Rosenior is hoping for a defenderplaceholder image
Rosenior is hoping for a defender | AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea are said to be willing to reach a compromised deal to land their prime target.
Chelsea are now said to be willing to compromise in negotiations for a key January target in a move that could keep them at the front of the queue. The Blues have been working on striking deals this month, with two positions in line to be strengthened.
Centre-back has been an issue since the summer for Chelsea, with Enzo Maresca warning it would be after Levi Colwill was ruled out for the season. Chelsea have options there, but they lack top-level centre-backs who can define the biggest games.
Elsewhere, Liam Rosenior is said to be keen on adding another midfielder for extra depth, but with Romero Lavia in his way back, it is not seen as a make or break addition, and the Blues are only likely to do a deal if it is a cheap or a loan one.
Though, in a fresh twist, it now seems as though the defensive deal may also have to wait due to negotiations failing to progress, or at least on Chelsea’s preferred terms. Rennes star Jeremy Jacquet has been a target all window, with the Blues believing the 20-year-old will become one of the next best defenders in the coming years.
But January is always a tough month to do business, and Rennes naturally do not want to lose one of their starting centre-backs at this stage of the season. According to reports, the French club have refused to budge, turning down big money.
That hasn’t put Chelsea off, but TEAMtalk are now saying that the Blues have finally accepted that a compromise will need to be found if they are to land Jacquet. It’s claimed Chelsea accept that the compromise is to do a deal ahead of the summer rather than now.
That will give them the advantage amid interest from the likes of Liverpool in Jacquet, with Chelsea already in negotiations and able to strike a deal for the centre-back to join this summer. That doesn’t help the Blues now, but signing a starting centre-back was always going to be tricky in January, unless they want to spend silly money, which is not an option.
Chelsea can make do for now
With Chelsea not in the title conversation and reasonably unlikely to win the Champions League, they can manage for now without these new additions. Ultimately, having an elite centre-back pairing or not could well be the difference between winning the title or not, but Chelsea are not at that stage, and the options they have are good enough to battle for a top four finish.
Meanwhile, Aaron Anselmino has been brought back from Borussia Dortmund having done well there, and in the midfield, Lavia is due back, as mentioned. Rosenior has said of the holding midfielder in the last week: “Obviously, his recent history has not been what he's wanted in terms of minutes on the pitch and his health.
“Romeo is an outstanding player and has the potential and ability to be a world-class midfield player when he's back and if he stays fit. So we're taking it really, really carefully with him. He has to clear a few more hurdles to train fully, but it's great to see him back with the players today. I know his qualities and I know what he can bring if we can keep him fit. I'm very excited to work with him.”
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