Chelsea transfer news: How Maurizio Sarri’s side could line up at the end of January with Gonzalo Higuain and Leandro Paredes

Chelsea transfer news: How Maurizio Sarri’s side could line up at the end of January with Gonzalo Higuain and Leandro Paredes
Chelsea are a club in transition as the current crop of players still get to grips with the ‘Sarriball’ style of play manager Maurizio Sarri wants them to execute.But it seems some of these players will not be playing the new system for much longer with Alvaro Morata desperate to leave and Cesc Fabregas completing his move to Monaco.4

Fabregas waves goodbye to the Stamford Bridge crowd after Chelsea’s FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest

Meanwhile, Willian’s future at Stamford Bridge looked increasingly uncertain after it was reported Barcelona made another approach for the Brazilianbut Maurizio Sarri said he will not let the Brazilian leave in this month.It’s also still not clear whether Callum Hudson-Odoi will stay with his boyhood club or seek a new challenge with Bayern Munich, who are desperate to sign him. However, it is said that the German club’s reluctance to insert a buy-back option into the contract is holding up the deal.However, Chelsea have the ability to recruit replacements easily and a deal for Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain is reportedly close to being completed.So how might the Blues line up when the January transfer window drama is all over?Below you can see this potential XI for Chelsea in the second half of the 2018/19 season.

Goalkeeper

Kepa Arrizabalaga has made a reasonable start to his Chelsea career after signing from Athletic Bilbao in the summer.The 71.6million Spaniard holds the record of the highest fee ever paid for a shot-stopper and is clearly a long-term investment so is unlikely to be displaced any time soon.

Defence

Minus their shoddy performance against Tottenham in November, Chelsea have looked a pretty solid outfit at the back so not a huge amount is expected to change for them defensively before January is out.Cesar Azpilicueta has moved to right-back since Sarri introduced the 4-3-3 system, Antonio Rudiger stays in the centre, while Marcos Alonso is on the left. David Luiz has been Rudiger’s main partner in the middle but Andreas Christensen is fighting for a more regular spot in the first-team.

Midfield

Fabregas left because he wasn’t playing enough first-team football. This is due to Sarri’s faith in Jorginho, who’s pulling the strings in midfielddespite failing to register a single Premier League assist this season so far.Jorginho’s arrival has even forced N’Golo Kante to learn a new role in midfield while Ross Barkley and Mateo Kovacic battle it out for that final spot in the midfield three.Italian Nicolo Barella was linked to Chelsea in January, but now any potential move will be delayed until the summer – the midfielder citing “family reasons” for not wanting to leave Cagliari just yet, but feisty Zenit St Petersburg midfielderLeandro Paredes is also being eyed.4

Barella’s reluctance to join Chelsea in January could pave the way for Paredes

Attack

Up top is where there could be big changes to Chelsea’s set-up. Sarri doesn’t rate Alvaro Morata or Olivier Giroud and seems keen to bring in former Napoli frontman Higuain.A deal for Higuain is seen as the priority,which would pave the way for Morata to join one of a number of Spanish clubs reportedly interested in him including Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla.And it looks like Willian’s move to Barca isn’t happening in this window at least, making a front three of Willian, Higuain and Eden Hazard.4

Higuain could replace Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud

Chelsea say they want Hudson-Odoi to stay but could be forced to sell as Bayern’s interest is real and the teenager only has 18 months left on his current deal. Sarri, though, used his press conference ahead of the Newcastle game to call the German champions unprofessional in their approach for Hudson-Odoi.

Starting XI

4

Could this be how Chelsea line-up at the end of January?

---

Stuart Pearce has told talkSPORT he hopes Manchester City's season doesn't 'implode' after their dramatic Champions League quarter-final defeat to Tottenham. City crashed out of Europe in
'I hope Manchester City's season doesn't implode' - Stuart

---

Oct 20, 2018 · Maurizio Sarri apologised to Manchester United and admitted Chelsea were in the wrong after one of his coaches sparked a furious touchline row with Sarri is yet to decide if he will punish Ianni. "I have dealt with the situation immediately," he said. "I have to speak to him again because I want to be sure
Chelsea happy to wait for Juventus over Maurizio Sarri and are

---

Feb 14, 2019 · Dwight Gayle to serve two-game ban after West Brom striker accepts FA charge for diving Save Dwight Gayle earned his side a late penalty against Nottingham Forest but it was later deemed he dived
Dwight Gayle: West Brom striker banned for 'diving' - BBC Sport

---

Latest US news, world news, sports, business, opinion, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice

---

England 2-1 Croatia, RESULT: Jesse Lingard and Harry Kane ensure Three Lions progress to Nations League semi-finals in Portugal next summer. Andrej Kramaric scored opener in the 57th minute after
England vs. Croatia score: Three Lions get revenge as Harry

---

Liverpool transfer news - LIVE! and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seems to see him as an ideal player to build his attack around. the first European showpiece without Real Madrid since 2014-15.
Transfer Window Gossip Round-Up - Read Premier League

---

Mohamed Salah produces another moment of quality to fire Liverpool into the Champions League knockout phase and eliminate Napoli in the process. Liverpool 1-0 Napoli: Salah scores as Reds
Mohamed Salah's first half strike sends Reds into last-16 of

---

Arsenal could be without Henrikh Mkhitaryan for their Europa League final against Chelsea due to ongoing diplomatic tensions between his native Armenia and host country Azerbaijan. The Gunners
Henrikh Mkhitaryan: Arsenal's costs, fines and punishments if

---

Fleetwood Town manager Joey Barton is being investigated by South Yorkshire police for allegedly assaulting Barnsley boss Daniel Stendel after today's League One match.
Joey Barton investigated by police over alleged assault of

---

Home » News » Transfers » Schalke announce signing of Everton's JonJoe Kenny with brilliant South-Park themed Tweets Share with Facebook Tweet on Twitter Send Email Copy to Clipboard

---

Manchester United fans on Twitter beg club to 'liquidate' after seeing Marouane Fellaini's shocking new haircut. topworldtimes
Manchester United Fans In Shock As Marouane Fellaini Chops

---

Arsenal and Liverpool are eyeing Borussia Monchengladbach defender Matthias Ginter.The Daily Star says the Germany ace - well known to Liverpool boss Jurgen K
Arsenal, Tottenham monitor 25-year-old Bundesliga defender

---