Transfer Deadline Week | Three realistic Chelsea targets who could help Pochettino with his project | Opinion

Potential signings for Chelsea as January transfer window closes

As we approach the end of the January transfer window, the fact that Chelsea have yet to make moves in the transfer market is a sign that manager Mauricio Pochettino remains content with the squad that he has at his disposal. Even though the squad is capable of putting up a strong fight, there certainly are some gaps that the manager might want to fill.

The Blues have seen themselves in headlines linked with a move for almost every player on planet Earth ever since Todd Boehly took over the club. From a realistic point of view, the Blues have some areas where they could do with reinforcements. The aim of this piece is to circle down to three players that Chelsea could sign in the coming week to help the Blues end their 2023-24 campaign on a positive note.

Recurring injuries to captain Reece James means Chelsea have often seen themselves short of reinforcement when it comes to the right-back position. Malo Gusto has been great, but additional depth will surely only help the Blues’ cause. Another area of concern is central defence. We need to find a long-term replacement for Thiago Silva, who is nearing 39, and his contract ends this summer. A centre-forward at last, will help increase the competition for a place in the XI and bring the best out of our strike options that include Nicholas Jackson and Armando Broja.

Kyle Walker-Peters

26-year-old Kyle Walker-Peters needs very little introduction. He has made enough name for himself playing for Southampton in the Premier League for the longest time; albeit the Saints are now in the Championship. Even though his attacking numbers certainly do not STAND out compared to Reece James, we must also note that he plays for a team that is mostly out of possession. Moreover, availability is the biggest asset. Even though they have similar playing minutes, KWP is clear when it comes to injury records. The former Tottenham man steers clear past James in terms of progressive carries, as per FBRef. He also has nearly double the number of defensive actions per 90 compared to James.

Jacob Steinberg of the Guardian recently noted via Twitter that the Blues show an interest in securing the services of Walker-Peters who will surely be a decent addition to the squad. Even though he is older than both, James and Gusto, he is still only 26 and has loads of untapped potential and ability in him that might see itself unlocked when he moves to a club that likes to attack more using their fullbacks.

Although £30m-£35m might come across as a tad bit overboard for KWP, a move for the player is surely something Chelsea should make to ensure that there is enough depth in the squad, and enough competence in the squad and a sense of competitive nature amongst the players themselves to see the best come out.

Antonio Silva

It is probably not the best thing to compare a 39-year-old to a 20-year-old but it is what Chelsea will do if they make a move for Benfica’s Portuguese centre-back Antonio Silva.

Both players are very similar in their style of play. Where Silva takes the cake is his ability to indulge in duels and win them. He is a great progresser of the football and carries it well. So that’s the fine balance between a decent level of attacking output alongside defensive solidity.

Very recently, the Mirror linked Silva with a move to Chelsea and mentioned a rejected bid of £52m. What say Blues? Young Silva for the old one? A tad bit expensive but surely has the potential to be worth it and beyond.

Serhou Guirassy

The Guinean international has more goals per 90 than Chelsea striker Nicholas Jackson, despite the latter having 4.4 more 90s under his belt as per FBRef. We shall refrain from comparing the second-highest goalscorer in the Bundesliga to Armando Broja as we do not want a case of violence on ourselves. Jokes apart, Guirassy is surely a major improvement over our current strike options. 86pth shot creating actions, 99pth non-penalty goals, and 81pth total shots among strikers is a testament to the world-class finishing abilities Guirassy has.

In terms of plain numbers, the 27-year-old striker has 19 goals and two assists in 16 appearances across all competitions this season. Although he might come across as a tad bit older, we have seen what the age-policy did to Chelsea over the summer when James Maddison went on to join Tottenham and took the Premier League by storm before his untimely injury.

What Guirassy promises is goals and possibly, instant impact. He surely cannot be any worse than the situation Chelsea find themselves in, so it is a gamble that can surely be worth all the money. Even though he has not seen himself extensively linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, he can surely elevate the team’s clause. £17m release clause as well. Not too expensive.

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• Chelsea alter Armando Broja’s value to earn a significant profit from his exit

As the transfer window’s final days unfold, attention turns to the three potential signings that might enhance the Blues’ prospects for a positive conclusion to the 2023-24 campaign, showcasing the ongoing evolution and ambitions of this dynamic football club.