OFFICIAL STANCE: ENZO MARESCA PRIORITIZES SQUAD TRIMMING OVER NEW SIGNINGS THIS JANUARY WINDOW
Chelsea eyes a quiet January window, focusing on selling Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi while scouting elite center-backs for 2026.
Since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took charge at Chelsea in 2022, they've splashed out almost £1.5 billion on players.
They could still use some better centre-backs and forwards. But the Blues did win their first silverware since Roman Abramovich left during the summer, and things are looking up this season.
Chelsea's current owners would rather shake up the team during the summer transfer window than in January.
That doesn't mean they're totally closed off to signing anyone in January. For example, they talked to Antoine Semenyo's agent but decided not to try and get the Bournemouth forward after all.
Top Priority
Chelsea really needs help at centre-back.
They've got Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, and Josh Acheampong, plus Aaron Anselmino and Mamadou Sarr are doing well on loan.
So they have enough bodies, but the quality, besides the injured Levi Colwill, should be better, considering how much Chelsea has spent.
Sources say Chelsea is likely to have a quiet January and might not sign anyone. But they're interested in adding an experienced centre-back, probably next summer.
What Else do They Need
They also need to strengthen the central midfield at some point. Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo shouldn't have to carry the whole load.
They also need to figure out if Robert Sanchez is the goalie for the future. Mike Penders, who's 20 and shining on loan for Strasbourg (Chelsea's sister club), is seen as the natural replacement.
A decision will probably come in the summer, when they're also expected to sign a forward.
Possible Ins
Chelsea isn't in serious talks with anyone right now for January. They decided not to go after Semenyo, so a quiet window is expected.
But their scouts are always watching players. The club has been linked to Konstantinos Karetsas, a Greek kid who plays for Genk, and Djylian N'Guessan, a 17-year-old winger from Saint-Etienne.
Possible Outs
There will be more players leaving than coming in this window.
Raheem Sterling would rather stay in London, but he is not in the first team plans, and he can leave if they find a move that works.
Axel Disasi is also training separately and can leave for good. Chelsea can't loan any more players to foreign clubs because they've already used all six international loan spots.
Big European clubs are watching how much Acheampong plays, and they might want to take him on loan for six months. But Chelsea might not want to let him go. Dario Essugo is in the same situation.
Academy player Shim Mheuka is ready to play more in the first team. They'll consider letting him go on loan.
XAVI OPENLY DECLARES INTEREST IN CHELSEA JOB DURING PERMANENT MANAGER SEARCH
With Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola on the shortlist, explore why Xavi Hernández wants to take over the Chelsea hotseat next.
Xavi has openly said he’d love to manage Chelsea, and now the Blues are hunting for someone to replace Liam Rosenior.
Rosenior got the sack last month after a rough patch just three months into his huge contract that was supposed to last six and a half years. Calum McFarlane is filling in as interim head coach until season’s end, but Chelsea are actively looking for a permanent boss for the 2026/27 campaign.
They're considering some big names. Xabi Alonso’s been mentioned; he’s been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in January. Andoni Iraola, who’s about to leave Bournemouth, is also on the shortlist.
Cesc Fabregas has been linked after his strong run at Como, and Frank Lampard’s in the mix too, fresh off winning the Championship with Coventry and securing promotion.
But Xavi really stands out. He’s already made it clear he’s interested in the Chelsea job. Back in 2019, before his Barcelona return, he said, “I don’t hide it; my goal is to come back to Europe and to Barca. It's my challenge, but I’m enjoying this current project. For me, training a team in Barcelona would be a privilege, the biggest privilege.”
He didn’t just talk about Spain either. “Honestly, who doesn’t love the Premier League? The atmosphere, packed stadiums, everyone says it’s incredible,” Xavi admitted. “If I had to pick, I’d go for a big team: City, United, Chelsea, Arsenal, or Tottenham. Klopp, Pochettino, and Unai Emery are doing amazing work there.”
After returning to Barcelona in 2021, Xavi led them to a La Liga title and the Supercopa de España before Hansi Flick took over in 2024. He’s been out of work since.
Now, Chelsea seems seriously interested in the Spaniard. According to The i, the club wants someone who can embed a strong football identity across their teams, something Enzo Maresca started.
Getting Xavi won’t be easy, though. Morocco’s national team reportedly sees him as a top candidate to replace Walid Regragui, and Manchester United is eyeing him too as they weigh options beyond Michael Carrick.
Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso is the bookmakers’ favourite for the Chelsea role, but word is he’d want more control over club decisions if he moves to west London.
COLE PALMER MISSES PENALTY AS CHELSEA SUFFER HISTORIC SIXTH CONSECUTIVE LEAGUE DEFEAT
Chelsea matched a 1912 record with their 6th straight loss, falling 3-1 to Forest as Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice at the Bridge.
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Chelsea hit rock bottom again, losing 3-1 to Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge. That’s six Premier League defeats in a row now, something the club hadn’t seen since 1912. Just when you thought the season couldn’t get any worse, Forest showed up with a makeshift lineup and absolutely stunned them. Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice, one barely a minute into the match, and then Igor Jesus put away a penalty, and suddenly Forest was six points clear of the drop zone.
Chelsea hadn’t scored in five games, and it looked like that streak would go on forever. Then, in stoppage time, Joao Pedro finally managed an overhead kick to break the drought. That run was made even more ridiculous earlier when Cole Palmer missed a first-half penalty. Matz Sels, Forest’s backup goalkeeper, saved it.
Honestly, the crowd in the Shed End probably barely recognised their own team. Pereira swapped in seven new outfield players, most of them with almost no league experience; he was clearly thinking about the upcoming Europa League semi-final. But it looked like Chelsea was the stranger out there.
Things only got worse for interim head coach Calum McFarlane. He lost Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho to late injuries, so 18-year-old Jesse Derry had to make his Premier League debut. Then, late in the first half, Derry collided heads with Forest’s Zach Abbott and had to be stretchered off after getting oxygen. It was brutal to watch.
The match itself? Chaos. Less than two minutes in, Chelsea messed up their own throw-in and let Forest stroll through midfield. Dilane Bakwa beat Marc Cucurella with little effort and crossed to Awoniyi, who was completely unmarked and headed it in.
Fifteen minutes later, Chelsea conceded again. Bakwa whipped in another cross; Malo Gusto pulled Awoniyi’s shirt, and VAR handed Forest a penalty. Jesus hammered it right down the middle.
The first half was hopeless, and by the end, serious concern set in after that nasty head clash between Derry and Abbott. Abbott, playing just his second league game, left on his own, but Derry needed serious treatment and was stretchered off.
After a nearly ten-minute stoppage, Palmer’s penalty was stopped by Sels. At halftime, Levi Colwill returned from a major injury he hadn’t played since tearing his ACL in August. He tried to restore order, but nothing changed.
Forest’s third goal came just seven minutes into the second half. Gibbs-White crossed, and Awoniyi tapped in from close range, just managing to stay onside. Chelsea’s keeper, Robert Sanchez, took a knock and left with a bandaged head after colliding with Gibbs-White.
Pedro’s late goal barely counted for anything. The few Chelsea fans left in the stadium cheered, but it was more out of irony than joy.
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