Chelsea are in a mess. Under new ownership, with a new manager and currently in eighth, sixteen points behind League leaders Arsenal, they will need to reinforce their squad in January to stand any chance of playing Champions League football next season.
With that in mind, we take a look at five players Graham Potter and co. should be keeping an eye on this winter in Qatar.
📰 Table Of Contents
1. Denzel Dumfries
One of Chelsea’s biggest issues is what happens when Reece James gets injured, as he has across the last two seasons.
Though no one can replace the man who is effectively the side’s creative hub, they need a better option than Ruben Loftus-Cheek and the ageing Cesar Azpilicueta.
One option could be Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries. The right wing-back shot to prominence at EURO2020, earning himself a move to Italy in the process, and another strong tournament could see him make another move in the winter window, with a price tag of around 40m euros on his head last summer amid interest both from Manchester United and Chelsea.
He would provide some much-needed backup to James, though he wouldn’t come cheap.
2. Jonathan David
Still just 22-years-old, the AS Monaco forward continues to impress at club level, with 9 goals and 3 assists to his name in1 5 Ligue 1 outings so far this season. It follows a strong 2021-22 campaign, where he netted 15 times.
Chelsea have an ageing Pierre-Emerick Aubamayang and a misfiring Kai Havertz to call upon at present, while Armando Broja has done little in limited minutes to stake a claim to be the solution.
With David a good presser capable of finding the back of the net, he could be just what Potter needs.
Jonathan David has had a wonderful campaign so far with #Lille in #Ligue1 🔥
Can the Canada star carry his form over to the #WorldCup? 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/7KvE5PvWWX
— Total Football Analysis (@TotalAnalysis) November 19, 2022
3. Jude Bellingham
Not the most surprising option, but Chelsea are set to be in the race for Bellingham’s signature when he becomes available this summer, and Blues fans will get a chance to see him operate with fellow transfer target Declan Rice in Gareth Southgate’s midfield this winter.
He will be going nowhere in January, but it is likely the team that do the most groundwork in the coming months land the teenager, and the tournament in Qatar could serve as a good starting point should he impress.
Jude Bellingham compared to U21 players in Europe’s top five divisions this season:
◉ Most duels won
◉ Most possession won
◉ Most fouls wonThe favourite for Young Player of the Tournament on @bet365. 🤩#Ad pic.twitter.com/rTnBGmqNxN
— Squawka (@Squawka) November 19, 2022
4. Josko Gvardiol (Croatia)
Another player that Chelsea have been strongly linked with, the RB Leipzig man takes centre-stage with Croatia as they look to replicate their run to the final from 2018. The centre-back has impressed in the Bundesliga, and was the subject of a £90m move by the Blues towards the end of the summer transfer window, with January in mind.
While there are plenty more holes in the Chelsea team, and they have signed three defenders over the summer, a player of Gvardiol’s quality doesn’t become available every summer, so he could be worth the hefty fee.
Joško Gvardiol in the UEFA Champions League group stages 22/23:
☑️4 games
☑️1 goal
☑️85 passes per 90
☑️91% pass accuracy
☑️2 tackles per 90
☑️1 interception per 90
☑️3.5 clearances per 90
☑️71% of all duels won20 years of age. Elite talent. 🐂🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/f0dGhtl1eo
— Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) November 4, 2022
5. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Serbia)
Chelsea are in desperate need of a midfielder, with both Jorginho and N’Golo Kante out of contract in the summer and Mateo Kovacic’s injury record a concern. However, they will not want to stall the process of both Cesare Casadai and Carney Chukwuemeka, both of whom are believed to have a big future.
Step forward, Milinkovic-Savic. The Serbian midfielder has enjoyed a strong start to the season with Lazio, with three goals and seven assists to his name,
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, one of the best midfielders in the world 💙🦅
He was born a leader and an elite level footballer.
Incredible signing by Lazio. 7 amazing seasons and continuing that trend this campaign.
Complete Midfielder🔥pic.twitter.com/gonMdCjdGv
— Jerry Mancini (@jmancini8) November 11, 2022
Valued at well over £70m, he would be an expensive acquisition, but the 27-year-old could be just the experienced talent that the Blues need to recover from a poor start to the season.
