Chelsea expected a fairly quiet January transfer window and that's exactly what they got.
Thomas Tuchel's squad had been stretched to the limit in the build-up to the first transfer window in 2022 with several members of the Chelsea squad spending time on the sidelines due to injury and Covid issues respectively.
Most of these said problems have come in the Blues' backline with Reece James and Ben Chilwell long-term absentees - injuries that have affected the European Champions' form during the festive schedule.
Heading into the Club World Cup, Tuchel's men sit in the precarious position of third place with 47 points but could be hanging on to that position when they return from the United Arab Emirates with all of Spurs, Arsenal, Man United and West Ham playing catch up over that period.
Man City and Liverpool also have games in hand meaning that the 10 point deficit at the top is likely to be more when the Blues are to play in the Premier League again, with a London derby assignment at Crystal Palace next on the agenda once their involvement in the upcoming Club World Cup comes to an end.
Squad depth is vital in these congested situations and the lack of sufficient wing-back cover has haunted the current Champions League winners who were expected to make at least one signing - and that coming at full-back.
A host of names were linked to provide cover for Chilwell, who will not be returning this season, with Sergino Dest, Leyvin Kurzawa and Borna Sosa all mentioned in regards to filling this void.
However, Marina Granovskaia and co. only had their eyes on one player in particular, Emerson Palmieri, and despite him still technically being part of the club, the west Londoners have not been able to convince Lyon to relinquish the Italian international, football.london understands.
Elsewhere, Ousmane Dembele was a name that came on the Chelsea agenda late on but no deal was ever in the works for this month as the Frenchman remains put in Spain until the summer.
Without no further ado, football.london rounds up all the ins and outs that have taken place in SW6 during January 2022.
INS
Kenedy from Flamengo (end of loan)
Chelsea recalled the forgotten Brazilian man earlier in the month with the intention of finding another destination for the versatile left-sided player.
However the failed Emerson recall has now allowed Kenedy and Lewis Hall a golden ticket to provide sufficient back up to Marcos Alonso for the rest of the season.
"Kenedy is back and I'm very happy about it. It is a huge opportunity for him to make his mark at this club and in this team. We will try from this day on to push and support him as good as we can," Tuchel said initially.
He then added in a later press conference: "We cannot say Kenedy is the solution. He can be a solution. The situation has not changed, we have long-term injuries with the wing-backs.
"We suffered a lot in the midfield from covid and injuries and now our midfielders are more or less coming back we suffer with our central defenders.
"Nothing has changed but it needs to make sense, it needs to be possible, it needs to make sense on a high level and in quality and personality. We have looked into the market, nothing has changed, we have all options and also the option to say no."
Dylan Williams from Derby County (January 24)
The Derby County youngster became Chelsea's first signing of the January window as he swapped Pride Park for Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea had previously had a bid accepted for the young defender amid the Championship side's dire financial situation and his switch to west London has now finally been confirmed.
Mason Burstow from Charlton Athletic (January 31)
Chelsea are confident of completing a deadline day move for Charlton Athletic striker Mason Burstow, football.london understands.
The 18-year-old, who has been on trial previously in the academy, has impressed for the League One side this season and has struck six goals in 14 first-team appearances in all competitions.
A number of Premier League sides have been tracking Burstow's progress in recent weeks but it is Chelsea who have moved to the front of the queue to secure his signing.
Burstow was meant to be in action for Charlton this evening against Portsmouth but was left out of the squad, with Johnnie Jackson confirming an offer had been received for the teenager.
Post-match, the League One manager confirmed the news: "I believe that a deal is very close and that he will be coming back on loan to us.
"Great that the club and the chairman has got a deal he is happy with. But also we get the player back as well."
Outs
Jamie Cumming to MK Dons (January 13)
The Blues’ January business started in a somewhat conservative manner as young goalkeeper Jamie Cumming joined League One outfit MK Dons on loan.
He had previously spent the first-half of the season with Gillingham and will now spend the remainder of the campaign at the Stadium MK.
Lewis Baker to Stoke City (January 15)
The first permanent deal of the window saw long-serving midfielder Lewis Baker wave goodbye to Stamford Bridge after a 16-year-spell in west London.
With his contract expiring at the end of the campaign, he joined Championship outfit Stoke City on a two-and-a-half year deal.
In all of his time with Chelsea, the 26-year-old made just two appearances, being sent out on eight separate loan deals.
Juan Castillo from Birmingham City to Charlton Athletic (January 21)
Another full-back to have seen a temporary stint away from Stamford Bridge cut short, the Dutch international only made five appearances for Birmingham City.
He was barely back in west London though, before he dropped a division to join League One side Charlton Athletic on another loan deal, an agreement that is set to run until the end of the campaign.
Tino Anjorin to Huddersfield on loan (January 31)
Huddersfield Town head coach Carlos Corberan has hailed Tino Anjorin as one of the "most important young talents in Britain" after taking the Chelsea star on loan for the remainder of the season.
Anjorin spent the first half of the campaign on loan in Russia with Lokomotiv Moscow having been persuaded to join the club in the summer by then-head of football operations Ralf Rangnick.
However, the German's departure in November to take interim charge of Manchester United meant the £17million option Lokomotiv had agreed to sign Anjorin permanently was never going to be taken up and it was decided he should return to English football to continue his development.
As football.london exclusively revealed, Southampton sounded out Anjorin over a permanent move but that interest came too late in the window to get a deal over the line – the Saints are expected to return in the summer for the 20-year-old.
