15 January 2024 , 13:21
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Mauricio Pochettino may be hoping for some quiet time at home with his family during Chelsea's Premier League break but, with a new forward addition potentially on the way, already knows he may not be afforded that luxury.
The Blues have been unafraid to be busy in recent transfer windows and with questions over the possibility of a new forward, the chance of a phonecall from the club's sporting directors or owners appear rife. Saturday saw Chelsea's head coach distance himself from suggestions he wanted a new striker this month despite Nicolas Jackson representing Senegal at AFCON and Christopher Nkunku struggling with a hip issue.
The severity of the Frenchman's injury will impact how the west London side's squad is assessed, with Pochettino admitting he was a 'little bit worried' about the 26-year-old's situation ahead of the win over Fulham.
Nevertheless, after the intensity of the festive period into the new year, Pochettino is hoping for some rest. While multiple meetings were held with the club's owners last week, the 51-year-old's daily communication with sporting directors is unlikely to allow for too much time off until Chelsea face Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup looking to overcome a one-goal deficit.
“We need to give some rest to the players and the staff because it is a really busy period now and they need to breathe a little bit. This break is very useful,” Pochettino said.
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“I need to go to see my family [in Spain] and it is going to be good to have a little bit of a change. I won’t really be able to switch off — not with the chairman. I will need to be available 24 hours in case anything happens to be contacted by the sporting director or the owners. I know that something can always appear in football. To be honest, I would prefer it if the phone did not ring. If it does not ring, it is much better for me.”
Chelsea's transfer market options have generally centred around Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney. However, the former recently signed a new deal with Napoli and is currently competing with Nigeria in the Ivory Coast.
There also appears to be some understanding Toney could remain at Brentford until the end of the season with the Bees suffering injury issues of their own. In addition, neither will come cheap.
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 26: Karim Benzema of Al-Ittihad looks on prior to the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium on December 26, 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)Reports have mooted the idea of a possible switch for Karim Benzema or Roberto Firmino. Both moved to the Saudi Pro League in the summer, to Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli respectively.
Former Real Madrid striker Benzema is said to be set to miss his side's Dubai training camp having missed training sessions with the Saudi Pro League club. The Frenchman scored 12 goals in his first 20 outings while Firmino has netted just three times in 19 appearances.
One of the duo may be able to provide a short term loan option for Chelsea, though neither would appear to offer a bargain deal as they carry hefty salaries following their summer moves.
It is understood that Chelsea may have reservations about delving into the transfer market for short term gain too. Joao Felix's loan 12 months ago was completed with the view of a late push for Champions League glory and qualification but backfired as busy window saw a bulging squad form. The club's form at the end of 2022/23 will provide plenty of pause as they now search for stability.
Interest in a forward does remain however with the expectation that either a striker arrives or the collection of Jackson, Nkunku and Armando Broja stand up to make their presence felt over the next two windows. Should a player arrive, Broja would likely be the figure heading in the opposite direction as Chelsea look to retain control over the size of their squad.