The transfer team at Chelsea are hotting up ahead of what promises to be a busy fortnight at Stamford Bridge, with the obvious priority being a new centre-back.
Chelsea are pushing to sign Rennes wonderkid Jeremy Jacquet, but have informed the Ligue 1 club they are unwilling to spend £60m on him. Talks are ongoing, and it feels like there is confidence over a deal.
Then, there are potential exits. Leo Castledine has signed for Middlesbrough permanently, while Facundo Buonanotte left Chelsea after just six months to return to Brighton, before going on loan to Leeds United.
More sales or loans away from the club are expected. Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi’s futures continue to be up in the air, while David Datro Fofana could cancel his loan in Turkey ahead of a permanent exit.
IMAGINE: You have the final say on Chelsea’s three-man centre-back shortlist. Who will you pick?
The three centre-back targets under consideration at Chelsea:
Jeremy Jacquet
Jacobo Ramon
Marcos Senesi
Đorđe Petrović and Marcos Senesi of Bournemouth
Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
But there is another Chelsea player currently out on loan that may return to Stamford Bridge before the January deadline. Indeed, Chelsea may need to make a foreign loan space available for Sterling or Disasi.
Liam Rosenior must be brutal with £17m Chelsea man
Before arriving at Chelsea, Rosenior knew how things worked. Already part of the BlueCo group, Rosenior also had plenty of Chelsea players with him at Strasbourg. He’s reunited with Andrey Santos in London.
But he’s left behind three Chelsea players that were on loan in France, and one of those is Ecuadorian teen Kendry Paez, a £17m signing from Independiente Del Valle. He worked under Rosenior at Strasbourg.
Kendry Paez celebrates during Paris FC v RC Strasbourg Alsace - Ligue 1 McDonald's
Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images
Now, Fabrizio Romano reports that Paez could see his Strasbourg loan cancelled early, and that Chelsea are weighing up his next move. But Rosenior has got to be cold with Paez, despite his young years.
Romano reported on X over the weekend regarding Paez’s loan at Strasbourg and Chelsea return: “Kendry Páez could leave Strasbourg in the next two weeks with talks taking place to assess the best solution.”
Paez is miles away from the first team at Chelsea as things stand, and would simply remain on the bench for six months if Rosenior chose to reunite with and keep Paez at Chelsea. He needs to go on loan again.
What Liam Rosenior said about Kendry Paez while at Strasbourg
Paez is clearly a top talent, but he has struggled to start games for Strasbourg so far, starting just seven of 21 appearances and playing less than 800 minutes in all competitions. Just one goal has come Paez’s way.
Kendry Paez’s Strasbourg loan gets cancelled. What do you do with him, now?
He's miles off the Chelsea squad at the moment…
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Speaking about Paez shortly after his arrival, Rosenior said: “Kendry is a kid who has a gift. He’s an ultra-talented player who adapted quickly. He has a remarkable attitude,” despite his lack of game time.
But ultimately, if Paez is struggling to start for Strasbourg, what hope does he have of doing so at Chelsea? If his Strasbourg loan is cancelled, Rosenior and Chelsea must find him a new club this month.
Perhaps, it would make more sense to keep him in the domestic sphere and send him to an attacking club in the Championship. Maybe even one with a manager that is a Chelsea legend, fighting for promotion.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox