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Chelsea were the team that made all the right moves in the summer transfer window, bringing in a host of attacking talents to Stamford Bridge that included the likes of Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz. Defensive reinforcement in the form of the experienced Thiago Silva also arrived.
However, Chelsea looked like an unsettled team in the early rounds of the Premier League, as they conceded too many goals and dropped precious points in high-scoring draws. Nevertheless, two comfortable wins in their last two games in the Premier League show that Frank Lampard might be finally finding his perfect combination.
Five players who could leave Chelsea in the January transfer window
Chelsea are competing in all fronts, including the Champions League, this season. However, their squad depth is such that quite a few players are surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge and might be heading out of the club in January once the transfer window reopens. On that note, let us take a look at five of them.
#5 Marcos Alonso
The arrival of England left-back Ben Chilwell at Chelsea has sounded the death-knell to Marcos Alonso's prospects at the club, and he is one of the favourites to head out of Stamford Bridge come January.
Alonso has been quite the performer for Chelsea since joining the club in 2016, with his marauding runs down the left-flank and brilliant set-pieces catching the eye.
The Spaniard won the Premier League in 2016-17 and has also won the FA Cup and the Europa League with Chelsea. He has also scored a few key goals for the club.
However, Alonso has looked more and more unsettled with passing time and has made only three EPL appearances for the Blues this season. With Chilwell settling in immaculately at Stamford Bridge, it might be time for the Spaniard to find a new club.
#4 Emerson Palmieri
Another left-sided defender, Emerson Palmieri, is already being heavily linked with a loan move to Napoli (he was linked with Juventus back in October). He is deemed one of a few players whom Lampard may jettison to sell to raise the money to make a bid for Declan Rice.
The Italy international has made only 59 appearances for Chelsea since joining the club in 2018. He has not made a single Premier League appearance for the Blues this season.
Ben Chilwell's arrival has ensured that Palmieri has become even less likely to find regular game-time at the club this season.
#3 Olivier Giroud
Olivier Giroud, France's World Cup-winning centre forward, is all set to leave Stamford Bridge to get regular playing time and ensure that he keeps his spot in the Les Bleus team brimming with stars galore.
Though he has made 94 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea, scoring 29 goals and providing 14 assists and winning the FA Cup and Europa League along the way, he has never been a regular starter at the club.
Recently, he was advised by his national team manager Didier Deschamps to find a club where he could play more football. The arrival of Timo Werner has possibly helped him make up his mind in this regard, and the 34-year-old might be heading back to Ligue 1 in January.
#2 Antonio Rudiger
Germany international, Antonio Rudiger, has fallen way down the pecking order at Chelsea, with the likes of Thiago Silva, Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen and Fikayo Tomori all seemingly ahead of him as central-defensive options at the club.
Rudiger is yet to play in the Premier League this season, as he has experienced a stark decline in his fortunes at the club; he made 19 starts in the league last season.
With AS Roma among several clubs reportedly interested in his services and with Chelsea looking to cut their wage bill, Rudiger could be all set to walk out of the club's doors in January.
#1 Kepa Arrizabalaga
Kepa Arrizabalaga, the world's most expensive goalkeeper, is enduring a nightmare at Chelsea, an overly long nightmare.
Scrutiny about the frailties in his technique began last season itself, as he made a bevvy of high-profile errors. With Kepa Arrizabalaga's mistakes and the scrutiny continuing this season too, Chelsea were forced to sign Edouard Mendy from Rennes for £24 million.
Arrizabalaga was inevitably dropped from the Chelsea XI, and to his detriment, Mendy begun his Chelsea sojourn on the front foot.
Reports now suggest that the Spaniard could look to find a loan move away from Stamford Bridge and take a hefty wage cut (£150,000 per month) to resurrect his chances of being a part of the Spanish team at next year's Euros.
It has been a dramatic fall from grace for a still young keeper, who was once considered by many to have it in him to be the best in the business.
