WE are well aware of what a great summer Chelsea had in the transfer market in terms of player arrivals at the club.
Frank Lampard needed to add a number of quality players to his squad in order to improve and push on from last season, and he has been fully backed by the board with this.
But they have been left with a rather large squad as a result, having failed to oust a number of fringe players.
In January we are very likely to see the departures of the following four players at least.
Marcos Alonso
Emerson Palmieri appears to be the designated second choice left back for Lampard this season, so it is unlikely that we will see him leave.
But Alonso looks to be well and truly out of favour under Lampard and as a result, he will be out the door come winter as well.
He has been linked with a number of Italian and Spanish sides and will probably go on loan to one of them for the rest of the season having still got a relatively long contract (2023) left with Chelsea.
Olivier Giroud
I always feared for the French World Cup winner when Timo Werner arrived, and I knew he would have to largely be third choice striker.
He will need more than this with his aims to carry on leading the line for France, so he will surely be asking to leave in January as a result.
His contract runs out in the summer, so it will be a fee of very little to sell him this winter.
Kepa Arrizabalaga
I don’t entirely buy into the ‘Petr Cech was added to the Chelsea squad due to the uncertainty of Covid-19’ story from the club, especially when they have a number of decent academy goalkeepers who can be drafted in if needed.
No, I believe they know what is coming, and that is a loan move out for Kepa.
A lot like Giroud, the Spanish international will have to get regular game time or risk losing his place in the coming Euros.
With Edouard Mendy nailing down a regular spot at Chelsea, Kepa must leave to get game time.
Fikayo Tomori
The curious case of Fikayo Tomori. For the second season running, he started as a potential regular, but since then he has become fourth or fifth choice centre-back.
Is there something we do not know about behind the scenes?
Perhaps, but I believe he will absolutely go on loan this January i order to get first team football.
Everton have been strongly linked and could enter the fray once again.
Arrival – Declan Rice
There might be more than one arrival at Chelsea in January, but that will depend on circumstances with the current climate, and if Chelsea can sell any players.
But one thing for sure is, expect another move from Chelsea to try and sign Declan Rice.
He is firmly wanted by Lampard, and the board is prepared to sanction the move.
They face a battle to sign him though, with West Ham obviously not interested in selling at all, but the player is keen on the move and could be tempted to try and force it this time around.
Follow Simon Phillips on Twitter @SiPhillipsSport
