Chelsea remain in the market for another centre-back despite having eight on the books. Their primary target is 20-year-old Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet, though the French club is reluctant to sell mid-season. This pursuit comes despite significant investment in the position since BlueCo's takeover in 2022.

The Blues' rationale stems from key absences. Levi Colwill is out long-term, Tosin Adarabioyo has a hamstring injury, and Axel Disasi is potentially for sale. They seek a ball-playing defender with physicality to build attacks from deep, a profile they failed to secure in the summer when pursuing Dean Huijsen.

Internally, Chelsea believe rivals like Manchester City and Liverpool also struggled to buy defenders, reinforcing their stance. However, signing Jacquet must balance the pathways of promising youngsters like Josh Acheampong. The club's inconsistent defence, which has underperformed their attack, makes this a pressing issue for a team targeting Champions League qualification.