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Chelsea have a grueling second half of the 2021-22 season ahead of them. They will start things off by facing Al Hilal in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday (February 9).
Although the Premier League title appears beyond Chelsea's reach, Thomas Tuchel and co. are still fighting for silverware on multiple fronts this season. They have been handed a favorable UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie against Lille and will also play the EFL Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.
The Blues are also still alive in the FA Cup and will face Luton Town in the fifth round.
Chelsea's attackers continue to fire blanks
The London-based club shelled out nearly £300million on Kai Havertz, Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic. However, Chelsea's attack has been supremely underwhelming this season. The likes of Reece James, Mason Mount and Jorginho have outscored their more expensive attacking teammates.
Meanwhile, the team's defensive solidity, which has been their trademark under Tuchel, has been hit by a spate of injuries to key players. James and Ben Chilwell have been sidelined with significant knocks while the contract situations of Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger have only complicated matters.
Nonetheless, Chelsea refrained from spending in the winter window and have no choice but to hope their attackers can rediscover their form. On that note, here are five players the Blues could have targeted in the winter transfer window.
#5 Lucas Digne
Injuries to Chilwell and James meant fans expected Chelsea to purchase a full-back in the winter window. French left-back Lucas Digne's falling out with former Everton boss Rafa Benitez made the 28-year-old the ideal target.
It briefly appeared as though it was only a matter of time before the full-back would arrived at Stamford Bridge.
With seven assists in each of his last two Premier League seasons, Digne's ability to drive up the flank and put in a good cross could have helped the Blues. However, Chelsea hesitated which allowed Aston Villa to swoop in and sign the Frenchman for £25million.
#4 Niklas Sule
Another player who was linked with a move to Stamford Bridge was Bayern Munich centre-back Niklas Sule. The 26-year-old German's unwillingness to renew his contract with the Bavarian giants has been an open secret in recent months.
With the Blues facing difficulties in their attempts to tie down Rudiger and Christensen to new deals, a move for Sule made perfect sense. Bayern were reportedly willing to negotiate a cut-price fee rather than lose him for free at the end of the season.
Tuchel's Bundesliga connections were also expected to help facilitate a deal.
However, the Blues decided to wait until the summer, which provided Borussia Dortmund with an opening. It has now been officially announced that Sule will join Dortmund on a free transfer at the end of the ongoing campaign.
#3 Declan Rice
A long-standing transfer rumor in English football is Chelsea's desire to bring back their former youth product, Declan Rice. The 23-year-old has established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the league and is West Ham United's captain with 175 appearances under his belt.
Rice also has 27 England caps to his name and played an important role in their run to the Euro 2020 final last year. West Ham were never going to sell their main man midway through the season, but whispers regarding a summer move are growing louder.
The Hammers are barely hanging on to a top-four spot after a strong start to the season and did not strengthen their squad in the winter transfer window. Failure to secure Champions League football for the 2022-23 campaign could signal the end of Rice's time with the club.
West Ham have reportedly slapped a £100million price tag on their prized asset, which the Blues will need to match. They will face competition as well, with Manchester United believed to be seriously interested in signing the England star.
#2 Jules Kounde
Reports suggest Chelsea's hesitation to commit to a deal for Niklas Sule is because they plan to return for 23-year-old Jules Kounde in the summer. Sevilla's French centre-back was on the cusp of joining the Blues before the start of the 2021-22 season. The clubs had reportedly agreed on a £43 million fee but the move collapsed after the La Liga side demanded another £10 million.
The Frenchman hasn't let the disappointment of the failed move affect his displays, though, and has made 18 league appearances for Sevilla this season. The club are currently second in La Liga and boast the best defensive record in the league, having conceded just 16 goals so far.
Chelsea are expected to return for the centre-back and it would not be a surprise to see a deal go through, especially if Rudiger or Christensen leave the club.
#1 Ousmane Dembele
Despite intense speculation surrounding his future, Ousmane Dembele was unable to move out of Barcelona in the winter transfer window. Following a complete breakdown in contract negotiations, the Blaugrana demanded the 24-year-old Frenchman leave the club in January.
The Spanish giants were desperate to get the winger and his salary off his books. They were even willing to sell him for a fraction of the £126million they shelled out to Borussia Dortmund for his services in 2017. Hamstring injuries, various knocks and off-field controversies have limited Dembele to just 129 appearances, 31 goals and 23 assists over nearly five years in Spain.
Dembele enjoyed the best season of his career in 2016-17 at Dortmund under Thomas Tuchel, scoring 10 goals and providing 21 assists. Their connection meant Chelsea were favorites to sign the winger, especially after reports suggested two Premier League clubs were interested in Dembele.
The Blues' misfiring attack, along with the Frenchman's versatility, meant he was an intriguing option. However, nothing materialized and it remains to be seen whether Chelsea will try to sign him for free in the summer.
Poll : Who should Declan Rice join if he decides to leave West Ham United?
Chelsea
Manchester United
69 votes
