Chelsea never looked as if they were going to make a signing on deadline day and that proved to be the case, as Liam Rosenior’s side went the entire window without a senior addition.
It wasn’t for a want of trying. Chelsea wanted a centre-back throughout the winter window and after a long-winded pursuit of Jeremy Jacquet, the club ended up bringing Mamadou Sarr back from his loan.
Chelsea also wanted a midfielder, but interest in Douglas Luiz and Curtis Jones never turned into an official bid or a signing. Luiz has instead moved to Aston Villa, while Jones has remained at Anfield.
We had the whole of January to sign Jeremy Jacquet and come up short 😡
Who is to blame for this?!
Fabrizio Romano update on Jeremy Jacquet
Photo by Ramsey Cardy – Sportsfile/UEFA via Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Even on deadline day, however, reports from France claim that Chelsea remained in talks over a late move to pull off a £26m signing. But after ‘hours’ of talks to do a deal, the player in question rejected a deal.
Chelsea spent ‘hours’ trying to convince Tylel Tati to join
Reports emerged on Sunday that Chelsea had tabled a bid to sign 18-year-old Tylel Tati from Nantes. If anyone was concerned that Jacquet lacked experience with little over 60 senior games, Tati has less.
Nantes' Tylel Tati.
Photo by Loic VENANCE / AFP via Getty Images
Indeed, France youth international Tati has only managed 20 appearances for Nantes. Yet, Chelsea were keen and tried to do a £26m deal that would have seen the club loan Tati to Strasbourg this month.
French newspaper L’Equipe report that Chelsea were in talks for ‘hours’ on deadline day to try and get a deal done for the teenage talent. However, Tati himself chose to remain at Nantes until the summer.
Why were Chelsea ever interested in signing a centre-back?
It does sound a bit strange that Chelsea wanted a central defender when Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Mamadou Sarr, Aaron Anselmino and Josh Acheampong are at the club.
DISCUSS: Dayot Upamecano to Chelsea
A more experienced option than Jeremy Jacquet ✅
Dayot Upamecano transfer rumour graphic
Photo by Sebastian El-Saqqa – firo sportphoto/Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Even Axel Disasi could have come in from the cold, while Jorrel Hato could cover at centre-back. But, Sarr and Anselmino started the month out on loan, while Tosin had joined Colwill on the sidelines injured.
Disasi was one half of the remaining bomb squad alongside the now-released Raheem Sterling. So, there was a need for a centre-back. But instead of signing Tati, Chelsea have decided to recall Sarr this month.
Sarr captained Strasbourg for a period while Rosenior was in charge and fresh from winning the African Cup of Nations, there is real hope that Sarr could go on to become a star at Stamford Bridge.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox