Chelsea remain active in the market for another centre-back despite already listing eight defenders. The club continues to pursue 20-year-old Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet as a priority target, even though Rennes resist a mid-season sale. This pursuit raises a broader question about squad planning and defensive depth at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea invested £222.4m in centre-backs since BlueCo bought the club in 2022, with Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital backing an aggressive rebuild. The current group includes Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Josh Acheampong, Jorrel Hato and Axel Disasi. However, Colwill remains sidelined with a long-term injury, Hato has mainly featured at left-back and Disasi only recently returned to training after time away from first-team plans.
Chelsea still want to sell Disasi in a future window, while head coach Liam Rosenior confirmed Tosin suffered a hamstring injury ruling him out for weeks. Those issues thin the defensive options despite the headline numbers and explain renewed interest in the transfer market.
The thinking behind Chelsea’s search
Chelsea attempted to sign Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth during the summer window but failed to complete the deal and missed alternative options. Decision-makers now want a defender who excels in possession and builds attacks from a central role in Colwill’s absence. Club sources also say Chelsea want added physical presence, with Jacquet standing at 6ft 3ins and fitting that profile.
The club showed openness to such a signing in August, yet progress stalled after Colwill’s injury triggered public frustration from Enzo Maresca. Senior figures asked for a clearly available target at that time, but no suitable name emerged. Those public comments reportedly weakened Chelsea’s negotiating position when talks followed.
Executives believe rival struggles strengthened their stance, as Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle also failed to secure centre-backs. Many expect a busy summer window, with several elite defenders potentially moving as contracts near expiry. That belief underpins Chelsea’s continued patience.
External critics remain unconvinced by the strategy. Some argue Badiashile, Disasi and Tosin lack elite consistency, while Hato continues to improve after early adaptation issues. Fofana has battled injuries during his Chelsea career, although he missed few matches this season.
Any new arrival must avoid blocking young pathways. Acheampong, Strasbourg loanee Mamadou Sarr and Dortmund loanee Aaron Anselmino remain highly regarded. Chelsea track their progress carefully while balancing immediate needs with long-term planning.
Rosenior praised Sarr after Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph, highlighting his performance and mentality. He avoided discussing future squad plans and stressed respect for Strasbourg and their project. Chelsea’s attack has outperformed the defence this season, while defensive inconsistency has limited progress from last year.
The Guehi question and missed opportunity
Manchester City completed the signing of Marc Guehi for £20m this week, a fee seen as strong value for an England international. City moved early and closed the deal before contract expiry, offering terms similar to free-agent packages. Those terms included high agent fees and a reported £300,000 weekly wage, pushing the overall cost far beyond the headline fee.
Chelsea refused to match those demands, which would have made Guehi the club’s highest-paid player ahead of captain Reece James on £250,000 a week. Liverpool, Arsenal and Bayern Munich also stepped away despite summer interest. Such wages could have caused dressing-room complications, with Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Colwill seeking improved contracts.
Chelsea plan renewal talks for the summer and felt Guehi resembled Colwill stylistically. Debate continues over whether reduced wages limit competitiveness since Roman Abramovich’s ownership ended. James remains the only player earning above £200,000 weekly, while the wage bill fell from £404m to £338m year-on-year.
Uefa financial controls further shape strategy, with 72.2% of income spent on wages. Stamford Bridge restricts matchday revenue compared to modern stadiums, and the club still lacks a front-of-shirt sponsor. Player trading now balances the books, while Champions League qualification offers the clearest route to revenue growth and remains the primary target.
