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The new year is almost upon us. While the arrival of January signifies a change in the calendar year, it also holds special significance for football fans. The winter transfer window will be open for the whole month and give every club an opportunity to try and reinforce their squad as the business part of the season approaches.
While it is not easy to snatch players of other teams in the middle of the season, some big transfers have taken place in January over the past few years. Last season, the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexis Sanchez and Philippe Coutinho were among the transfers in the winter transfer window.
This January is more important for Chelsea than ever before. Maurizio Sarri's team fortunes could be massively affected by the club's business in the market. Here is why the January transfer window is a vital one at Stamford Bridge
#3 Getting rid of deadwood
More than the signings Chelsea make in the summer, the window could well be defined by who Chelsea let go of. At the moment, Sarri's squad is too big and with a lot of players, who are either ageing or ones that the club really do not need.
The likes of Victor Moses and Danny Drinkwater have barely featured since Maurizio Sarri took over. Even club captain Gary Cahill looks surplus to needs while midfield maestro Cesc Fabregas is reportedly not happy with his playing time with his contract expiring at the end of this season.
Getting rid of these players will be a major step forward for Chelsea. Firstly, it will allow Maurizio Sarri to start working with a group of players he likes and who will be there with him for the long-term. Further, it will create space in the squad to buy better players and strengthen the team's quality.
Most importantly, if the club manages to secure the sale of these players, it will free up the club's wage bill massively. Most of these players are on extremely high weekly wages which creates issues for the club when it comes to signing top players. Some sales now could lay the foundation for a successful winter and summer transfer window.
#2 Desperate need for goalscorers
So far, Chelsea's start to life under Maurizio Sarri can only be described as hot and cold. While there are few signs of positivity, there have been some worrying moments too. As expected, Chelsea are not competing for the title but are in the race to secure a top 4 finish.
While the team is yet to fully learn Sarri's system and still struggle with many aspects especially defensively, the biggest concern is undoubtedly the team's play in the final third. In almost every match, Chelsea dominate possession but struggle to score goals. More often than not, a lot of easy chances go begging.
This a problem that might not have surprised many. The lack of goalscorers at Chelsea is something that was evident at the start of last season. Eden Hazard is someone Chelsea are massively relying upon to produce the goods in the attacking department. The Belgian has directly contributed to more than 50% of Chelsea's Premier League goals this season.
However, although he looks likely to do so this season, Hazard has never scored 20 goals in a season for Chelsea. While Pedro has an eye for goal, he struggles to produce it on a weekly basis. The biggest issue remains with Chelsea's strikers, as both Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud are not giving the desired returns.
It's not rocket science that in footballing scoring goals is the most important thing. A team can be good at everything else but if you can't score goals, it does not count for anything. The lack of a clinical finisher has already cost Chelsea big time. If they wish to finish in the top four and qualify for next season's Champions League, signing a proven goalscorer is a must.
#1 Possible upcoming transfer ban
A lot of media reports have suggested that Chelsea could possibly be hit with a transfer ban. A FIFA investigation is reportedly taking place with regards to Chelsea signing young players. A ban similar to the one Atletico Madrid or Barcelona received is possible. The ban could be in place for the summer transfer window.
If these reports are true, this transfer window naturally becomes extremely important for Chelsea. Any Chelsea fan will tell you that the current squad is in desperate need for reinforcements. If the club expects a ban, they need to resolve the issues in January and not wait for the summer
The need to act now becomes even more necessary with the future of Eden Hazard looking uncertain. The Belgian's importance to Chelsea cannot be stated enough. In the current squad, he is the standout player by a distance. However, the longer he does not sign the new contract, the more the possibility of him leaving increases.
