Chelsea's hopes of signing a winger have been a massive blow in January as Todd Boehly looks to support Graham Potter in the winter window. The two defeats to Manchester City highlighted several handfuls of issues across the club and the squad but one that jumps out is attacking creativity.
The Blues failed to register a shot on target in the 4-0 FA Cup embarrassment on Sunday and, whilst Raheem Sterling, Christian Pulisic and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were all ruled out with injury, it was a chastening day for the Blues. They were second-best all over the pitch and barely laid a glove on Pep Guardiola's side.
Having gone toe-to-toe with the league champions four days earlier at Stamford Bridge it was a limp surrender in Manchester. Despite the lack of chances created it wasn't for the want of being in good positions.
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As at Stamford Bridge Chelsea found themselves in areas to counterattack but failed to provide the right pass or a ball with enough quality to cause issues. Kai Havertz was hauled off at halftime and Hakim Ziyech was replaced by teenager Omari Hutchinson for the second time in a week.
With Ziyech and Pulisic both angling for moves away in 2023 room is opening up for a direct winger. Rafael Leao is a player deeply admired by the club but his contract progress with AC Milan makes that a complex deal to do, especially in the middle of the season.
A player they looked at during the summer was Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace. His contract expires in June and will be able to sign for free during the summer. Chelsea had hoped to pick him up on a cut-price deal themselves but fell short over agreeing a fee with his deal entering the final 12 months.
Heading into this month Zaha has again been key to the Eagles with six goals this season but he is set to remain at Selhurst Park for now, at least. The Athletic write that he is committed to seeing out his contract until and will then make a choice as to what his future holds.
Zaha hadn't been strongly linked with a move this month after the failed transfer over the summer but it once again reduces the options available to Boehly and Potter.
Palace visit Stamford Bridge at the weekend having lost the reverse fixture in Potter's first league match in charge 2-1 thanks to a late Conor Gallagher winner.
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