When asked which areas of Chelsea's squad needed work in the transfer market this month Graham Potter played with a straight bat. His response was typically measured and gave little away, he was hardly going to throw certain players and positions under the microscope.
His answer did have a bit more to it than normal though, instead of stating that he's happy with his team and that there's strengths to every position he instead answered: “It’s a good question but the problem is if I answer it and I'm specific in that answer, every single player in that area will be linked with Chelsea."
Ultimately that happens already, players are linked and names are thrown about but Potter's insistence on not answering wasn't, he said, down to the quality of his squad rather than the noise his answer would create. In essence, he didn't exactly defend his squad or make out that it wasn't in need of change.
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It's not the hardline Antonio Conte response or Jose Mourinho publicly calling for more action but it's acceptance from the man in charge that new players are needed, albeit indirectly. That much is evident and Chelsea are acting like a club that know it. Their January activity already points towards an overhaul, one that many have said has been needed for a while.
At the top of the list for incomings is Enzo Fernandez. A midfielder because the last time a permanent player in the middle of the park was signed goes all the way back to 2019. The last defensive midfielder was bought in 2017. With ageing legs and no physical presence it's no surprise that the Blues lack control and stability under Potter.
Liverpool are also short in midfield and have their own issues. Manchester City are strong and build from Rodri whilst Arsenal have a stable three based around Thomas Partey. Chelsea simply don't have this and it shouldn't be a surprise to see them dipping into the market for players to fill the void.
Manchester United themselves had struggled for balance with Paul Pogba, Fred, Nemanja Matic and Scott McTominay. Over the summer they signed Casemiro and have built a foundation for growth around him under Erik ten Hag. Speaking about the squad's overall improvement Gary Neville said: "They just look like they’ve got something going for them, a bit of experience about the midfield - Eriksen, Casemiro, Fernandes - it looks wiser."
Whereas Chelsea are looking for a younger model in Fernandez the point still stands that investment in the midfield is vital. Neville has called for it at Old Trafford and the same message applies at Stamford Bridge. Potter knows it and things look set to change with Fernandez edging closer to a mammoth £112m move.
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