After Liam Rosenior’s appointment as Chelsea’s new head coach from sister-club Strasbourg, the ex-Hull City manager will be starting to think about where he can apply his signature touch to the squad.
The arrival comes at a timely point in the Premier League season, with the January transfer window now open, allowing Rosenior to request some immediate firepower to bring the Blues back into the top four.
So, who might be arriving and departing Stamford Bridge in January? Transfer News Blitz writer Jacob Howson gives his thoughts.
Marc Guehi, Crystal Palace
Chelsea have struggled throughout the first half of the season without their premier centre-back Levi Colwill since his ACL injury in pre-season, and have deployed eight different centre-half partnerships.
Marc Guehi is a highly experienced Premier League defender, having racked up nearly 200 appearances for Crystal Palace, many of them as captain of the south London outfit.
The 25-year-old is accomplished with the ball at his feet, being in the 84th percentile amongst centre-backs in Europe’s big five leagues for progressive passes, something that could help Chelsea in Colwill’s absence.
The England international’s contract is set to expire in June of this year, which gives Chelsea a good negotiating position, as they can choose to sign him on a free transfer in the summer or for a cut-price deal in this window.
Pedro Neto exit & Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa
Despite recording Chelsea’s second-most goal involvements this season and having some of the most minutes played amongst the squad, Pedro Neto can be a very frustrating player for Chelsea.
Additionally, talk over Cole Palmer’s usage has led to fans questioning whether Neto should be dropped to allow the England star to play on the right wing, where he played mostly under Mauricio Pochettino.
However, this would leave a hole in the middle of the park for the Blues, which could be filled by Morgan Rogers, who is in fine form for Aston Villa at the moment.
The Villa midfielder is a great dribbler of the ball, having recorded 114 progressive carries last season, and when paired with his goalscoring from unexpected areas, Rogers could shine in West London.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Tottenham transfer news: Five players Thomas Frank could buy and sell in the 2026 January transfer window
Tottenham transfer news: Five players Thomas Frank could buy and sell in the 2026 January transfer window
Romeo Lavia exit & Adam Wharton, Crystal Palace
Despite his obvious ability when available, current Chelsea backup defensive midfielder Romeo Lavia has proved to be too unreliable, with the Belgian only recording 21 Premier League appearances in his two and a half seasons at the club.
As a result, the board might look to bring in Adam Wharton in the future, who has shown himself to be a top Premier League-level midfielder over the last two years.
The Blackburn Rovers academy graduate is a great player both on the ball and off it, with great passing numbers in a team who look to move the ball forward quickly, but his stats also show he can break up play.
The Crystal Palace player would give Rosenior great options to use in the engine room, as playing Wharton alongside Moises Caicedo would allow the Ecuadorian to excel higher up the pitch, but also provide him some much-needed rest.
Malo Gusto exit
Malo Gusto hit the ground running since joining Chelsea in 2023 under Pochettino, gaining the fans’ trust with some strong performances defensively.
However, Enzo Maresca’s use of the Frenchman as an inverted full-back has exposed his technical shortcomings, and Gusto hasn’t shown his usual defensive solidity, either.
If Rosenior maintains the inverted full-back tactic, Gusto might be moved on to make way for a more technically gifted player, or to give Josh Acheampong more minutes to develop.
Serhou Guirassy, Borussia Dortmund
Chelsea’s striker troubles extend long before the current ownership structure, and Stamford Bridge hasn’t seen an elite goalscorer since the days of Diego Costa nearly a decade ago.
Serhou Guirassy of Borussia Dortmund could be the marquee signing this summer that transitions this side from a top-four challenger to a title contender.
The Guinea international scored 21 goals in the Bundesliga last season and stands at six foot two, proving he can win aerial duels and adapt to the physicality of the Premier League, which is currently becoming more reliant on set pieces.
The striker is 29 years old, which might discourage Chelsea from buying him, as their transfer structure is heavily favourable towards young players with profitability. But Guirassy has the experience and tools to be a success.
READ NEXT: Man Utd news: Five contenders to replace Ruben Amorim as manager
