Five players who could join Chelsea in January

Cameron Smith

5 Dec 2023 16:56 CST
4 min read

Victor Osimhen, Napoli, 2023/24 — © ProShots

Chelsea have endured a mixed season under Mauricio Pochettino and Todd Boehly’s huge investment has not yet seen the results it should have.

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The Blues have decided to pursue a long-term project that will ensure future success, but after a rough start to the 2023-24 campaign, Chelsea’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League have been knocked.

While Cole Palmer has hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge, Nicolas Jackson has epitomised the club’s transfer strategy.

He’s shown real promise at times, but it’s clear he is extremely raw and perhaps not ready to compete at the very highest level.

As a result, additional new signings have been touted for the January transfer window.

Given Chelsea’s business last year - in which they bought far too many players - the Blues are reportedly set to adopt a one-in, one-out policy this time around.

© ProShots - Benoit Badiashile joined Chelsea in January 2023

However, there are a number of players on the verge of leaving the club, which means arrivals are likely too.

Ian Maatsen and Trevoh Chalobah are destined to depart Chelsea in January and their pursuit of a striker could see them dip into the market. But, which five players could move to Stamford Bridge during the winter window?

Victor Osimhen (Napoli)

This one is certainly far-fetched, but stranger things have happened in football. Chelsea appear desperate to sign a world-class number nine and Victor Osimhen is the best available option.

Napoli have no intention of selling the Nigeria international mid-season, but given Boehly propensity for spending huge sums of money, it would be foolish to rule out a move for Osimhen in January.

Leny Yoro (Lille)

Just like Napoli, Lille will aim to retain their prized assets in January, but Leny Yoro is being tracked by several elite European clubs and Chelsea are one of them.

He is a regular at Lille at just 18 years old and given Chelsea’s use of the French market over the past year (six French players have joined the club since 2022), signing Yoro would make sense.

Chalobah is on his way out and given Thiago Silva’s age, signing another centre-back makes perfect sense, even if Axel Disasi only arrived in the summer.

Gabriel Moscardo (Corinthians)

Gabriel Moscardo is regarded as one of the most talented midfielders in South America and that is why both PSG and Chelsea are battling to sign him.

Liverpool and Barcelona have both expressed an interest in the Brazilian previously, but it seems as though it’s a straight shootout between PSG and Chelsea now.

The Parisians appear to be winning the race as things stand, but Pochettino’s side have convinced several young Brazilian talents to move to west London over the past few months and Moscardo could be the next.

Roony Bardghji (Copenhagen)

Rooney Bardghji is another young talent who is being monitored by Chelsea and Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that major European clubs are sniffing around ahead of the January window.

The Copenhagen starlet scored a stunner against Manchester United in the Champions League, but Chelsea were pursuing a move before that even happened and that could prove crucial as they look to wrap up a deal amid competition from the likes of Juventus.

Santiago Gimenez (Feyenoord)

Although the aforementioned Osimhen is Chelsea’s preferred option to become their new striker, Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez is an alternative.

FootballTransfers understand that Chelsea are tracking the Mexican ahead of the January window and a move could happen if the Blues aren’t willing to wait until next summer for Osimhen.

Gimenez’s form this season has attracted interest from Chelsea scouts and a deal could happen if a reasonable offer is lodged.