16 Jan 2026 21:53:00
Hi Guys and Girls, I'm back after a short break and head wobble and thought I would share this with you fresh in from Kavvy at Sky.
Chelsea are getting close to signing a centre back this month - and also a midfielder or attacker if the right opportunity materialises. Levi Colwill’s recovery from a serious knee injury is going very well and the England centre back remains a central part of Chelsea’s long-term plans. At the same time, Chelsea are cautiously optimistic they will be able to sign a new centre back, who is their preferred option, this month and talks have stepped up. Rennes' 20-year-old defender Jeremy Jacquet is one of their main targets.
On a new midfielder or attacker – Chelsea are working to see whether summer 2026 targets can be signed this month. Chelsea have left a Champions League A slot free in their squad so they can add a new player.
The centre backs Chelsea wanted to sign in the summer were not available when Colwill was injured in August. Chelsea were trying to sign a starting-level centre back all summer – before and after Colwill was injured. Chelsea were confident of signing Dean Huijsen last summer before Real Madrid – who were his dream move since he was a child – agreed a deal to sign the player from Bournemouth.
After missing out on Huijsen, Chelsea struggled to find an elite level centre back in the market who was an upgrade on what they had. Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle United were all trying to sign a centre back and failed to sign anyone of the required standard. Enzo Maresca’s public comments that Chelsea should sign a centre back weakened their leverage.
Looks like 2 or 3 might be coming in. Open those doors.
17 Jan 2026 05:00:20
RPD, welcome back. I was gutted when Huijsen went to RM but I’m pleased we didn’t go a make do type alternative.
Looks like they are determined to only go for a player who is on their list of targets.
17 Jan 2026 09:04:22
Welcome back RPD.
I read recently Liverpool have Jacquet in their sights and now maybe more as they lost out to Man City with Guehi.
Like Tom, I beleive they should only go for a player the club have been following as a priority and not a fall back.
17 Jan 2026 11:10:30
Welcome back RPD and thanks for another inteeresting post. I do agree that an upgrade needed at CB though am a bit concerned that even a v talented youngster Jacquet from the French league may undestandably take time to adjust to the greater pace and physicality of the EPL plus extra pressure in playing for a big club like CFC. But he could be the real deal
IMHO Guehi would have offered us an immediate fix in being both EPL tested plus knowing CFC of course and would only cost City 20 million. I don't know if we even tried for him? It seems that Jacquet will cosr c 50 million and has to be a gamble being so young and with no EPL experience though I confess to being impressed by his physicality and speed on display in his highlights reel.