We’ve finally made it, the January transfer window is here. Just like many transfer windows that have come before it, the excitement for signings around the premier league is palpable. Today’s spotlighted team Chelsea are no exception. After a strong start to the season where they flirted with the number one spot in the league, their December form has seen them slope to 3rd place in the league after picking up a paltry 12 points of an available 21 in the month. Injuries have not helped Thomas Tuchel’s squad, COVID yet again reared its ugly head, knocking many squad players out of play, including the likes of Lukaku, Werner and Callum Hudson-Odoi. But the significant injuries to the Blues top full backs Ben Chilwell and England compatriot Reece James has really put the nail in the coffin of Chelsea’s title aspirations.
The two instrumental wingbacks have combined for 13 league goal contributions so far this season. And that output is hard to replicate. But with Chilwell out for the season, and James rumoured to be out for at least 3 months, Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia has the unenviable task of trying to bring in one or two competent replacements to fill in those pivotal roles in Tuchels system. And replace them she must. The wingback position for Chelsea has shown time and time again this year that it is vitally important to keep fluidity in attack and the form of the team drastically dips when the two England internationals are out. Players such as Marcos Alonso, Cesar Azpilicueta and more recently Christian Pulisic have filled those positions but continuity in attack has greatly faltered. The West London club scored a combined 13 goals in 8 premier league games since Chilwell’s injury but scored 21 in the 8 games prior to it.
Thomas Tuchel has been less than complimentary of his options in the past few weeks, claiming after Chelsea’s draw against Brighton in the last few days ‘ Chelsea have no wingbacks’. Which is a damning indictment on players such as Marcos Alonso who have solely played that positions since the German managers arrival. And with fellow Spanish compatriot Azpilicueta growing older, he no longer has the legs to blaze up and down the wing for 90 minutes 2 times a week. With all that being said, I am now going to discuss 5 options that the West London club could look to bring in to Stamford Bridge to compete for the wing back spaces and hopefully allow the Blues to push on and have a stellar second half to their 21/22 season.
Lucas Digne- Everton (28 years old)
The French fullback has had a stellar career in Merseyside, playing a total of 113 premier league games across his 3 and a half years with the Toffee’s. The former Barcelona and PSG man has been excelling down the left flank for a number of seasons now and would provide Tuchels squad with an added bit of experience at the back and also a cutting edge in attack. One of Digne’s main strengths is his deliveries into the box. Digne has provided 18 assists in the premier league so far in his career, this number can only be topped by the most elite of fullbacks in the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson. His integration into the starting XI should be fairly seamless as his playing style is similar to that of the man he’s coming in to replace, Ben Chilwell.
As you tend to find in the January window, good players very rarely tend to swap teams, and when they do, it’s regularly for large fees. However, reports coming out from various sources suggest that Digne may be looked at as a loan option with the potential to buy at a later date. This will obviously save on cost for the heavy spending London club and may allow them to spend bigger in other needed areas. Whereas Everton will have the players wages taken off their books for the rest of the season. This will be greatly beneficial for Rafa Benitez’s side as the Frenchman has fallen out of favour with his Spanish manager, and though he has the talent to be playing week in, week out. He has found himself on the bench more often than not this season for reasons that have not been made aware to the public. So a fresh start and new scenery may be the best solution to all parties. And with all the names I suggest on this, I’d argue that Digne is the most likely signing to be completed in this window. And with an average ‘Whoscored’ player rating of 7.14 last term, Chelsea fans should be excited with the prospect of this signing.
Adama Traore- Wolves (25 years old)
We move over to the right hand side now, and with this suggestion, you can’t find many more electrifying players than Wolves’ Adama Traore. Although not strictly a wingback, Traore has the versatility to play anywhere on the wing. With his blistering speed and ability to take on defenders, he would add a stark contrast to current Chelsea fullbacks Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta. One knock that has frequently been targeted at Traore is his serious lack of end product on the pitch. Contribution to only 21 goals in 157 premier league games. However, with him moving further down the pitch to wingback, this should hopefully negate that problem and not be such an issue. Tuchel can then focus on his greatest strengths, which are in fact his literal strength and speed. Arguably the fastest player in the league, Traore could provide the type of cover at the back similar to Kyle Walker of Manchester City, who rarely gets beaten for pace by attackers. He can also create chances with the ball at his feet, and dribble past players. in fact, Traore completes an average of 4.7 dribbles per 90 in the premier league. Which makes up for his lack of crossing ability to move the ball into dangerous areas.
As for the financial side of this deal, it doesn’t look too daunting of a task. Tuchel appeared to be an admirer of the Spaniard last summer but a deal never materialised. Which may have been a good thing as the Wolves man was touted to cost around 40-50 million pounds. Whereas I feel now he may be able to be brought in for 25-30 million. Which is a fairly decent price for a utility player in this day and age. The asking price appears to have dipped somewhat due to his lack of minutes this season. Although he has been on the pitch frequently, these have tended to be substitute appearances, and manager Bruno Lage appears to favour Mexican Raul Jimenez and Barcelona newcomer Trincao. As an option at wingback for Chelsea I rate Traore fairly highly. Let’s just hope the higher ups at Stamford Bridge feel the same!
Rico Henry- Brentford (24 years old)
When Henry signed for Brentford from Walsall in 2016 they must have felt they signed their stalwart left back for the foreseeable. Luckily for them he has been just that. A player with blistering pace and a sizeable gas tank, the Englishman provides the right type of profile to excel as a fullback in the premier league. Brentford have been nothing short of a phenomenon to start the season. Although faltering since their hot start to the term where they beat top 4 challengers Arsenal in their first premier league game ever 2-0 they have really brushed off the relegation battle tag that was put on them before September. Rico Henry has certainly been a core player in their run so far playing 16 of the league games so far.
One main attribute I like to look for when grading a player is if they pass the eye test. Henry certainly does this. Often blazing into the final third of the pitch and contribution to attacking phases and tracking back and not allowing runners in behind, he is a very fun player to watch. Contributing to 3 goals so far this year he offers a threat in attack and he doesn’t skip out on his defensive duties providing 1.5 tackles and interceptions a game, only .5 shy of the player he would be replacing, Ben Chilwell.
As for the finances of this deal, Henry wouldn’t come cheap. Brentford have a canny knack of flipping players for large profits and they’d certainly like to get their money’s worth for the fullback. As previously mentioned, players don’t often go in January, so, a fee of around 30million pounds is to be expected. I’d argue that 4-5 years of decent rotational play would be worth the fee, and he has the ability to step up and be a first XI player when Chilwell is unavailable.
Sergio Dest- Barcelona (21 years old)
The young American has somewhat underperformed since arriving in Catalonia in late 2020. However, the still very young 21 year old has a lot to prove and a lot of time to grow. The fullback still has a lot of the raw attributes that Tuchel could very much mould into a serviceable replacement on both the right and left hand side of the pitch. In fact, his versatility is one of the main selling points to bring the youngster into the side. Again, same as the aforementioned players on this list, Dest is blessed with great pace and a solid gas tank. He also provides a technical ability that would fit nicely into Tuchels fast playing side. The American completed roughly 2.5 dribbles per game and also provides 1.4 key passes, showing his creative ability when going forward.
Dest has already been heavily rumoured to go out on loan to the West London side this January, so there are definitely legs to this rumour. And like the Digne suggestion, a loan is the most likely deal which again, is good for money saving and, it will take the Americans wages off the books of the heavily indebted Barcelona side. Picking up a player who has averaged 7.02 average rating on ‘whoscored’ this season would definitely make for a savvy signing to help get this struggling Chelsea team across the line this season.
Filip Kostić- Eintracht Frankfurt (29 years old)
My last offering is a bit of a left field shout (quite literally). Kostić primarily plays as a winger for his German club but has been known to slot in at wingback when the side need cover in a back 5 formation. With his natural position on the pitch being more in the forward areas, this will mean he’s more suited to the Blues style of play. Get the ball out to the wing backs and create chances from there. The Serbian international certainly doesn’t shy away from getting stuck in in attack, contributing to 9 goals so far this season (3 goals and 6 assists). Completing an average on 2.8 key passes a game would automatically make him one of the more creative players in this current Chelsea side. Being good at defending is also a necessity for any Thomas Tuchel side, and luckily in this case, the Serb doesn’t shirk away from his defensive duties, completing 1.7 tackles and clearances a game. Also, similar to his Chelsea counterparts, one of his greatest attributes is his abilities at set pieces and crosses. After watching quite a lot of tape on the veteran winger, it’s clear to see he has a wand of a left foot.
With Frankfurt currently sitting 6th in the table in the Bundesliga, manager Oliver Glasner may not want to ship off one of his most influential players. But, with Kostic being 29 and his contract expiring in the summer of 2023, now may very well be the right time to cash in on one of their key assets. And as for Chelsea, picking up an experienced player who has 43 international caps for his country, and is in fact a very good player, it may be worth coming in with a 20 million bid and see what happens from there.
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