Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel was open in his press conference today, admitting that the club are looking at options at left back, with Ben Chilwell out injured.
Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph has obviously been briefed with a few details since then, and they go exactly as we’d expect them to.
The club have left backs, they don’t want to buy a new one, which is why recalling Emerson is their first choice.
Chelsea reluctant to sign a new l/b permamenetly in this window. Loan with an option a possibility if they can't get Emerson back which is the first choice. Signing one permanently now would mean they go into the summer with five left backs at club which makes little sense #cfc
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) January 7, 2022
Digne/Dest both options considered but there are two or three clubs willing to pay to sign Digne permanently now, which will be more attractive to Everton. Barcelona willing to let Dest go but would most likely have to start as a loan from Chelsea end #cfc
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) January 7, 2022
Assuming that’s not possible – and given it’s not already happened we can probably say it’s unlikely, they would consider a loan with an option to buy, like the deal that brought Saul to Chelsea this summer.
Neither of their top two targets – Sergino Dest and Luca Digne – are likely to be available on those terms, but given both of their clubs are keen to be rid of them, anything is still very possible by the end of the window.