What Chelsea Fans Can Expect With Transfer Targets Ahead of Deadline Day

• Chelsea have splashed over £400m on signings since Todd Boehly took over the club after completing a £4.25bn takeover
• There are still holes left to fill in the team with a new midfielder and cover for Reece James needed
• The club has hit the rocks with targets in the two positions but there could be twists before the deadline day

Chelsea fans are in a worried state right now with their recent transfer approaches for top targets in midfield and defence getting turned down by selling clubs, Benfica, Brighton and Lyon.

Despite splashing over £400m on transfers already under Todd Boehly, the midfield and right-back positions are still a priority in the January transfer window, and with less than five days left, the Blues can still get their targets over the line.

World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez and Ecuadorian midfielder Moises Caicedo are two top targets in midfield, while Lyon's Malo Gusto is the player being looked at to provide cover for Reece James at right back.

Casemiro's stats: How has the Brazilian midfielder transformed Manchester United since joining the team?

Football

Chelsea's midfield and right-back problems

As noted by Bleacher Report, Davide Zappacosta was the last right-back signed by Chelsea in 2017, with Cesar Azpilicueta having held the position for over eight years.

Reece James came in as a natural successor to the Spaniard. The club has also seen academy talents Tariq Lamptey and Tino Livramento depart while Azpilicueta's contract was extended, and James has been getting injured a lot lately.

Mateo Kovacic, whose loan deal from Madrid was made permanent during the transfer ban in 2019 was the last midfielder signed before the arrival of Carney Chukwuemeka last summer, as noted by Goal.

Former boss Thomas Tuchel was opposed to the idea of signing a new midfielder in the summer, claiming the midfielders he had were only injured, and not disappeared, as reported by 90min.

The biggest World Cup snubs: A list of footballers left out of their countries’ World Cup squad

Football

Fernandez and Caicedo update

Speaking to Sports Brief, CBS journalist and transfer expert issued an update on Chelsea's stance on Fernandez and Caicedo, with the Brighton man being the likeliest of the two.

'Nothing new on Enzo. Benfica stance remains 'release clause or nothing'. Caicedo is still not impossible despite Brighton's desire to hang on to him. Caicedo wants the move now but he's not the type of character to force it, he told Sports Brief.

Malo Gusto update

Even though Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas made a statement confirming the 19-year-old will stay till the end of the season, Chelsea fans can retain hope that a transfer can be completed in the next few days.

As noted by Express, he has made similar comments regarding Bruno Guimaraes, Alexander Lacazette and Tanguy Ndombele, all of whom transfer to Newcastle, Arsenal and Tottenham respectively in the same window.

Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer: Is CR7 leaving Manchester United and which clubs are likely to acquire him?

Football

Fans love Onana's rejection

Sports Brief earlier reported that Chelsea fans reacted happily to Onana's rejection. The Everton midfielder turned down a move to London having just moved to England last summer.

He reportedly wants to stay and help the Merseyside side fight their relegation battle this season, with the hopes that they survive, and he leaves in the summer if a good offer comes.

The Blues fans did not hide their joy at the rejection for a player who they did not want at their club in the first place and would rather stick to what they have.