Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino is keen to bolster his squad in three key positions during the upcoming January transfer window.
Despite their occasional impressive performances, the Blues currently find themselves in 12th position in the Premier League standings.
Following a 2-0 defeat to Everton last Sunday, Pochettino hinted that Chelsea might be looking to bring in fresh faces midway through the season.
Despite already spending over £1 billion in the past three transfer windows, the club’s net spend during that period is reportedly around £700 million.
This suggests that cutbacks may need to be made, especially with the loss of revenue due to the absence of European football.
However, according to the Evening Standard, Pochettino has identified three positions that he wants Chelsea to target when the transfer window reopens in three weeks’ time.
The Argentine coach is eager to acquire a new centre-back, central midfielder, and forward to address the squad’s issues at both ends of the pitch.
Although Chelsea has managed to score 26 goals in 16 Premier League games during the 2023-24 season, their tally is only the ninth-best in the division.
Additionally, Nicolas Jackson’s performances have been inconsistent since his arrival from Villarreal, leaving the attack lacking a ruthless streak.
Armando Broja is still recovering from a serious knee injury, while Christopher Nkunku has yet to feature due to his own knee issue, further hampering the attacking options.
The team’s defensive struggles are even more concerning. Chelsea has conceded the same number of goals as they have scored, with their last clean sheet coming nine matches ago.
Pochettino is reportedly worried about the lack of height in the team, especially with Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill often being deployed as full-backs instead of in their natural central positions.
The midfield also lacks physicality, with only Lesley Ugochukwu providing notable strength in that area. Pochettino believes that addressing these weaknesses is crucial for Chelsea’s success in the second half of the season.
In order to raise funds for potential January signings, it is likely that players such as Trevoh Chalobah, Ian Maatsen, and Noni Madueke could be made available for transfer.