Chelsea still have plenty of work to do if they are to prepare the perfect squad for Graham Potter. Despite making five signings this window already with a little under two weeks left to go, there are still at least two pressing issues to address.
The first of those is right-back with a back-up option and added competition for Reece James required to give Potter added balance. The second is a new midfielder.
Having made progress at the turn of the year to secure World Cup star Enzo Fernandez that deal has seemingly collapsed following a difference in valuation and willingness to pay this month. It's not implausible that the Blues go back for the 22-year-old but a move will be hard to secure at this stage.
READ MORE: Todd Boehly has three Declan Rice alternatives as Chelsea handed transfer blow by Arsenal
That leaves Todd Boehly in a tricky place when handing his new look recruitment team an assignment. Chelsea need a player to help out for the rest of the season and beyond but will find it tough to get their primary targets over the winter. Jude Bellingham is set to wait until the summer when a host of suitors come bidding, whereas Fernandez has already shown how hard a mid-season move can be.
That doesn't necessarily affect their priorities but it does make things more complex for the rest of the month, especially after an injury to newfound hero Denis Zakaria. More specifically than just a midfielder it is a defensive minded blocker that is required to shield the backline.
On the shortlist for years now has been Declan Rice but the 24-year-old's future is far from certain. West Ham accept that he will leave over the summer after refusing to sign a contract extension for over 12 months now and with several interested parties tracking him. Chelsea were always seen as front-runners due to their connection with him.
Rice was let go as a 14-year-old from the club's academy but has a brilliant relationship with Blues star Mason Mount as well as connections to other England internationals. His dream, he has confirmed, is to play in the biggest tournaments and competitions, winning trophies competing with the best. Chelsea's issue is their likeliness to drop out of the Champions League frame this season, whilst Arsenal have burst onto the scene and are not just on the up, they're serious title contenders.
The Evening Standard write that Arsenal are now ahead of Liverpool and Manchester United in the race to sign him, whilst Chelsea are exploring other options this month, leaving him on the back-burner for now due to their need for immediate additions. The focus on the current window may well hamper their chances of signing Rice, especially if they do miss out on top level European football.
In this sense it has perhaps never been so pressing that they sell the vision the club is looking to embark on. Having already hijacked an Arsenal transfer for Mykhailo Mudryk, with the 22-year-old seemingly destined for north London before an 11th hour move that got Chelsea over the line, they may have to work similarly to secure Rice as well.
READ NEXT:
Chelsea handed Enzo Fernandez transfer hope as £70m bid prepared for January alternative
Fofana, Zakaria, James, Pulisic - Chelsea injury news and return dates ahead of Liverpool clash
Todd Boehly has three Declan Rice alternatives as Chelsea handed transfer blow by Arsenal
Arsenal get William Saliba and Bukayo Saka boost as new suspension risk emerges vs Man United
Edu looks to Jules Kounde and Dusan Vlahovic transfer strategy to point Arsenal toward success
