Pretty much every football observer will be expecting Chelsea to reach into their pockets in January – pockets which are positively bursting at the seams since they sold Oscar for £60m to China.
And Antonio Conte spoke today about Chelsea’s stance on transfers. Sky Sports quotes him as saying:
“About this question [of transfers], it’s important to talk with my club, no? For sure, there are some positions that if we are able to find the right solution, it’s important to take a good solution. This championship is long and it’s important.
“Also I know the difficulty of the January market and to find the right solution, to find the right player. It won’t be easy, but for sure we are talking about this.
“But I don’t like to speak about players that now are playing with another team. I think it’s respect for the player and also for the clubs.”
So who are they most likely to sign?
Ricardo Rodriguez
The adventurous left back never stops running and loves to get forward. He would be the perfect addition to the wingback area and surely Conte can’t expect Moses and Alonso to do that much work all season. Rodriguez has been linked today.
Arturo Vidal
Only moved to Juventus last summer and has been a virtual ever present in the team. But the 29-year-old may have a price as the Italians have always been very pragmatic about selling players who are coming into their autumn years.
Franck Kessie
The brilliant Atalanta midfielder can already do anything at the tender age of 21. He’s box to box, scores goals and is also a great tackler. He would be a wonderful player for now and the future of Chelsea FC.
Virgil van Dijk
The Dutchman’s stock has soared since he moved from Celtic to Southampton and proved that the Saints have a superb scouting department. With several top clubs seemingly interested the price of the 25-year-old is already getting ridiculous.
But there is little doubt that his composure and athleticism would be well received at Chelsea. This guy is a wonderful composed and powerful player who ticks all the boxes as a modern Premier League defender.
Chelsea fans – who would you most like to see at the club this month?