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The latest on Chelsea's transfer plans on deadline day after the Blues missed out on Jeremy Jacquet, who is set to sign for Liverpool after a deal was agreed on Sunday evening
Chelsea are expected to re-evaluate the centre-back market in the summer transfer window after missing out on Jeremy Jacquet.
It emerged late on Sunday night that Jacquet, who the Blues have been pursuing over the course of the January transfer window, agreed a deal to join Liverpool. The Reds will pay a £60million package to Rennes for the 20-year-old defender to join at the end of the season.
football.london understands there were no problems from Chelsea's side regarding the fee, however Jacquet believes there is a bigger chance of first-team football at Anfield than Stamford Bridge. News that the Blues are set to recall Mamadou Sarr from Strasbourg and the club's unwavering faith in Josh Acheampong saw Jacquet eventually choose Liverpool instead.
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As of the time of writing, the expectation is that Chelsea will reassess their options in the summer transfer window. Though if an opportunity was to present itself in the final hours of the mid-season window, then the Blues could make a late move.
Mamadou Sarr is set to be recalled from his loan spell with Strasbourg. The Senegal international is due to return to the UK today after Chelsea decided to trigger the break clause in his deal with their sister club, with Aaron Anselmino going the other way on a loan until the end of the season.
Chelsea are looking for a starting-level central defender - and have been since last summer, where they missed out on Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid. The Spain international chose a move to Los Blancos over the Blues, who were powerless given the former Bournemouth defender was desperate to move to his boyhood club.
The west Londoners want to sign an elite defender and if that level is not available for whatever reason, the club are prepared to wait. Chelsea's desire to sign a centre-back has nothing to do with Levi Colwill's injury, with the Blues defender missing the entirety of the season thus far with an anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered back in August.
Colwill remains central to Chelsea's long-term plan. Any addition in the centre of defence will be to complement the England international once he is back from injury. Liam Rosenior confirmed last week that the Cobham graduate is back on the pitch doing some fitness work as he nears his return.
"I spoke with him this morning," Rosenior said on Friday. "He is getting on really good. What a professional. He is working so hard in terms of his rehab. It's brilliant to see him out on the pitch now, doing his running. It is a huge step for him.
"Obviously an ACL is a really difficult injury. He is itching to get back but we need to make sure that when he is back, he is feeling 100% perfect. He is another outstanding player I cannot wait to work with."
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