Chelsea are still cautiously hopeful of signing a centre-back this January, despite Axel Disasi’s unexpected return to first-team training. The new head coach, Liam Rosenior, has sped up plans to make the defence stronger at the west London club.
After months away from the first team, Disasi was back in training with the senior squad on Tuesday after Rosenior talked to the defender. Former boss Enzo Maresca sent the 27-year-old to the “bomb squad,” and he has only played for the Under-21s this season. However, even though he has been given a break, sources say the defender could still leave Stamford Bridge before the window closes on February 2.
Chelsea have to rethink how deep their defence is because Tosin Adarabioyo hurt his hamstring and will be out for several weeks. Reports claim that clubs in England, Italy, and France are interested in Disasi. Roma and Lyon are two of the teams that are interested. The former Monaco defender has also been asked about by clubs in Saudi Arabia.
The Blues are still trying to get their main target, Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet. Reports say that Chelsea and the 20-year-old France Under-21 international have agreed on personal terms, but talks over the transfer fee are still ongoing. Rennes turned down an initial offer of about €50 million and are now waiting for an offer of about €65 million, which would be a record sale for the Ligue 1 team.
If the Jacquet deal turns out to be too expensive, Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi and Como’s Jacobo Ramon have become other options.
Who Does Chelsea Want To Sign To Make Their Defence Stronger?
As Rosenior tries to fix the weakest part of his team, Chelsea have named three key centre-backs as possible January signings.
The most important signing is still Jeremy Jacquet. The Rennes academy graduate made his first appearance in January 2024 and has played 16 times this season, making him one of Ligue 1’s most promising young defenders. The 20-year-old is in the 95th percentile for interceptions among Ligue 1 defenders and has an 88% pass completion rate, which shows that he can play out from the back.
Marcos Senesi is now an option because his contract with Bournemouth ends in June. The 28-year-old Argentine international has played in the Premier League and would suit Chelsea’s style of play. Bournemouth, on the other hand, plan to turn down any offers for Senesi in January, even though Chelsea, Barcelona, and Juventus are interested. This is because they already lost Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City this month.
Jacobo Ramon from Como is the last name on the list. Chelsea scouts are keeping an eye on his technical skills and ability to read the game in Serie A. The Spanish defender aligns with Rosenior’s focus on playing from the back and is a good long-term investment.