Chelsea completed just one signing over the course of the January transfer window. To quote Cole Palmer, "What?".

After what we have seen since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital bought the club from Roman Abramovich in 2022, this sort of level of inactivity is unheard of. Just one signing through the door at Stamford Bridge, in the form of Mathis Amougou, who has penned a long-term contract with the Blues, who paid Saint-Etienne north of £10million for the 19-year-old's services.

football.london understands Amougou has been brought in to provide cover and support for Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. The midfield duo have been relied on heavily this season with the injuries to Romeo Lavia and the lack of trust being put in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - particularly in the Premier League.

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While there has been just the one addition, there has been numerous outgoings from SW6 with Chelsea trimming down their squad over the course of the past 33 days. The most notable outgoings were Joao Felix signing a six-month loan deal with AC Milan, Carney Chukwuemeka moving temporarily to Borussia Dortmund, Renato Veiga being offloaded in a similar deal to Juventus, Ben Chilwell and Axel Disasi moving to Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, respectively, until the end of the season, while Cesare Casadei was sold to Torino over the weekend.

Those five players represented first-team options for Enzo Maresca, albeit the likes of Chilwell and Chukwuemeka were barely used. Casadei a bit more, particularly in the UEFA Conference League, but the three of them were more than bit-part players. For Disasi and Veiga, it was a bit different; with both defenders being used plenty this season, largely as back-up players. Felix was in a similar boat to Disasi and Veiga with Palmer preferred to him in the Premier League.

Trevoh Chalobah was recalled from his loan at Crystal Palace last month and has since been integrated back into the first-team squad. Aaron Anselmino saw his loan with Boca Juniors cut short, although Chelsea are in no rush when it comes to the young Argentine defender.

So, you could argue three players arrived at Stamford Bridge. The squad, though, is weaker now than when the January transfer window opened and that could come back to haunt Chelsea at the end of the season.

Losing Veiga and Chilwell, both on loan, leaves Maresca very short of options at left-back. Malo Gusto can play there but he is naturally a right-sided full-back. Marc Cucurella is the only natural senior option for the Chelsea head coach to use on the left-hand side of a back four between now and the end of the campaign.

The Blues also remain short when it comes to left wingers. Jadon Sancho has been Maresca's go-to man out there recently with the 24-year-old representing one of the Italian's only options. Mykhailo Mudryk is unavailable for selection with the Ukraine international failing a drugs test in December.

There was time pursuing a move for Alejandro Garnacho last month but the 20-year-old winger will stay with Manchester United for the time being. Mathys Tel was also pursued but the Frenchman ended up moving to Tottenham on loan from Bayern Munich, while a move for Jamie Gittens was also spoken about internally at Stamford Bridge. It is undoubtedly a situation they will revisit when the summer transfer window rolls around but it seems an opportunity missed midway through the season.

The big one - the one that got all Chelsea fans talking - was the striker situation. While it is understood there are a number of No.9s on the club's shortlist, it was never really prioritised throughout the January transfer window. There was a brief look at Evan Ferguson and his situation in the final days of the window but the Republic of Ireland star ended up moving on loan to West Ham United to reunite with Graham Potter.

There has been an overreliance on Nicolas Jackson this season and the Chelsea forward's form of late has deteriorated as a result. Maresca does not see Christopher Nkunku as a natural No.9 and Marc Guiu has made just three Premier League appearances since being brought in from Barcelona last summer.

While there is frustration from Chelsea fans - and understandably so - many accept the complication that comes with finding the right deals in the January transfer window. Saying this, however, they are only one or two injuries away, in key positions (a striker or midfielder, for example) from being in a real spot of bother.