As we already know, Chelsea made the tough decision of making no signings in the January transfer window.
Despite clear fan uproar on social media, with many worried at the lack of backing for Thomas Tuchel, it has been argued that Marina Granovskaia made the right decision not to panic buy on deadline day with the Saul Niguez example exemplified in this situation.
Names such as Sergino Dest, Leyvin Kurzawa and Ousmane Dembele amongst many others were hot topics on social media throughout the transfer window but football.london understands that the only player the Blues board made a solid attempt for was loanee Emerson Palmieri.
A £3 million compensation package wasn't enough for the European Champions to claim their Italian international back, with Lyon standing firm amid fan pressures on their end.
Instead, Kenedy was brought back from loan and now will be given chances over the remainder of the season to provide cover for Marcos Alonso coupled with potentially more Lewis Hall appearances.
In spite of the clear need for reinforcements in the backline amid injuries to Ben Chilwell and Reece James, one part of the club Chelsea did strengthen significantly was in the academy set-up.
Derby's Dylan Williams could be the £50million left-back's natural heir in the future as Chelsea took the young talent off Wayne Rooney's books in the East Midlands whilst Mason Burstow was signed on deadline day from Charlton Athletic.
However, the west London outfit were close to potentially signing a new left-back who may have been dropped in for certain games if he would have signed from the South Coast.
According to Goal, Chelsea had two late bids rejected for Brighton’s 17-year-old left-back Zak Sturge.
"Having turned down a Seagulls contract in December, he is likely to leave for Europe when his deal expires in the summer," the report said.
"Leverkusen and Wolfsburg are reportedly interested."
It would have been interesting to see if the academy set-up wanted two left-back's instead of just the one but at least a player held in high regard by Rooney and co at the Championship strugglers did end up making the move to the capital.
Williams and Burstow could make their Blues debuts in the upcoming Premier League 2 clash on February 4 against Arsenal's Under 23s in a London derby between 11th placed Chelsea and the 4th placed Gunners.
