Trevoh Chalobah and Andrey Santos recalls, Victor Osimhen deal and more Chelsea transfer updates

On Monday afternoon, Bobby Vincent hosted a Chelsea-related Q&A session on football.london regarding, mostly, the January transfer window. Below, we have pulled together the full transcript from the lengthy question and answer session…

Q: Do you think Chelsea will prioritise midfield depth if Cesare Casadei leaves this month?

A: My opinion is I think they should. However, I don’t see much happening in terms of incomings in that position this month. It would be a different story, though, if they were to let the likes of Carney Chukwuemeka and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall leave as well as Casadei.

Q: Is there any word on loan recalls?

A: Enzo Maresca said last week that it was possible for the club to have a look at possible recalls. The obvious one is Trevoh Chalobah. The club are considering recalling the 25-year-old but no decision has been made just yet, as there are other options – including signing another centre-back – being discussed internally as well.A lot of people asking about Andrey Santos and whether he will be recalled. To be honest, I think it would be a mistake from Chelsea to do that because he is loving life in France at the moment and there is no obvious route into the Blues’ first-team at the minute.

Q: What do you think is the reason of this weird situation with Wesley Fofana and Enzo Maresca? They have made different statements about his injury. Do you know something about that?

A: You’re right, it is a bizarre situation! And no, nothing much to add, I’m afraid. Perhaps Enzo has heard something from the club’s medical department that Fofana has not? That is me purely speculating.

Q: Is Christopher Nkunku on his way out of the club?

A: I think that is very unlikely this month. From what I’ve heard, the club do not want Nkunku to leave.Q: What about Marc Guehi? Will Chelsea submit an offer to Crystal Palace?

A: Chelsea certainly like Marc Guehi. This month, it seems unlikely. Purely because Palace will be very difficult to do business with in January. If Chelsea were to pursue re-signing Guehi, then the summer transfer window looks to be a likelier option.

Q: What positions are Chelsea targeting in this window? Any specific players among those targets?A: I was told at the start of the month to expect a quiet month in terms of incomings. The centre-back injury conundrum does not help, so perhaps things have changed.Marc Guehi and Ousmane Diomande are two centre-backs I know the club like but have not been told anything to suggest they will make a move for either this month.

A striker is an area the club have been looking at for a while – as you will well know – but trying to sign one mid-season is complicated for a variety of reasons!

Q: Is there an update on Mykhailo Mudryk? And will Chelsea target defenders and a striker in January?

A: No update from my side on Mudryk. Club are still waiting to hear back on a number of things in that regard.

On your second question, I was told at the start of the month to expect a quiet window in terms of incomings as the club are happy with the squad and the way it has performed this season thus far. The centre-back injury situation has perhaps changed that but getting a deal done in January is always complicated and quite often clubs pay over-the-odds to get their targets. The only way I see multiple incomings this month is if the club offload multiple players.

Q: Will Chelsea continue the talks on Victor Oshimen? Last transfer window ended with his talks.

A: Not this month. There is a long time between now and the summer but at this stage, I would say it is unlikely.

Q: What are Chelsea doing regarding the striker position?A: There is often a feeling that January is a difficult month to do business in – particularly when it comes to strikers. For example, the club are long-term admirers of Liam Delap but getting him this month seems to be a no-go.Ipswich Town don’t want to sell and there is no indication from the player’s side that he would want to leave halfway through a season either. Signing a striker seems much more feasible in the summer.

Q: In your opinion, how does the club see the second half of the season going? I am very concerned regarding Enzo Maresca not being able to make tactical in-game changes and his ability to utilise the whole squad…

A: The club are very happy with the first half of the season. They are beyond expectations at the moment, there is no denying that.Yes, there has been a blip in recent games but Enzo Maresca will be hoping it is just a blip and nothing more. The performances in the last few games have not been too bad but there has been a lack of cutting edge up front – so hopefully that can sort itself out.Q: Is there any word on loan deals for Carney Chukwuemeka or Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall?

A: Chelsea would consider loan deals for both if the right ones came their way. Right now, just interest from several clubs but nothing concrete.

Q: Are Chelsea likely to consider a recall for Andrey Santos? Southampton seem keen to keep Lesley Ugochukwu under new management, so is there any thought that they might turn elsewhere for midfield energy this window?

A: I think the club are happy with what Santos is doing right now in France. For me, it would not make too much sense to disrupt his development when there is no clear path into the first-team.

Q: Is it likely for Chelsea to buy a striker this month?

A: Right now, I would say that it is unlikely.

Q: Is there actual interest in Chelsea signing Cristhian Mosquera? There’s been a lot of fan talk about him but is there interest from the club?

A: Not that I’ve heard but that’s not to say there is none.