the window is open, there’s noise and 24/7 media that has to be filled with something. It’s normal and it’s a part of modern-day football that we have to deal with.”
Chelsea's possible XI: Kepa, Cucurella, Silva, Fofana, Badiashile, James, Fernandez, Jorginho, Sterling, Havertz, Mudryk.