Just after the halfway stage of the Premier League season, Enzo Maresca has used 27 players for Chelsea. From Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer - who have started all of the games to date - to Tyrique George with just one brief substitute appearance, minutes have been spread out.

However, of those 27, 13 have failed to start even five games. There is a significant drop off in the minutes and matches played for those who Maresca trusts and those he has left on the periphery.

The bulk of the game time offered to fringe players has been in the Conference League instead. It has caused a clear division in responsibility that has come back to hurt Maresca in recent weeks over a busy winter schedule.

At a point whereby the boss needed to use his entire squad, only a group of 14 or so were really called on to carry the bulk of the load. It has raised questions of just how well-built the squad actually is and why there are still so many glaring gaps in it after such vast and expensive investments over the past two years.

The January transfer window has provided a chance to cut things down to provide Maresca a closer and tighter nit squad. So far very little has changed, though.

Here, football.london outlines what must go on to form a dream Chelsea squad by the February 3 deadline. Sticking with Premier League regulations, players born on or after January 1 2002 will count as Under-21 and therefore do not to be registered directly into the 25-man squad.

Also, there is a maximum of 17 non-homegrown players that can be included. A homegrown player must have been registered at a club affiliated to the FA or Welsh FA for 36 months before the end of the season in which they turn 21.

Goalkeepers: Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Marcus Bettinelli

Having been a point of contention over the summer, this is actually an area without much need for debate, right now anyway. Although moving forward Chelsea still need to solve their goalkeeping issues, nothing is expected to happen in January.

Robert Sanchez is the No.1 with Filip Jorgensen yet to overthrow him. Neither has totally convinced, though, and big question marks remain. Chelsea have been linked with Parma's impressive shot-stopper Zion Suzuki. They will welcome Belgian sensation Mike Penders into the group over the summer.

In the long-run Chelsea will have to make changes to this position if they are to advance into title challengers. For now, it isn't the position of most importance mid-season.

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Defenders: Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Benoit Badiashile

Problems in defence pushed Chelsea towards their most meaningful business of the window to date. Injuries to Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile (who are both still out and face at least another month sidelined) saw the club make a drastic U-turn, recalling Trevoh Chalobah from loan.

With 18-year-old ace Josh Acheampong added to the first-team squad (he and Malo Gusto qualify as Under-21s), there is depth at the back but Maresca hasn't taken to Axel Disasi well. The Frenchman is free to leave this month and could help fund a summer move for another centre-back.

After bringing Chalobah back it isn't likely that more happens at the back in terms of incomings. Renato Veiga will join Juventus on loan, leaving no real cover at left-back, especially with Ben Chilwell also expected to depart, but Levi Colwill has played there before and Ishe Samuels-Smith in the academy is rated as one of the best in his position in the country.

Midfielders: Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez

On paper this area of the field looks to most light, and it is. Even accounting for Romeo Lavia (who is currently injured and may only have 10 league games left in him in an unlikely best-case scenario) there is a serious lack of backup here.

Carney Chukwuemeka is in need of a loan - which Everton could provide - whilst Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is also looking at his options away from Stamford Bridge. The former Leicester City man has returned to the squad in recent weeks but that is more down to desperation than true trust in his ability to make a proper impact.

Veiga briefly acted as an extra midfield body but his exit leaves yet more bare space in the middle of the park. When Cesare Casadei finalises an overdue permanent transfer away, even Chelsea's European squad options will be looking light.

Sam Rak-Sakyi could fill in from the academy but he is also wanted by Coventry City and a loan would benefit his career. Chelsea do have recall clauses for both Andrey Santos and Lesley Ugochukwu from their loans at RC Strasbourg and Southampton but neither is likely.

Really, one of them is absolutely needed because relying on an increasingly tired Moises Caciedo, Enzo Fernandez who is no defensive shield at all and has just been injured, as well as Lavia with his fitness struggles, is no way to tackle three competitions. Santos is ready to play a role and should have been on a plane back from France the moment the window opened, let alone with one week left.

Attackers: Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho, Pedro Neto

From the least stacked area of the pitch to the most overflowing. In attack Chelsea have a lot of options, too many in fact. Joao Felix is hardly getting a game in competitive situations, Mykhailo Mudryk wasn't before his suspension for testing positive for having a banned substance in his system, and Christopher Nkunku is more and more removed from the first XI by the week.

It is no surprise that the futures of Nkunku and Felix are being discussed this month. Both players could leave, which would free up space and funds in wages and transfer fees, for replacements that fit the squad better.

Chelsea see Alejandro Garnacho as someone in this bracket. There is a suggestion that Nkunku could be swapped with United in a deal to sign Garnacho. Whilst it sounds crazy (and probably is in at least some extent), the idea of gaining a player who suits the manager's desired profile is surely better than trying to shoe-horn another in when things just aren't working.

Felix, meanwhile, is more likely to assess his position at the end of the season rather than now. If Milan came in with a sizeable bid it would be hard for Chelsea and the player to turn down, however.

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Then there is the gap left by Mudryk. If he is banned once the B-sample is returned, Chelsea could be without him for a long, long time. That is where Garnacho comes in. Tyrique George, as a mazy and extremely talented young winger from Cobham, will also hope to get himself into the mix after being promoted to a senior player.

Maybe the biggest area for improvement is up front. Chelsea are operating with one senior striker right now due to Nkunku's tactical fit not working for Maresca and 19-year-old Marc Guiu being the only other player in the position.

It has led the club to once more look into the market. Liam Delap is a top name for 2025. A bid for him this month could force Ipswich Town's hand but they are not going to give up on their star man easily.

Delap has eight goals in the league for Kieran McKenna's side and will be crucial to any chances they have of staying up this season. If it's not Delap then Chelsea will have to go big for Victor Osimnhen or Viktor Gyokeres but, again, neither will come cheap in January.

Chelsea dream 25-man Premier League squad: Robert Sanchez*, Filip Jorgensen, Marcus Bettinelli*, Reece James*, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo*, Trevoh Chalobah*, Levi Colwill*, Marc Cucurella, Benoit Badiashile, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer*, Noni Madueke*, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho*, Pedro Neto

*Homegrown

Under-21 players that don't need to be registered: Josh Acheampong, Malo Gusto, Romeo Lavia, Sam Rak-Sakyi, Andrey Santos, Tyrique George, Garnacho, Liam Delap, Marc Guiu