The biggest story in terms of the January transfer window for Chelsea so far has surprisingly been their total lack of success in buying anybody.
It could possibly be seen as one of the worst transfers windows for the blues. Sometimes however buying no players is better than panic buying. Over the last couple of seasons panic buying on deadline day has brought in, Papi Dijilobodji, Matt Miazga, Michael Hector, Juan Cuadrado and Loic Remy. None of these players are anywhere near the first team. Indeed none of them are currently in the Chelsea squad with all of them having already been sold on or loaned out.
So far in the January window Chelsea have tried and failed to buy the strikers, Fernando Llorente from Swansea and Adama Traore from Middlesbrough. These deals would have made sense. Traore, at 21 is an up and coming talent. Llorente, 31 is currently on fire in the Premier league. They may be at opposite ends of their careers, but as Chelsea continue to look for back up to Diego Costa, either of these players would fit the bill. Costa is going nowhere of course. He is though, prone to suspension and injury, so Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is constantly on the look out for back up. Despite his second striker Bathshuayi scoring regularly, Conte feels he is not ready to step up to the starting line up whenever necessary.
And so to deadline day. So far Chelsea have been chasing Moussa Dembele from Celtic. It is reported that Chelsea were prepared to offer £30 million for the 20 year old striker. Celtic not keen to sell their young star slapped a £40 million price tag on his head and that was that….no deal.
Next in line was Schalke wing back Sead Kolasinic. Their sporting director knocked back a £5.3 million offer from Chelsea. Schalke prefer to see the Bosnian international play out his contract which ends in June. Chelsea will then face stiff competition from Juventus to sign Kolasinic on a free transfer.
Inter Milan winger, Jonathan Biabiany, turned down a loan move to Chelsea. This may be a surprise snub from the 28 year old France International as he is currently only a reserve player at the Italian giants. His motive however was that he believed he would not be a part of the main Chelsea set up. To go from reserve at one club to another just does not make sense!
The final player Chelsea were chasing is another Celtic player. Craig Gordon. The Scotland No.1 goalkeeper was subject to an improved bid from Chelsea of £4 million, but it was still not enough to tempt Brendan Rodgers to let his keeper go.
It no looks like that there will be no incoming players to Stamford Bridge unless Conte has a last minute trick up his sleeve. With Chelsea about to kick off in their massive game against Liverpool it seems highly unlikely that the Italian’s mind will be concentrated anywhere else right now other than Anfield!
