Chelsea “seriously considering” this January move – but both options look impossible for now | OneFootball

Chelsea are “seriously considering” signing a new centre back in January, Fabrizio Romano has claimed on Twitter today.

The transfer insider says that there are a couple of options on the table: Crystal Palace centre back Marc Guehi, and Trevoh Chalobah, who we have loaned to Palace. With Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile out and Tosin and Axel Disasi not in favour, 18 year old Josh Acheampong made his debut at the weekend.

Guehi feels impossible – he’s a key part of a Palace team who are fighting relegation. Staying in the Premier League is worth so much money that it’s difficult to imagine how much we would have to pay to bring him back to Stamford Bridge. With our current transfer model in place, it feels like a non starter.

Romano does point out that Guehi has only 18 months left on his contract, so his price will come down. But even then, next summer feels like the earliest moment they will countenance selling him.

Chalobah the obvious option – but there’s a major reason it might not happen

Trevoh Chalobah in action for Crystal Palace. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

If we really do feel short at the back, recalling Trevoh Chalobah is surely the easiest option given he would essentially be free. He trained with the team in the summer and could come and slot straight in. He was our best centre back last season, and would likely pick up where he left off. As we’ve written many times before, we never would have let him go in the first place.

A return for Chalobah will rely on him agreeing to a move however, and given how shabbily he’s been treated over the last 18 months by Chelsea as they desperate tried to flog him to anyone who would take him, we wouldn’t be at all surprised if he said he’d rather stay put at Palace.