Chelsea are in need of choices at left wing-back following the information that Ben Chilwell is about to overlook the remainder of the season with a severe knee damage.
Chilwell, 25, broken his anterior cruciate ligament in the course of the Blues’ 4-0 win over Juventus final month and, after initially clutching onto the potential of avoiding it, the membership has since confirmed he requires surgical procedure to beat the issue.
Marcos Alonso is now the one pure left wing-back obtainable for supervisor Thomas Tuchel, who wants a Plan B for the second half of the season.
Sportsmail takes a better take a look at potential signings the Blues might make in January, and attainable choices already on the books at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are brief at left wing-back with Ben Chilwell set to overlook the remainder of the season
Blues head coach Thomas Tuchel must discover a answer within the January switch window
Lucas Digne
Chelsea are already weighing up a January transfer for Digne, who seems to be on his approach out of Everton after a dispute with supervisor Rafa Benitez.
The France defender has not featured since their 4-1 defeat away at Liverpool on December 1 because of that fall-out, and the writing is seemingly on the wall for him at Goodison Park forward of the winter window.
Tuchel could look to carry Digne to Stamford Bridge on a short-term mortgage till the tip of the season, with ex-Toffee Ross Barkley doubtlessly heading in the wrong way.
The previous Barcelona star would add Premier League expertise and high quality going ahead, though it stays to be seen if Everton will let one in all their greatest gamers depart on a brief deal.
Everton defender Lucas Digne is already an choice for Chelsea forward of the winter window
Nicolas Tagliafico
The Argentine left-back is an alternative choice Chelsea are exploring within the wake of Chilwell’s surgical blow, and Ajax are ready to dump him subsequent month.
Tagliafico has made 146 appearances since becoming a member of the Dutch membership in January 2018 and has additionally been capped 36 occasions by Argentina.
At 29, and with simply 18 months to run on his present contract, he’ll seemingly be obtainable on a budget subsequent month as a cut-price substitute for Chilwell.
Ajax left-back Nicolas Tagliafico can also be on their radar as potential cowl for Chilwell
Sergino Dest
In response to the Each day Specific, Chelsea additionally get hold of an curiosity in Barcelona teen Dest, who moved to the Nou Camp from Ajax final yr.
The USA worldwide, 21, is able to working on each flanks, versatility which is claimed to enchantment to Blues officers.
Dest stays underneath contract at Barca till 2025, but the Spanish membership want to lift funds amid their monetary disaster, and given Dani Alves is about to return subsequent month they could be tempted to money in on their less-experienced defender in January.
Bayern Munich are additionally circling, nevertheless, that means Chelsea might nicely face competitors for his signature.
Barcelona teen Sergino Dest’s versatlity reportedly appeals to Blues officers
Emerson Palmieri/Ian Maatsen
As an alternative of looking elsewhere, Chelsea might recall both Emerson or Maatsen from their mortgage spells at Lyon and Coventry respectively.
Emerson, 27, has already made 71 appearances for the Blues, however with Chilwell and Alonso forward of him within the pecking order he was despatched out on mortgage to France this time period.
Maatsen, 19, has spent the final two seasons on mortgage with Charlton and Coventry, producing encouraging kind for each, after making his one and solely senior Chelsea look within the 2019/20 marketing campaign.
Chelsea might additionally recall Ian Maatsen or Emerson Palmieri from loans at Coventry and Lyon
Saul Niguez/Reece James
One other answer for Tuchel might be turning to gamers who at present reside in his squad as makeshift cowl, corresponding to summer time recruit Saul or proper wing-back James.
Saul has some expertise as a wing-back after being shifted into the place by Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid final season, albeit moderately unsuccessfully.
As for James, he has confirmed himself as among the finest proper wing-backs in European soccer over the previous two seasons, and he would seemingly be able to deputising for Alonso on the other flank when required.
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