New Delhi: Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea have been uncharacteristically quiet in this transfer window with the club not really making any moves this month. The only activity that they have done is recall Trevoh Chalobah back from his loan at Crystal Palace and agree a deal to sign 19-year-old Mamadou Sarr from sister club RC Strasbourg in the summer for a reported fee of £11.9 million. With Sarr not joining till next season and Chalobah already a Chelsea player, there hasn’t been any new additions to the club till now but that could still change in the final days of the window.
According to reports in England, from reputed publications like Sky Sports and The Athletic, the club are interested in signing a left sided winger and have expressed interest in Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho and Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens. Both 20-year-olds have been in good form this season and continue to attract interest from multiple clubs across Europe.
The question that arises though, is that why are Chelsea looking for another winger despite already being stacked in the department. The club already had Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk on their books before adding Jadon Sancho and Pedro Neto in the summer. Add to that they have Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku who are struggling for regular game time, is there a need for the club to sign another winger? Let’s find out!
Do Chelsea need to add another winger this January?
The short answer to that question is yes, Chelsea do need a winger in this window and not just any winger, they need a goal scoring winger. Manager Enzo Maresca has also called for goals from his attack amidst their five game winless run that saw them score just four goals, three of which came via the boot of Cole Palmer. Chelsea’s search for another winger stems from a combination of on-field challenges and uncertainties surrounding their current squad.
A major factor driving this pursuit is the potential long-term absence of Mykhailo Mudryk, who faces a provisional suspension after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium. If his B sample confirms the violation, Mudryk could face a lengthy ban, leaving Chelsea without a squad player who has contributed in cup competitions this season. Although Mudryk has not been a regular starter under head coach Enzo Maresca, his three goals and five assists in the Conference League and Carabao Cup highlight his value as a rotational option.
Mykhailo Mudryk tested positive for banned substance meldonium while out of the country and not with Chelsea 🚨🔵 pic.twitter.com/8jasiFD9Sj
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 17, 2024
Without him, Chelsea’s attacking depth on the left-hand side will be significantly weakened, particularly as most of their wingers, such as Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke, are left-footed and prefer operating on the right. The only experienced right-footed winger in the squad is Jadon Sancho with his backup being academy youngster Tyrique George who is still new to senior football. While Sancho has been a valuable addition, the winger isn’t a potent goal scorer.
Out of all of Chelsea’s wingers, Madueke has scored the maximum number of goals this season with five and three of them came in their second game of the campaign. Apart from Palmer and Nico Jackson, who seems to have lost his goalscoring touch lately, none of Chelsea attackers are reliable goal scorers which heightens the need for a goal scoring option for the remainder of the season as the race for the top four intensifies.
Who are Chelsea targeting for the position?
🚨 Chelsea are now discussing internally whether or not to bid for Garnacho. Contact made with Manchester United and the players camp, it’s decision time. 3 players on #CFC’s list. (@FabrizioRomano) pic.twitter.com/Ui9DE6jtaX
— Pys (@CFCPys) January 22, 2025
The club have three names on their radar for the left wing position and could look at even more players before making a move. While he arrival of Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez next summer will increase competition, neither addresses the immediate gap on the left-hand side, which has seen the club being linked with Manchester United academy product Alejandro Garnacho, Borussia Dortmund’s English winger Jamie Gittens and Bayern Munich gem Mathys Tel.
They are three players that Chelsea have expressed an interest in and enquired about with their clubs but are yet to make an official bid. The club is expected to make a move on either of them in this week and are also reported to have an interest in Wolves attacker Matheus Cunha, who is now likely to leave to Molineux in this window. The Brazilian attacker has been in great form this season and would demand a huge fee though given Wolves’ struggles.
If the Blues aren’t able to wrap up a deal for either Tel, Garnacho or Gittens for this season, they should explore the option of signing Cunha. He is a young attacker who can play any where across the front line, making him an excellent addition as he provides competition to both Sancho and Jackson. He would present a Premier League proven option for Chelsea, and might cost less than the huge fee that either Tel or Gittens would command.
Premier League outfit Chelsea have had a pretty quiet transfer window till now but are reportedly looking for another winger in the final days of the window. Why are the Blues on the hunt for another winger? Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
