Chelsea Transfer News Roundup: Blues want Ousmane Diomande; club eyeing Karim Benzema, and more - January 27, 2024
Chelsea face Liverpool at Anfield on February 1 in the Premier League. Mauricio Pochettino’s team are ninth in the league after 21 games, 17 points behind the Reds (48), who are the top of the pile.
Meanwhile, the Blues are interested in Sporting CP centre-back Ousmane Diomande. Elsewhere, the London giants could move for Al-Ittihad striker Karim Benzema before the end of the month.
On that note, here's a look at the key Chelsea transfer stories as on January 27, 2024:
Chelsea want Ousmane Diomande
Chelsea have made Ousmane Diomande their top centre-back target for the upcoming summer, according to 90 Min.
The Ivorian defender has been rock-solid at the back this season for Sporting, turning heads at Stamford Bridge. The 20-year-old has registered 21 appearances for the Portuguese club - starting 20 - helping register five clean sheets.
The Blues are expected to reinforce their backline this year amid the uncertainties surrounding the future of Thiago Silva. The Brazilian defender’s contract expires at the end of the season, but he hasn’t been handed an extension yet. While he has been outstanding his season once again, the 39-year-old is in the fag end of his career, and succession plans are in order.
Meanwhile, Trevoh Chalobah is also expected to leave either this month or at the end of the season. As such, a new defender is turning into an urgent need at Stamford Bridge.
The London giants have identified Diomande as the perfect candidate for the job but will have to active his €80 million release clause to get their man.
Blues eyeing Karim Benzema
The Blues could push to sign Karim Benzema if Armando Broja leaves this month, according to acclaimed transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
The French forward is keen to leave Al-Ittihad in January despite only arriving from Real Madrid in the summer. Benzema remains heavily linked with a move to the Premier League, with Arsenal and Manchester United named as potential destination by recent reports.
The Blues lack a proven striker, so the 36-year-old could help usher in a new era under Pochettino. However, in his column for Caught Offside, Romano admitted that a move for Benzema would be difficult.
“It’s not easy to say (who will be the biggest name to move in this window) because in this moment the market is not super clear.
"Keep an eye on a Chelsea striker, maybe Armando Broja could leave Chelsea and there could be an interesting one. It could be a permanent transfer or a loan, so let’s see what happens,” wrote Romano.
He continued:
“Jhon Duran is a very good striker. He’s someone Chelsea are considering, and then the big name could be Karim Benzema, but that could be difficult.”
The French striker earns astronomical wages in Saudi Arabia, so a transfer could only be feasible – on loan – if he agrees a pay-cut.
Chelsea not pushing to sign players, says Mauricio Pochettino
Chelsea are desperate to win trophies, not sign players, according to Mauricio Pochettino.
The Blues have invested heavily in their squad in recent transfer windows but have refrained from continuing that trend in January. The London giants haven’t been in their elements this season, and the Argentinean manager is expected to push for improvements before the month’s end.
However, speaking recently as cited by Caught Offside, Pochettino said that he's happy with the options at hand.
“Too many rumors; player in, player out. At the moment, nothing to say. We work really hard about different things in different areas. We will communicate if something happens,” said Pochettino.
He added:
“No (we are not desperate to sign anyone). Desperate to win the title, not to sign players. I’m happy with the squad. The last week is the most action, and we need to be ready for anything that can happen in the squad.”
Chelsea have reached the EFL Cup final, and a trophy will help ease the pressure on Pochettino.