Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has revealed that the London club could be set for a busy final few days of the January transfer window.
The January transfer window will close on Monday evening, as any Premier League club willing to do business have to get things sorted before then.
Chelsea are looking to strengthen in both central midfield and attack but that could wait until the summer, while they have made efforts to sign a ball-playing centre-back by holding talks with Rennes over Jeremy Jacquet.
The French club would prefer to hold on to the 20-year-old until the summer, while Chelsea would like to add him to their squad now.
Its been a quiet January so far in terms of incomings at Stamford Bridge. However, the next few days could be busy.
Chelsea terminated Raheem Sterling’s contract this January (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
“The priority is to make the squad as strong as possible for the rest of the season,” Rosenior said ahead of Chelsea’s latest London derby against West Ham when asked about transfers.
“That’s always the priority. I’ve been a manager long enough to know things can change very, very quickly in the January market in terms of who’s out there, and the situation with our players.”
Asked whether centre-back was a key priority to strengthen before the deadline, he replied: “It is a possibility. Every area. My job and the guys’ job is to try to strengthen every area.
“If we see something, I know the guys are willing to do it. I don’t want to bring in players for the sake of it. There is a possibility it could be busy. There is a possibility it could be quiet.”
Rosenior also gave an update on Axel Disasi’s future. The Frenchman who has been frozen out of the first-team picture, is hoping to leave Chelsea before the deadline and has interest from clubs in Italy, including Roma, and England.
West Ham want him on loan but Chelsea would rather sell.
“For Axel, I’m delighted [he’s training],” Rosenior said. “I don’t like the term ‘bomb squad’. They’re human beings. If anything comes up that works for Axel, great.”
Quizzed whether anything was imminent on a Disasi departure, he said: “Not at the moment.”
Chelsea during this January transfer window have recalled goalkeeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe from Bolton, Caleb Wiley from Watford, Aaron Anselmino from Borussia Dortmund and Kendry Paez from Strasbourg, with the latter immediately sent to Argentine giants River Plate.
Raheem Sterling’s contract was terminated by mutual agreement, and Facundo Buonanotte’s season-loan from Brighton was cancelled early in order for him to join Leeds.
Leo Castledine was also recalled from his spell at Huddersfield in order to join Championship promotion-chasers Middlesbrough on a permanent deal.
