Transfer deadline day is once again upon us and there will be plenty of twists and turns, several surprise deals, and the odd scramble to beat the 11pm deadline. Just don't expect Chelsea to be heavily involved.
It's been a quiet window for the Blues thus far with only one player signed by Marina Granovskaia. That was 18-year-old Dylan Williams, who arrived from Derby County and will predominantly play left wing-back for the Development Squad in the months ahead.
There have been exits from Chelsea. Academy graduate Lewis Baker ended his long association with the club to sign with Stoke City while Tariq Uwakwe departed for Crewe Alexandra.
Jamie Cumming, meanwhile, moved on from Gillingham and will spend the remainder of the season on loan at MK Dons. Juan Castillo also switched to Charlton Athletic after a frustrating loan spell at Birmingham City.
Further movement is expected within the loan army today as football.london understands Tino Anjorin is set to join Huddersfield Town for the remainder of the campaign.
The 20-year-old spent the first half of the season at Lokomotiv Moscow but will continue his development at the Championship promotion chasers alongside Levi Colwill.
Thomas Tuchel's first-team squad hasn't been depleted this month and has been bolstered by the return of Kenedy. The Brazilian was recalled from his disappointing loan spell at Flamengo early into January and was expected to head out on loan to Spain.
However, with Chelsea in need of cover at left wing-back and the Blues failing to end Emerson Palmieri's loan spell at Lyon early, the 25-year-old appears set to remain at Cobham.
”Kenedy is back and I’m very happy about it, this is huge," Tuchel said earlier this month. "It's a huge opportunity for him to make his mark at this club and within this team. We will try now from today on to push and support him as well as we can.
"We cannot say Kenedy is the solution. He can be a solution. But the situation has not changed: we have long-term injuries at wing-back, we suffered a lot."
Chelsea spent the opening three weeks of the transfer window holding discussions with Lyon to bring back Emerson Palmieri, who was Tuchel's first-choice option to cover at left wing-back in the option of Ben Chilwell.
However, despite the Blues being prepared to pay compensation in excess of £3million to the Ligue 1 side to ensure the 27-year-old returned to Stamford Bridge, Lyon stood firm on their decision, something they were aided in by Newcastle paying £33m for midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.
Another option that has been mooted is Barcelona's Sergino Dest, who is capable of filling in on either side of a back four or in the two wing-back positions.
But last week the USMNT star's agent, Michael Reschke, stated Dest was content in Catalonia despite his reduced game time since the appointment of Xavi. "Sergino Is happy in Barcelona," Reschke said. "It is a big club. That's why it is quite unlikely at this moment."
And while football.london understands Chelsea scouts have watched VfB Stuttgart's left wing-back Borna Sosa – and as recently as this month – no move has yet been made for the 24-year-old Croatia international who is valued at around £25million by the Bundesliga club.
One player that has been linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge over the past week is Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele. The France international is out of contract at the Camp Nou in the summer and has turned down multiple offers to renew his deal.
As a result, the La Liga giants are keen to sell Dembele before the transfer window closes tonight and are demanding a reported £18million.
“It seems to us obvious that the player does not want to stay at Barcelona, is not committed to Barca's future sporting project.
"In this scenario, we communicated to him and his agents that he must leave immediately as we want players committed to this project," Barcelona director of football, Mateu Alemany, said earlier this month.
Chelsea are understood to be monitoring Dembele's situation at Barcelona given Tuchel is a huge admirer of the 24-year-old, who he worked with at Borussia Dortmund, but a summer approach is more likely.
That is if Dembele does run his contract down at Barcelona, however, as there growing reports in France that Paris Saint-Germain will try to bring the winger to the Parc des Princes before tonight's deadline.
Given Tuchel is content with his first-team squad, there are not expected to be any major departures in the coming hours. Ross Barkley could move on if a loan or permanent offer is made but Chelsea have yet to receive a genuine approach.
Armando Broja will also not be leaving the Blues permanently for current loan club Southampton. The Saints are interested in signing the striker – and Anjorin – from Chelsea but will not be pushing ahead on deals for either player until their Premier League status is secure for next season.
The Blues are expected to be far busier come the summer as Tuchel looks to refresh his squad and Chelsea are likely to pursue a move for Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde in the coming months, who they failed to sign late in August after the La Liga side insisted his £68million release was met.
Liverpool and Real Madrid have reportedly both shown an interest in the France international this term but sources believe the Blues will try to get a deal done ahead of the summer window.
Bayern Munich defender Niklas Sule is also being considered by Chelsea and he will be available on a free transfer in the summer when his contract comes to an end.
