The January transfer window is on the verge of opening and it could actually prove to be a busy one for Chelsea. Though it appears unlikely there will be a significant amount of movement, a maximum of nine deals could be sanctioned by Enzo Maresca.

After a superb start to the season, the Blues have now lost back-to-back games with Fulham and Ipswich taking six points away from Chelsea and leaving them in fourth. After the game, despite rotating, Maresca revealed his players are tired which could suggest new signings are on the way to freshen up the squad.

"We probably also arrive at the end of the month feeling a little bit tired in general," he admitted. "We have finished the first part of the season, we are going to start the second part. We are happy with where we are but we know we can do many things better."

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The bigger priority however, will almost certainly be trimming his squad with Ben Chilwell almost certainly one of those that could move on. The left-back was brought back into the picture after initially being exiled from the first-team squad, however he has not featured for the Blues since late September.

Cesare Casadei is another expected to depart with a return to Italy a very plausible outcome. A new report from Gianluca Di Marzio has furthered the likelihood of that by claiming Torino have submitted an official bid. Carney Chukwuemeka meanwhile, is available for transfer with Chelsea wanting his £40million release clause in full to sell.

Despite being a Maresca signing and only joining the club six months ago, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could be on the move again. Former club Leicester City could show an interest with a loan move far more likely given he was only a new arrival to Stamford Bridge this past summer.

Omari Kellyman is another recent signing that could seal a temporary exit despite missing the last few months with a hamstring injury. Back in September, football.london reported that Chelsea would be looking to find him a loan move in the winter window.

While also sanctioning loan departures, two players are returning to Stamford Bridge. Gabriel Slonina is returning to west London from Barnsley after suffering an injury while Aaron Anselmino has departed Boca Juniors and is set to begin training at Cobham very soon which will see him provide needed defensive cover.

In terms of actual new and marquee arrivals, Chelsea could be tempted to sign Dani Olmo on a free transfer from Barcelona following their latest attempts to register him failed. Though Maresca already has numerous options in his position, the chance to sign a player of that calibre without paying a fee may be too good to look beyond.

Finally, agreeing pre-contract moves with players not in England can be completed in January with a number of players seeing their current deals expire in the summer of 2025. Bayern Munich trio Leroy Sane, Alphonso Davies and Joshua Kimmich are all in that position but talks are underway over extensions for all three

Lille striker Jonathan David is another that may become a free agent in just six months. The French club have offered him a new contract but he is yet to agree to anything and thus there is a chance clubs from outside of France strike with the view to reaching an agreement in the next four weeks that will see him join from July 1, 2025.