If you thought the chaos at Stamford Bridge would settle down once 2026 hit, you haven't been paying attention. Chelsea is Chelsea. It’s mid-January, the winter window is wide open, and the vibes are, well, complicated. We’ve already seen a manager sacked on New Year’s Day—rest in peace to the Enzo Maresca era—and now Liam Rosenior is the one holding the clipboard. He's inherited a squad that feels like a collection of expensive trading cards, some of which are slightly bent at the corners.
The biggest story right now? Defence. It’s always the defence.
The Jeremy Jacquet Saga and the Centre-Back Crisis
Honestly, it’s kinda wild that Chelsea are in this spot again. They spent a fortune over the last few years, yet here we are on January 17, 2026, and the big Chelsea football club latest transfer news is a desperate hunt for a 20-year-old from Rennes. Jeremy Jacquet is the name on everyone’s lips. Fabrizio Romano has been hammering this one home, confirming that Jacquet is basically the "chosen one" to fix a backline that has looked shaky ever since Levi Colwill went down with that devastating ACL tear in pre-season.
Rennes are being difficult. Of course they are. They know Chelsea are desperate. Reports suggest the French club wants a record-breaking fee, likely north of £50 million, or even exceeding the £52 million they got for Jeremy Doku.
Why him?
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Jacquet is huge, he’s fast, and he’s been compared to William Saliba. For a team like Chelsea, who have struggled with the inconsistency of Wesley Fofana’s fitness and Tosin Adarabioyo’s form, Jacquet isn't just a "prospect" anymore. He’s a necessity. Especially after Tosin limped off in the recent game against Brentford. If that injury is serious, the board might just have to write whatever check Rennes puts in front of them.
What happened to the other targets?
It’s worth noting that the club actually tried for Dean Huijsen last summer, but he chose Real Madrid. Can you blame him? That miss has left a massive hole. Now, Rosenior is reportedly asking for three new faces this month to "reshape the side in his image," according to The Telegraph. Aside from Jacquet, they are looking at an attacking midfielder.
Why an attacking midfielder when they have roughly forty-seven of them? Cole Palmer’s groin.
The Cole Palmer Problem and Midfield Moves
It’s painful to say, but Palmer hasn't been the "Cold Palmer" we know this season. He’s been battling a persistent groin issue that just won’t go away. When he’s not 100%, the whole team looks different—slower, less imaginative. Because of this, the higher-ups are looking at creative reinforcements.
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In terms of outgoings, we've already seen some movement:
- Leo Castledine is gone. He joined Middlesbrough permanently on January 9 after a stellar loan at Huddersfield.
- Facundo Buonanotte finished his loan and headed back to Brighton. He was okay, but never quite a "Chelsea player" in the way they need right now.
- Teddy Sharman-Lowe was recalled from Bolton because, apparently, you can never have enough goalkeepers in the building.
There’s also the Ryan Kavuma-McQueen situation. The academy winger finally signed his first professional contract this week. It’s a small win for the "Vision 2030" project, but fans are mostly focused on who is going to stop the leaks in the first-team defense.
Did Maresca Leave a Mess?
There’s a lot of talk about how Enzo Maresca left things. Some reports, specifically from The Trivela Effect, suggest he actually hurt Chelsea’s bargaining power on his way out. By constantly—and very publicly—complaining about the lack of a top-tier defender, he basically told the whole world, "Hey, we are desperate and have money!"
That’s a nightmare for a sporting director.
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Now, every club Chelsea calls for a defender adds a "Maresca Tax" to the price tag. Liam Rosenior is the one who has to deal with the fallout. He’s got to integrate new players mid-season while trying to climb into the top four. Chelsea currently sit around fifth, chasing Liverpool for that final Champions League spot.
The Financial Fair Play (PSR) Reality
You’d think after spending a billion pounds they’d be broke, but the "BlueCo" machine keeps finding ways to balance the books. That said, the January 2026 window isn't expected to be a total spending spree. It’s more of a surgical strike.
If they land Jacquet for £45-50 million, that might be the bulk of the budget. They are also keeping an eye on the summer of 2026 already. There is a lot of noise about Serhou Guirassy. He has a €50 million release clause at Dortmund that becomes active for "seven top clubs," including Chelsea.
But that’s a conversation for July. Right now, it’s all about surviving the winter.
What you should watch for this week:
- The Jacquet Bid: Expect a formal offer to land in Rennes' inbox within the next 48 hours. If it's rejected, Chelsea might pivot to a "plan B" that hasn't leaked yet.
- Tosin’s Scan Results: If the defender is out for months, the club's leverage in negotiations drops to zero.
- The "Outs": Keep an eye on the loan market. Chelsea haven't sent many out yet this January, but the final week of the window usually sees 3 or 4 youngsters heading to the Championship or Eredivisie.
The Chelsea football club latest transfer news isn't just about who arrives; it's about whether this new management under Rosenior can finally find some stability. They’ve got the talent. They’ve got the money. They just need a bit of luck with the physio room and a signature from a certain Frenchman in Rennes.
To stay ahead of the window, keep a close watch on official club announcements regarding injury timelines for Colwill and Palmer, as these will directly dictate how much the club overpays for reinforcements before the February 2nd deadline. Monitoring the Ligue 1 lineups for Stade Rennais will also provide a clear "tell" on the Jeremy Jacquet situation—if he’s dropped from the squad, a move to London is likely imminent.