Chelsea Transfer News Today - No breakthrough in striker search, Blues scout new Pogba in La Liga - January 22, 2019

All is not well at Stamford Bridge. The early season promise has been replaced by inconsistencies in performances and results. The second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur is the most pressing issue in front of the manager, Maurizio Sarri now. Chelsea is down 1-0 from the first leg.

However, the Italian has been left frustrated by a period of inactivity in the transfer market. No new player has joined yet (Christian Pulisic will join in the summer), and only Cesc Fabregas has left the club so far.

With the window shutting down in 9 days time, the need to speed up negotiations for targets has increased.

Here is a look at the latest transfer stories concerning the Stamford Bridge lords:

#1 Still no confirmation on striker's arrival

Still no news on the Higuain-to-Chelsea story

Chelsea fans have become weary with waiting for news about a possible striker signing. The team's well-documented issues with getting goals have made the position a top priority. However, while many stories have been bandied about certain strikers joining the team, nothing has materialized so far.

The strongest rumours have surrounded the possibility of Argentine striker, Gonzalo Higuain joining on loan. The 31-year-old has been on loan at AC Milan from Juventus and is said to want the move.

Lots of stories say it is a done deal but nothing has been completed. According to The Evening Standard, the deal is still "in the air". Quoting AC Milan's assistant coach; Luigi Riccio, nothing concrete has been agreed so far.

He was quoted in an interview as saying:

As for the transfer market, we are all grown-ups, we know how to deal with these situations," Riccio said.

"It has been in the air for a few days

#2 Blues eye move for La Liga youngster

Chelsea are favourites to sign the Barca starlet

Chelsea has also set their sights on the future and is looking to recruit for the long-term as well. According to the Daily Express, the team's hierarchy is eyeing up Barcelona youth midfielder, Ilaix Moriba.

The midfielder is playing for Barcelona’s youth team and been a regular in their side for the UEFA Youth League. He has drawn comparisons with World Cup winner, Pogba due to the similarities in play.

Chelsea's head of transfers, Mariana Granovskaia has been given the green light to go for the young Spaniard. The Blues are said to be poised to offer the player's retinue, better terms than those on offer from both Barca and Manchester City.

Moriba has been left out of training with the Catalan club's U-19 side until he sorts out his future. With so many big clubs scrambling for his services, it remains to be seen how this will play out.

#3 Batshuayi loan move stalls

The Batman has had a nightmarish time at Stamford Bridge

Despite everything appearing as a done deal, Michy Batshuayi is still a Chelsea player. According to the Liverpool Echo, the Blues are stalling on approving the loan move to AS Monaco in the hopes of getting a permanent transfer for the player.

In the report, it states that Everton has been linked with a £40m move for the Belgian who was recalled from his loan move to Valencia 5 months early. The Blues are hopeful of selling the striker in a bid to raise funds for other transfer business.

Monaco vice-president, Vadim Vasilyev has confirmed that there is already an agreement with the player but that Chelsea is refusing to play ball just yet.

It is almost certain that Batshuayi will leave Chelsea this month. What is still unclear is the destination and mode of transfer.