With the international break nearly over and Premier League football due to return it's impossible to ignore the implications of entering the final stretch of the season. For Chelsea, they remain in search of moving up the table and into European qualifying positions but ultimately will hope to find their way past Real Madrid and towards Champions League glory.
For much of the Premier League, however, their focus will be on survival. Four points separate Southampton in 20th position and Crystal Palace in 12, while a number of teams in between have a range of games in hand.
With just 11 or so matches remaining of the term however, teams will also be looking towards their summer plans. Chelsea are set for a busy summer of outgoing transfers but still have plans to strengthen their ranks despite their outlay of £600million since the arrival of Todd Boehly and co.
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Clubs will be keeping tabs on those who are in the midst of a relegation battle, with the journey to the Champions often been closely associated with player departures.
So are there any players currently at the relegation-threatened clubs in the Premier League that could help bolster and improve the Spurs squad going into 2023/24? football.london takes a look below.
While Chelsea announced the contract extension of Marcus Bettinelli on Monday evening, the Blues are expected to look at options between the sticks with the futures of Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy remaining uncertain. The duo both have two years remaining on their contracts, a point the club's new hierarchy do not want players to go under as a rule.
The west London side have previously been linked to Everton's Jordan Pickford and while the former Sunderland goalkeeper penned a new four-and-a-half-year contract last month, relegation would leave his position at Goodison Park up in the air. Likewise, Illan Meslier's name is another to be mentioned in relation to Chelsea. Thre Frenchman is still just 23 and has shown plenty of quality in the Premier League already.
The Blues restocked their defensive ranks last summer with additions in the form of Kalidou Koulibaly, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella. There has already been speculation that Koulibaly could leave the club come the end of the season, so perhaps the club's work is yet to be complete in the position.
Crystal Palace are yet to cement their safety and former Blue Marc Guehi would undoubtedly draw the attention of a number of clubs. football.london have previously reported that Spurs really like the defender, while there has been some suggestion Chelsea may have a clause that kicks in next summer that allows the club to match another bid and have it accepted.
Max Kilman is another defender to be linked to the Blues over the last 12 months, with an opportunity possibly arising should Wolves not stave off relegation. Though Chelsea do have Benoit Badiashile and Levi Colwill looking to lock up the left side of the defence for the long term.
Midfield does remain an area of interest for Chelsea however, even after adding Enzo Fernandez. The Blues have long had an interest in Declan Rice though are set to face competition from the likes of Arsenal come the summer, and if West Ham's position is weakened by relegation that will likely only increase. Though if it means a reduction in transfer fee, it could still benefit the west London side.
Likewise, Romeo Lavia is said to be on Chelsea's radar and will prove more tempting should Southampton be relegated. Wolves duo Ruben Neves and Mattheus Nunes will be tempting propositions who are sure to want to depart should Wolves fall back down the league.
With January additions in the form of Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke, it may seem unlikely that the Blues want to add more to their wide positions. However, the likes of Michael Olise could become available from Crystal Palace, even his teammate, Eberechi Eze or Leicester City's Harvey Barnes.
The Blues may be more tempted by a player with a goalscoring threat however with the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set to leave Stamford Bridge. Leeds' Wilfried Gnonto will be of an age that certainly interests Chelsea and has impressed since joining the Yorkshire side, while Nottingham Forest's Wales international Brennan Johnson has looked at home in the Premier League and notched up nine goals and two assists in 33 appearances this season.
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