Chelsea named as main transfer rival for European giants over January transfer agreement

Chelsea are still being linked with a move for a player they have liked the look of for some time. It was an interesting summer transfer window for the Blues, who did much of their business at the start and end of the window, with plenty of time in between spent focused on sales and raising money.

The Blues ended the window having strengthened many of the areas they were hoping to strengthen, but some question marks do remain.

Chelsea’s decision t allow Nicolas Jackson to leave calls into question the quality of their striker depth, with Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Marc Guiu their options, while Delap has an injury that will keep him out for a good few weeks.

Enzo Maresca still seems content with Robert Sanchez, but the Spaniard is going to have to prove himself, and perhaps the biggest question mark is at centre-back after the injury suffered by Levi Colwill. Maresca made it clear he wanted a centre-back, but the club disagreed.

Maresca said: "The club know exactly what I think. I think we need a central defender. We are looking for an internal solution but as I said, the club know exactly what I think."

Those comments suggest that if Chelsea do go bac into the market in the January transfer window, it is very likely they will prioritise a move for a centre-back unless they lose a starter in another position. The weekend’s 2-2 draw with Brentford will only have added to concern over defensive quality.

Chelsea have regularly been linked with the re-signing of Marc Guehi, who had an eventful ending to the transfer window. The Crystal Palace star had a medical at Liverpool only for the Eagles to tell him he couldn’t leave at the last minute due to failing to find a replacement.

Palace will now face the possibility of losing the defender for free unless they can find a buyer in the January window, and they still have the issue of needing a replacement. Reports in Italy say Juventus are interested, and they are eligible to agree a pre-contract agreement ahead of the summer from January 1, but the Italian club don’t necessarily have an advantage.

Tuttomercatoweb have reported that Chelsea remain interested in Guehi and that they are ready to rival Liverpool and Juventus for a deal. Guehi may well prefer to stay in England, and the Premier League clubs do have that advantage.

But much will come down to whether Palace decide to sell him in January or keep hold of him until the summer. Reports have already suggested that Liverpool will wait until the summer having missed out last time around.

Chelsea might have other ideas, and it’s likely Guehi will be available at or below the £35million quoted in the summer. Guehi is very unlikely to sign a new contract at Palace after being left unhappy with the way the deadline day played out. This saga will likely dominate the January rumours.

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