Chelsea's full ins and outs for January transfer window 2022 as Kenedy returns and Anjorin
exits
Chelsea expected a fairly quiet January transfer window and that's exactly what they got.
Thomas Tuchel's squad had been stretched to the limit in the build-up to the first transfer
window in 2022 with several members of the Chelsea squad spending time on the sidelines
due to injury and Covid issues respectively.
Most of these said problems have come in the Blues' backline with Reece James and Ben Chilwell
long-term absentees - injuries that have affected the European Champions' form during the festive
schedule.
Heading into the Club World Cup, Tuchel's men sit in the precarious position of third
place with 47 points but could be hanging on to that position when they return from
the United Arab Emirates with all of Spurs, Arsenal, Man United and West Ham playing catch
up over that period.
Man City and Liverpool also have games in hand meaning that the 10 point deficit at
the top is likely to be more when the Blues are to play in the Premier League again, with
a London derby assignment at Crystal Palace next on the agenda once their involvement
in the upcoming Club World Cup comes to an end.
Squad depth is vital in these congested situations and the lack of sufficient wing-back cover
has haunted the current Champions League winners who were expected to make at least one signing
- and that coming at full-back.
A host of names were linked to provide cover for Chilwell, who will not be returning this
season, with Sergino Dest, Leyvin Kurzawa and Borna Sosa all mentioned in regards to
filling this void.
However, Marina Granovskaia and co.
only had their eyes on one player in particular, Emerson Palmieri, and despite him still technically
being part of the club, the west Londoners have not been able to convince Lyon to relinquish
the Italian international, football.london understands.
Elsewhere, Ousmane Dembele was a name that came on the Chelsea agenda late on but no
deal was ever in the works for this month as the Frenchman remains put in Spain until
the summer.
Without no further ado, football.london rounds up all the ins and outs that have taken place
in SW6 during January 2022.
Kenedy from Flamengo (end of loan)
Chelsea recalled the forgotten Brazilian man earlier in the month with the intention of
finding another destination for the versatile left-sided player.
However the failed Emerson recall has now allowed Kenedy and Lewis Hall a golden ticket
to provide sufficient back up to Marcos Alonso for the rest of the season.
"Kenedy is back and I'm very happy about it.
It is a huge opportunity for him to make his mark at this club and in this team.
We will try from this day on to push and support him as good as we can," Tuchel said initially.
He then added in a later press conference: "We cannot say Kenedy is the solution.
He can be a solution.
The situation has not changed, we have long-term injuries with the wing-backs.
"We suffered a lot in the midfield from covid and injuries and now our midfielders are more
or less coming back we suffer with our central defenders.
"Nothing has changed but it needs to make sense, it needs to be possible, it needs to
make sense on a high level and in quality and personality.
We have looked into the market, nothing has changed, we have all options and also the
option to say no."