Chelsea’s 2024/25 season has been promising, with the Blues sitting third in the Premier League and dominating the Europa Conference League. However, as the January transfer window approaches, speculation grows about manager Enzo Maresca’s plans to further strengthen his squad. Chelsea are four points behind Manchester City and nine behind Liverpool in the league, but their form remains strong, raising the question of whether the club will target specific additions to sustain their success.
To explore Chelsea’s potential moves in the upcoming window, a simulation was conducted using Football Manager 2024 to predict transfers and possible lineup changes. Here’s how the transfer window might unfold:
Simulated January Transfer Window: Chelsea’s Key Moves
Incoming Transfers (£48 million)
- Ousmane Diomande (Sporting CP) – £48 million
To bolster the defense, Maresca secured 20-year-old Ivorian international Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP for £48 million. Diomande, in excellent form, was seen as a much-needed upgrade in central defense. Prior to this move, Chelsea had pursued Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah but were unable to land him, leading to Diomande’s acquisition.
Outgoing Transfers (£43 million including add-ons)
- Benoit Badiashile (Lille) – £26 million
Badiashile was sold to Lille for £26 million, a slight loss compared to the £32 million Chelsea paid for him in 2023. - Mykhailo Mudryk (Paris Saint-Germain) – Loan (£9 million fee + £62 million option-to-buy)
The Ukrainian winger was loaned to PSG with an option to buy, signaling Maresca’s dissatisfaction with his progress at Chelsea. - Ben Chilwell (Manchester United) – Loan (£4.1 million fee)
Chilwell moved on a six-month loan to Manchester United in search of regular playing time. - Cesare Casadei (Leicester City) – Loan (£3 million fee)
Midfielder Casadei was loaned to Leicester for further development. - Marc Guiu (Wolves) – Loan (£700k fee)
Young striker Guiu joined Wolves on a short-term loan. - Tyrique George (Luton Town) – Loan (£200k fee)
- Harvey Vale (Gillingham) – Loan
- Alex Matos (Wimbledon) – Loan
Chelsea sent several promising youth players, including George, Vale, and Matos, to lower-league sides for more first-team experience.
Summary
The simulated window focused on strengthening key areas while allowing several fringe players and youth talents to gain valuable experience elsewhere. The acquisition of Diomande significantly enhances Chelsea’s defensive options, while the loan moves for younger players reflect a commitment to player development.
With these strategic moves, Chelsea could enter the second half of the season even stronger, making them a serious contender in both domestic and European competitions. Whether Maresca will follow this path remains to be seen, but the club’s ambitions for success are clearly a priority.
