According to The Pitch Prospect, Chelsea are considering hiring a new defender this winter.
This follows calls for the signing of a new centre-back from former head coach Enzo Maresca following Levi Colwill’s cruciate ligament injury.
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Chelsea missed out on Dean Huijsen, who moved to Real Madrid in the summer, and made an initial inquiry to Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk in March last year before he signed a new two-year contract with Liverpool.
At the start of the 2025/26 season, Chelsea decided to rely on their existing defenders: Trevoh Chalobah played his way into regular time and Josh Acheampong secured success at Stamford Bridge.
A move for a new defender is not expected to open the door to an exit for the 19-year-old, but Manchester City and Bayern Munich are both interested.
Chelsea also signed Jorrel Hato from Ajax in the summer and restored fitness to Wesley Fofana as well as Tosin and Benoit Badiashile – another reason why the Blues decided not to sign another defender after their Club World Cup win, despite public calls from Maresca.
But with the January window now open, Chelsea have decided to look at another defender.
Any new signing would likely be a summer target the club could aim for this winter, unless a short-term market opportunity presents itself.
Chelsea are keeping an eye on Rennes centre-back Jeremy Jacquet and Como’s Jacobo Ramon.
They have also been linked by Spanish media with a surprise return for Antonio Rüdiger, although Chelsea insiders have so far played down any approach.
Marcos Senesi is another older name Chelsea have been talking about, but Juventus and Barcelona are more seriously considering a move.
Senesi turns 29 in May and Chelsea are more inclined to consider a younger name.
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Bournemouth insiders have told The Pitch Prospect they have not yet received any formal inquiries, but Senesi is a free agent this summer, meaning foreign clubs can now pre-arrange a contract with him.
Chelsea have also been looking for Toulouse’s Charlie Cresswell, who received a formal offer from Wolfsburg this week.
Tottenham Hotspur are also in the hunt for the former Leeds defender.
And last summer, former Chelsea academy youth player Marc Guehi was examined and subsequently excluded.
It remains to be seen whether Chelsea will reconsider their position.
Currently, City are the most interested in completing a deal this winter, with Liverpool, Arsenal, Bayern, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid among the suitors for the Crystal Palace captain in the summer.
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Crystal Palace are looking to sell for more than £35m mid-season.
Chelsea are also looking to sign a new midfielder this summer, with Elliot Anderson from Nottingham’s Forest one of their targets.
Chelsea will likely face competition from Manchester United and City.
There is also historical appreciation for Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton, with Rosenior now playing a role in deciding which names Chelsea choose in the market, even if the club’s model does not give the head coach autonomy or veto power over recruitment.
New era at Stamford Bridge
After providing money to Enzo Maresca, Mauricio Pochettino, Graham Potter and Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea are showing no signs of cutting the purse strings on Rosenior.
The 41-year-old was appointed Blues coach earlier this month after being poached from Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg.
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Rosenior took charge of two Chelsea games, the first being a 5-1 win at Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup.
However, his honeymoon at Stamford Bridge ended on Wednesday night with a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, marking Rosenior’s first defeat as Blues coach.
He will take charge of his first Premier League game on Saturday when Chelsea take on Brentford at 3pm.