Who could Chelsea sign in January? Reported targets as Blues face Premier League title battle
Whether they’d like to admit it or not, Chelsea are in a Premier League title race.
The Blues went into Christmas four points off top spot. Even though league leaders Liverpool had a game in hand, this gap represents the growth they have made under Enzo Maresca.
But Chelsea still have quite a young squad and, with money at their disposal, the Blues will always be linked with signing new players.
“For us, the main focus is we have a clear idea about players,” Maresca told reporters this month about January signings.
“We could have players who aren’t playing a lot who may leave, but in this moment it is not something we pay attention to. We have three games before that then we will see.”
So, who could the Blues sign?
Marcus Rashford
The obvious name being linked to a lot of clubs this winter will be Marcus Rashford. The Englishman looks likely to leave Manchester United in January, with reports suggesting the Red Devils are looking to move him on.
Rashford himself has said: “For me, personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps.”
It does look unlikely that Rashford will join another Premier League side, but Chelsea have been linked with the Englishman in the past. Just this summer, Rashford was being touted with a move to Stamford Bridge, though Jadon Sancho ended up being the one to switch Manchester for London. In Rashford, Chelsea would have a man capable of playing multiple positions in their attack. Which is something Maresca could cherish.
Since the start of the 2017-18 Premier League campaign, Rashford has played just over half of his minutes on the left wing. Left wing is perhaps the best route into the Chelsea team too, with Sancho just about edging Joao Felix for that starting spot at the moment.
Rashford’s 23% of minutes through the middle would also be good for Chelsea if Nicolas Jackson isn’t available, with the Blues striker still a tad prone to a yellow card. In fact, Pedro Neto on the right is prone to a yellow too, so Rashford’s 23% of minutes on that flank could also prove key.
And, of course, Chelsea fans may want to see Rashford in their squad just so he cannot score against them. The Englishman has six goals in 20 games against Chelsea, only netting more against two other clubs in his senior career.
Viktor Gyokeres
The other big name on everyone’s lips this winter is Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish striker has been tearing defences apart in the Primeira Liga since moving to Sporting CP in 2023.
Gyokeres has scored 70 goals in 76 games for Sporting CP across all competitions, helping them win the league in 2023-24. So far this season, he’s already scored 18 goals in the Primeira Liga and added another five in the Champions League.
The 26-year-old is the top scorer in Europe’s top seven leagues, and only Erling Haaland (12) has scored more from open play. Gyokeres sits third for shots (70) and shots on target (33), and second for Expected Goals (15.58) and Expected Goals on Target (15.41). But he does lead with 17 big chances scored.
In case some may have forgotten, Gyokeres is a man with history in England. He played eight times for Brighton, though never featured in the Premier League, and scored 43 goals in 116 games for Coventry City.
Chelsea do have Jackson leading their line and most would advise them to stick with the Senegalese striker, who continues to grow under Maresca. But if they want someone to make an instant impact, the Blues could be persuaded.
Jordan Pickford
One problem position for Chelsea this season is still the goalkeeper. The Blues have struggled to get a solid No.1 since Thibaut Courtois, who they used to replace Petr Cech. After years of having two of the best goalkeepers of their time, Chelsea are a level below their rivals in this position.
Robert Sanchez is the man currently trusted between the sticks in the Premier League. But while he has saved Chelsea a few times this season, the Spaniard has also cost his side — causing frustration for a lot of Chelsea fans.
Jordan Pickford is a name that has been linked with Chelsea in recent weeks. But the Blues could lose any battle before it really begins amid reports that Everton are set to offer the Englishman a new contract.
There may be some recency bias involved, as Pickford brought Chelsea’s winning Premier League run to an end with four saves in a goalless draw. But he continues to prove himself a consistently reliable goalkeeper across the years.
This season, Pickford has kept seven clean sheets in the Premier League, with no goalkeeper managing more. He’s made 49 saves and conceded 22 goals, from 22.22 Expected Goals on Target conceded. And he saved two penalties, recently denying Haaland from the spot.
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David Hancko
Another problem for Chelsea is their defence. In generally they have been a tad leaky, but it’s the position where they have also struggled most for injury. For their Boxing Day game against Fulham, Chelsea only had three senior centre-backs to call upon — Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi.
According to reports, Chelsea are keeping their eye on Feyenoord defender David Hancko, who is also reportedly a target for Tottenham Hotspur.
The 27-year-old has been a solid member of Feyenoord’s defence since joining in 2022, helping them to win the league title in his first season. This season, although Feyenoord sit fourth, their defence hasn’t been too bad.
Hancko has completed 45 clearances so far in the Eredivisie, winning possession 35 times in the defensive third. He’s also won possession 44 times in the middle third, sitting just outside the top 10 there — impressive stats for a centre-back.
Hancko is a strong passer too, which Chelsea need. Only one player has attempted and completed more final third passes than Hancko’s 320 and 250 in the Eredivisie this season. He also sits fourth for touches (1,641) in the Dutch top flight.
