Chelsea transfer news: The Blues will be already preparing their January transfer plans despite the summer window only closing on Friday

Adrien Rabiot could be one of the players Chelsea look to sign on a pre-contract in January (Image: Alessandro Sabattini)×

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Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon was the perfect evidence that Mauricio Pochettino is going to require time.

The performance contained problems that previous managers in the past have suffered with and it cost them. A lack of prolific finishing denied the Blues at least a point against Steve Cooper’s side, as did the underlying issues in midfield.

Anthony Elanga’s well-taken finish was a result of poor first touch from Moises Caicedo in the middle of the park. Taiwo Awoniyi’s pass through Thiago Silva gave the Sweden international plenty of time to pick his spot. Same old Chelsea.

Pochettino is only four games into his reign at Stamford Bridge and his project is going to take some time. Unlike Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital will have to be patient in returning the glory days to west London under Pochettino.

And despite spending over £1billion in the last three transfer windows, the January transfer window is already highly anticipated. There remain some parts of Chelsea’s squad that need addressing.

Financial Fair Play regulations mean the Blues can’t spend above their means, meaning the club could look to secure potential pre-contract agreements with players whose deals are set to expire next June. Chelsea will secure the services of players overseas for free at the start of January, with the deals being completed once their contract expires.

It’s a market that has rarely been used by Chelsea in the past but one that could benefit them in January. Here, football.london take a look at four players

Adrien Rabiot

The Juventus midfielder has been linked with a move to the Premier League for some time and was said to be on Manchester United’s radar this summer. He eventually signed a one-year contract at Juventus in June, meaning he could become available once again at the end of the season.

An experienced midfielder with European pedigree, Rabiot would add additional quality to Pochettino’s midfield. The signings of Caicedo and Romeo Lavia mean the Blues have already invested in the position, but should European football make a return, they’ll need as many players as possible.

Kylian Mbappe

The perfect signing for Chelsea. Mbappe’s future at Paris Saint-Germain continues to be unclear despite returning to Luis Enrique’s side in recent weeks, leaving the door open for a potential move next summer.

Should the striker not sign a new deal in France, clubs will have the opportunity to construct a potential free transfer. Real Madrid are heavy favourites to land him, but Chelsea’s financial pull could play a big factor in completing the blockbuster deal.

Mehdi Taremi

Should a deal for Mbappe not materialise, FC Porto striker Taremi could provide Chelsea with a short-term fix in attack. The failure to land a No.9 in the summer means a new centre-forward is likely to be the priority for the Blues once the window reopens.

The Iran international boasts an impressive record in Portugal, scoring 80 goals and assisting 49 in 151 appearances. There is an element of risk to the signing, but acquiring a goalscorer of his nature could solve a number of issues.

Soucre: football.london