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After weeks of hoping that Ben Chilwell would recover sufficiently to play a part in this season, Chelsea received news that the Englishman would miss the rest of the season.
The 25-year-old defender ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in Chelsea's 4-0 thrashing of Juventus and hobbled off the pitch knowing some real damage had been done. Ben Chilwell had been enjoying the form of his life after forcing himself back into contention at Chelsea following a difficult summer and start to the season.
Ben Chilwell was one of Chelsea's most impressive performers in the first half of this season
Chilwell formed a potent partnership with right-wing back Reece James as they helped pick teams apart with their ability to move into advanced positions and cause trouble.
Ben Chilwell has been a key player for Chelsea since his arrival from Leicester City and will be a great miss for the Blues. Here are five players Chelsea can sign in January to replace him.
#5 Ian Maatsen
Teenage Dutch left-back/left-wing back Ian Maatsen has been looked at by Chelsea as an option to be brought in to replace Ben Chilwell. The 19-year-old youngster is presently on loan from Chelsea at Championship outfit Coventry City, where he has played 21 times already this season.
Another product of the famed Cobham production line, Maatsen made his debut for Chelsea in a Carabao Cup match against Grimsby Town in 2019 under Frank Lampard. He has since been sent on loan to first Charlton Athletic, then Coventry City.
The youngster is known for his pace, ability to whip in dangerous crosses and tenacity in defending. Maatsen has developed and improved his game since leaving Chelsea on loan.
Some people believe that his development will be best served by him playing regularly at Coventry, while others feel this is a chance for him to grab a first-team spot. With Chelsea reportedly set to make a decision by January, Maatsen will be eagerly awaiting the club's final decision.
#4 Theo Hernandez
With a player like Theo Hernandez on the market, Chelsea may view January as a good chance to sign a long-term player instead of a temporary fix. The 24-year-old Frenchman has had a terrific season for AC Milan in Italy, where he has made 20 appearances with two goals and five assists to show.
The former Real Madrid defender would be a perfect match for Thomas Tuchel's side based on how high up the pitch Ben Chilwell was utilised. Hernandez is a capable 1v1 defender with the ability to cause a great deal of damage going the other way as well.
The defender is surely one player whose signing would interest Chelsea as his name has previously come up as one of the club's targets. His transfer fee, however, may prove to be a stumbling block to the progression of any deal. Hernandez remains one of the left-backs admired by the club, and the next few weeks might prove to be crucial for him, too.
#3 Emerson Palmieri
After Ben Chilwell's unfortunate injury, Chelsea have reportedly considered cutting short the loan deal of Italian defender Emerson Palmieri at Olympique Lyonnais. The 27-year-old moved to the French club on a one-year loan deal shortly after the Blues club won the UEFA Super Cup against Villarreal.
Emerson was a squad player under Thomas Tuchel in the German's first half-season at Stamford Bridge. He only appeared five times in the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup after Tuchel's appointment, with just two of them being starts. Emerson scored the second goal against Atletico Madrid in the Round of 16 second leg as Chelsea won 2-0.
Since his move to Chelsea from AS Roma, Emerson has never been a starter for the club as he has never been given a steady run of games to prove his worth. The injury to Ben Chilwell may be a blessing in disguise for Emerson in terms of his career at Chelsea.
The defender has played 18 times so far for the struggling Lyon side, making him one of their key players. A return to Chelsea was planned for the end of the season, but we may see Emerson back in Chelsea blues much sooner than that.
#2 Nicolas Tagliafico
When it comes to disgruntled employees, Argentina and Ajax defender Nicolas Tagliafico is the perfect man to speak with. The 29-year-old left-back has barely been utilized by Ajax boss Erik Ten Haag this season. He has played 13 times in all competitions for Ajax, contributing one goal and assist each in that time.
Tagliafico is reportedly unhappy with his situation at the club, and is willing to leave Ajax in search of more game time. Before Chelsea signed Ben Chilwell, Tagliafico was one of the club's top targets, but Chilwell was ultimately preferred over him. The Argentine defender has been made available for sale by Ajax in anticipation of a bid in January.
For Chelsea, signing him would be a good deal because of his experience and quality. Tagliafico is an adept contributor at both ends of the pitch, and has the stamina to dominate the left flank. His age also makes him a low-risk purchase for the club as he would not cost too much money.
#1 Lucas Digne
Lucas Digne has not featured for Everton since having a public disagreement with manager Rafael Benitez in training. The Frenchman reportedly feels shackled by Benitez's methods at the club. The 28-year old is concerned by the lack of freedom to contribute to his side's attack, something he feels he is well-suited to.
With Everton looking to raise funds and bring in more players, the club seems willing to cut Digne loose for the right price. Digne's situation seems tailor-made for Chelsea to intervene in, as they require a player of his profile to cover for Ben Chilwell's absence.
The cost implication of such a move would also not be huge, as the club is reportedly proposing a six-month loan deal for the Frenchman. First contacts have been made between Chelsea and Everton, and Digne seems to be the club's preferred option to fill the void created by the injury to Ben Chilwell.
