“Top 4 is sure” – 3 players Chelsea must sign in January If they want to maintain their title challenge
Enzo Maresca, the head coach of Chelsea, has minimized his team’s chances of winning the Premier League this year.
Maresca said the team is still “not ready” to contend for the championship, even after Chelsea closed the gap to four points behind leaders Liverpool over the weekend.
According to some analysts, Chelsea might still be in the running if they add players to their roster in the January transfer window.
Below are the three players Chelsea should consider signing to strengthen their chances of challenging for the league title.
Diogo Costa (Porto)
While Robert Sanchez has shown decent shot-stopping abilities, his passing skills have raised concerns among Chelsea fans, with many feelings uneasy whenever he has the ball at his feet.
Given Enzo Maresca’s emphasis on building play from the back, signing a new first-choice goalkeeper should be a priority in the upcoming transfer window.
Diogo Costa would be an ideal candidate. The Porto goalkeeper is composed in possession and offers significantly better ball-playing ability compared to Sanchez. Additionally, his shot-stopping stats are impressive, having conceded 3.5 fewer goals than expected (xG) in the Portuguese league this season.
However, the main challenge in securing Costa’s services is his price tag. Porto are unlikely to sell for less than his release clause, which is set at €75m (£62m).
Vanderson (Monaco)
Reece James’ recurring fitness issues, including his current hamstring injury that will keep him sidelined until the New Year, highlight the need for Chelsea to explore potential reinforcements at right-back.
While Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong has been suggested as a candidate, his preference for playing as a wingback may not align with Enzo Maresca’s system. Other options like Barcelona’s Jules Kounde, Fiorentina’s Michael Kayode, and Sporting Lisbon’s Geovany Quenda have also been mentioned but are not ideal fits.
Vanderson offers a more suitable solution. At 23 years old, he is versatile, capable of playing at right-back, left-back, or further forward if required. Additionally, the Brazilian’s flexibility means he would not necessarily expect to start every match, allowing him to rotate with Malo Gusto as needed.
Tomas Araujo (Benfica)
While some pundits believe Chelsea should sign an experienced center-back, similar to Thiago Silva, to sustain their title ambitions, the club is expected to stick to its strategy of focusing on younger talent.
One player on Chelsea’s radar is Tomas Araujo, a 22-year-old center-back admired by the club’s recruitment team, as reported by Fabrizio Romano. Chelsea reportedly made an attempt to sign him late in the summer transfer window and may renew their interest in January.
Araujo is skilled in possession, regularly carrying the ball out from defense, and is also strong in the air, winning 67.6% of his aerial duels in the Portuguese league this season. Being right-footed, he would complement Levi Colwill in central defense, adding balance to the backline.
Although Benfica is unlikely to let him go cheaply, Chelsea will hope to negotiate a fee below his €100m (£82.5m) release clause.