Chelsea squad after January transfer deadline if Enzo Fernandez deal is completed by Todd Boehly
With the 2023 January transfer window coming to an end, football.london looks at what Chelsea’s team could look like for Friday’s match against Fulham.
Graham Potter will have to make some difficult decisions when it comes to selecting a 20-man team for the remainder of the Premier League season.
Chelsea has signed seven players so far this month, with the window closing in just a few hours. Malo Gusto is the latest player to sign a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge as the team continues to develop.
Chelsea will not be able to call on the French right-back until next season, as he was loaned back to Lyon as part of the transaction that brought him to the club.
Chelsea, on the other hand, values Gusto so highly that they would rather utilize him than sign another right-back for the rest of the season. Gusto is thought to be capable of developing into a world-class full-back at Stamford Bridge, so he is worth the wait in that regard.
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However, six other acquisitions will be available for selection for the remainder of the season. Potter has already utilized David Datro Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Joao Felix, and Mykhailo Mudryk since signing earlier this month, while Andrey Santos and Noni Madueke have yet to make their debuts.
Bar Felix, who is serving the final game of a three-match ban for getting red carded on his debut away to Fulham earlier this month, should be available to play against the Cottagers at home on Friday evening. Chelsea are hoping to bring in another player on Friday night, with the club trying to complete their eighth transaction of the month as negotiations with Benfica over the signing of gifted midfielder Enzo Fernandez continue.
Chelsea have recently reopened talks with Benfica over the Argentine World Cup champion and are optimistic of reaching an agreement before the clock strikes 11 p.m. tonight. Benfica, on the other hand, are keen that the Blues pay the €120 million (£105 million) release clause or there will be no sale in this window.
There are still a few details to work out before the trade is finalized, but Fernandez might make his Chelsea debut this week when the Blues host Fulham at Stamford Bridge. So, with that in mind, Nationspy estimates what squad Potter would field for Chelsea’s 21st Premier League game of the season.
Kepa Arrizabalaga and Marcus Bettinelli are the goalkeepers.
Edouard Mendy had surgery earlier this month to repair a fractured finger he received during exercising. There is no official timetable for when the 30-year-old goalie will return to action, but he is now undergoing rehabilitation.
Cesar Azpilicueta, Kalidou Koulibaly, Benoit Badiashile, Thiago Silva, Marc Cucurella, Ben Chilwell, and Reece James are the defenders.
Chilwell is expected to be in the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury suffered against Dinamo Zagreb in November. Similarly, James is likely to return to duty in some manner after injuring himself against Bournemouth at the end of last month.
Mateo Kovacic, Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Enzo Fernandez are the midfielders.
N’Golo Kante is still out and is not likely to return until the end of the month, if at all. Chelsea could yet sign a central midfielder before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, but as it stands, the above players could be included in Potter’s 20-man squad for Fulham.
Denis Zakaria is still out with an injury. As previously said, if Fernandez is signed, he will be eligible to face Fulham in front of the Stamford Bridge supporters.
Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk, Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech, Mason Mount, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are the attackers.
Madueke is likely to make his Chelsea debut after signing for about £35 million from PSV Eindhoven on January 20. Mudryk, who struck an impact with his 35-minute cameo at Anfield recently, is expected to play again and may even earn his first start for his new team.
Raheem Sterling has improved his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury in recent days, but he is still performing individual work in training and will not play. Christian Pulisic is still out with a medial collateral ligament injury suffered against Manchester City in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Armando Broja will miss the rest of the season due to a significant knee ligament injury.
