Chelsea attempt transfer 'hijack' on Tottenham as £50m striker makes key decision
Chelsea made just one signing during the January transfer window, despite seven departures.
The Blues had been targeting a striker, and a centre-back in the January transfer window, but failed to land players at either position.
Instead, they signed Saint-Etienne midfielder Mathis Amougou, who they signed from the French side on a permanent deal for a fee of £12.4m. He signed an eight-year contract and is training with the team this week.
Enzo Maresca will be frustrated that he couldn’t sign a striker, as his side is currently embroiled in a fight to qualify for the Champions League. They sit fourth in the Premier League table after winning 2-1 against West Ham in their last match.
Chelsea attempted a deadline-day transfer hijack for Mathys Tel
The biggest story of transfer deadline day was Tottenham’s signing of Bayern Munich striker Mathys Tel. He joined Spurs on a loan deal until the end of the season, with an option to buy him for a fee of £50m.
Tel was also linked with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United, but ended up moving to Spurs, despite the fact that he initially rejected a move there. Reports that Chelsea tried to hijack Tottenham’s deal for the 19-year-old have emerged. According to French outlet L’Equipe, Chelsea made a late approach to Tel whilst he was flying to London on Monday, however, it was too late.
The move mirrored a deadline day strategy that Chelsea used in 2013, when they hijacked a Tottenham deal for winger Willian, who ended up signing for the Blues for a fee of £29.5m. The Brazilian was a success at Stamford Bridge, scoring 63 goals and 57 assists for the Blues in seven years. He now looks set to re-join Fulham as a free agent after leaving Greek side Olympiacos in December.
Chelsea lose £43m-rated attacker in deadline day deal
Alongside Chelsea not being able to sign a striker in the January window, they also saw an attacker depart on transfer deadline day. Joao Felix completed a loan move to AC Milan for a loan fee of £4.5m; he will remain at the San Siro for the remainder of the season. The Italian club will also cover 100% of Felix’s salary. Felix’s loan deal to AC Milan doesn’t include an option to buy.
He only re-joined Chelsea in the summer transfer window after he’d had a six-month loan spell at the club in 2023. Felix signed for £43m from the La Liga club, but has only made 20 appearances, including just 12 in the Premier League.
Despite scoring seven goals in all competitions this season, he’s struggled to get regular game time under Maresca. He will join up with many former Blues including Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Tammy Abraham at the San Siro.