Chelsea's top priorities for the January transfer window

Despite the obvious concerns over financial fair play, Chelsea are said to have ambitions to make additions in numerous areas, a result of only sitting in 10th position in the Premier League standings heading into 2024.

With an EFL Cup semi-final on their schedule, it has not been all bad under Pochettino, but there is a natural need and desire to finish in the top seven of the table as a bare minimum as they bid to earn a return to Europe.

There will be outgoings from Chelsea with Trevoh Chalobah seemingly a near-certainly to be moved on, and other departures may have to be facilitated in due course, yet the focus is on identifying ways to build on the recent two-match winning streak in the top flight.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at how Chelsea should line up their priorities ahead of the January transfer window opening for business on New Year's Day.

ADD HEIGHT TO THE TEAM

While specific players will be on the club's shortlist, as much focus needs to be on the physicality of the targets in question.

By Premier League standards, Chelsea are a small team. Their two tallest outfield players - Benoit Badiashile and Armando Broja - have only made five Premier League starts apiece, and it has put the onus on Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill to win as many heading duels as possible when defending set pieces.

Thiago Silva offers experience and class but lacks an imposing presence, and Nicolas Jackson is winning less than one aerial duel per match. Combine that with a midfield where the only height comes from 19-year-old Lesley Ugochukwu, who has made three starts, it is easy to see why teams fancy their chances of overpowering Chelsea at corners and free kicks.

Introducing that added height is no simple task, though. When upwards of £200m has been spent on Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, Boehly and Clearlake will naturally want to see them play. Despite speculation regarding his future, many Chelsea fans will feel that Conor Gallagher should be one of the first names on the team sheet.

Having options is a blessing and a curse for Pochettino, as demonstrated here, but Chelsea will not take the extra step in the Premier League unless they are able to compete physically.

SIGN A NEW FULL-BACK

History tells you that if you have Reece James and Ben Chilwell as your first-choice full-backs, you will need backup. That has been proven this season with James making eight Premier League appearances and Chilwell just the six.

Chelsea have Colwill at left-back, a necessary switch from centre-back to bring extra height into the team, but with Marc Cucurella out until March at the earliest and Ian Maatsen not being considered, Pochettino has become more dependent on Malo Gusto and Axel Disasi.

Both brings their own qualities and flaws, yet acquiring a versatile full-back - again, with height - to replace Trevoh Chalobah and Maatsen would be ideal at a time when the squad needs trimming.

Finding such a player will not be easy. Chelsea would not want to pay over the odds to fulfil such a role, but if they can find someone who may be available and would bring much-needed experience, it may be worth doing business.

Lazio's Elseid Hysaj could be the ideal addition. The 29-year-old Albania international - known well by compatriot Broja - has been in and out of the team this season, can play on both sides and has just 18 months remaining on his contract.

SIGN A NEW CENTRE-FORWARD

With the return of Christopher Nkunku, strengthening in this area is less urgent than it perhaps was a few weeks ago. Without a key forward for much of the campaign, Chelsea are just five goals short of Liverpool in the Premier League.

Nevertheless, it is a position that will eventually need addressing. Despite the calls for patience from Pochettino, three of Jackson's eight Premier League came when Tottenham Hotspur had nine men, and Broja looks like a player who could benefit from a loan.

Jackson's recent work down the left means that he will not be considered for a temporary exit, but it would come as a surprise if Chelsea did not bring in a fresh face.

All things considered, any talk of signing Victor Osimhen from Napoli in January feels like fantasy, but there are other players on the market. Chelsea could do a lot worse than trying to tempt former youngster Dominic Solanke back to Stamford Bridge after his 12 goals for Bournemouth this season.

With a contract until 2027, the Cherries will likely rebuff any bids, but having spent heavily over the last two transfer windows and generating no major funds through player sales since Arnaut Danjuma's move to Villarreal in August 2021, Bournemouth may soon have FFP concerns.

FIND NEW LOAN MOVES FOR NUMEROUS PLAYERS

For teams like Chelsea who have made a habit out of stockpiling players under different owners, the tightening of loan regulations is a nightmare.

Just seven temporary deals can be agreed with foreign clubs, those slots already taken up, but with Andrey Santos needing an alternative to his unproductive stint at Nottingham Forest and Deivid Washington requiring experience elsewhere, Chelsea must get creative.

Of the seven currently abroad, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Romelu Lukaku will be continuing their stints with Real Madrid and Roma respectively, and Chelsea will not want to move Angelo Gabriel away from Strasbourg where the 19-year-old has made seven starts and nine substitute outings.

David Datro Fofana will probably stay at Union Berlin now that he has scored twice in his last five outings, leaving Chelsea to either recall Gabriel Slonina from Eupen - where he has started every game but conceded 41 goals in 18 appearances - or bring back Diego Moreira when he has finally found his feet at Lyon.

The alternative is re-negotiating Hakim Ziyech's loan period with Galatasaray. Their obligation to sign the Morocco international permanently does not apply until the summer, but if Chelsea can find an option for Santos or Washington away from English football, it may be worth a conversation or two with their Galatasaray counterparts to finalise Ziyech's transfer sooner than anticipated.