Chelsea are eyeing up a new centre forward in the January transfer window to provide competition for Nicolas Jackson, according to reports. But the emphasis will be firmly placed on sales with five fringe members of Enzo Maresca's squad eyeing moves away from Stamford Bridge.
Chief among the likely departures is England left back Ben Chilwell, who captained the side last season only for Maresca to decide he did not fit the desired style of play. Midfielders Carney Chukwuemeka and Cesare Casadei are also free to move, though the latter will only go on loan and the former has a £40m release clause.
Young attacker Harvey Vale could depart too as he enters the final six months of his contract, with academy product Alex Matos also permitted to depart. But, as first reported by talkSPORT, Chelsea's recruitment chiefs are keeping close tabs on Ipswich striker Liam Delap and Brighton's Evan Ferguson, who is available on loan this month having fallen down the pecking order in Sussex under Fabian Hurzeler.
Maresca's men travel to Ipswich on Monday night looking to regain second place and apply some degree of pressure on runaway leaders Liverpool. Chelsea threw away a one-goal lead at home to Fulham on Boxing Day having also being unable to beat Everton eight days ago.
"All the Premier League games are complicated, no matter who the other team is," Maresca said ahead of the game in Suffolk. "Every game we play is complicated, and you also see how you can struggle to beat teams. That’s because every match in the Premier League is difficult. The Ipswich game will be exactly the same.
