Chelsea have been dealt a blow in their reported pursuits of two left-wing-back options.
Chelsea hunting for a left-back amid Ben Chilwell woes
It was confirmed last month that Ben Chilwell is expected to be out for the rest of the season as he requires surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament.
Ben Chilwell had been crucial to Chelsea’s impressive early-season form, scoring three and assisting one in six league outings.
In turn, it is probably not too much of a coincidence that both the Blues’ form and ability to keep clean sheets has tailed off massively since Chilwell was sidelined.
So, it looks a must for Chelsea to find some cover for Chilwell in January as, even if Marcos Alonso is playing well, he cannot play every game at left-wing-back from now until the end of the campaign.
A number of options have so far been touted. One was to recall Emerson Palmieri, currently on loan at French outfit Lyon.
Elsewhere, it was suggested Chelsea could sign Ryan Bertrand from Leicester City. However, those rumours were squashed pretty quickly.
Lucas Digne was also linked, but he has since joined Aston Villa.
Chelsea will not sign two players
More recently, the Mirror reported that Inter Milan and Croatia star Ivan Perisic has emerged as a potential target for Chelsea.
Elsewhere, PSG outcast Layvin Kurzawa has also been linked with the Blues in the last week.
Now though, neither of those players looks as though they will be heading to west London this month.
This comes with Fabrizio Romano reporting that there is no chance for Perisic to leave Inter in January.
The transfer expert adds that there is ‘no way’ for Perisic and Kurzawa [to join Chelsea] and there are no talks ongoing:
There’s no chance for Ivan Perisic to leave Inter in January despite Chelsea links. No way for Perisic and Kurzawa, no talks ongoing. ? #CFC
Many top clubs are interested in Perisic as free agent for June – Inter are still working to extend his contract. Nothing done yet.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 18, 2022
Arsenal vs Liverpool betting tips: Carabao Cup Semi-final Second Leg preview, predictions and odds
Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur betting tips: Preview, predictions & odds