Chelsea's January transfer window continues to be a lot of talk without much progress. In a month of much-needed exits, it has been just as hard to find suitors for high-wage low-output players.

Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Cesare Casadei, and now Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have all struggled for game time and are free to leave before the February 3 deadline. As Chelsea look to trim the fat on Enzo Maresca's squad, it is proving once more a serious challenge to find clubs willing to offer those six months (or more) removed from any sort of form a new home.

The good news is that this winter market is certainly more active than in 2024. Things are starting to shift, whether that is via Manchester City's desperation, Manchester United's Marcus Rashford-fuelled problems, or Paris Saint-Germain rolling back the years a little, money is about to be spent.

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If the dominos fall in Chelsea's favour then it wouldn't be a surprise to see a busy few weeks left in the window. Here, football.london takes a look at what the latest headlines around the club are.

Chukwuemeka loan

Borussia Dortmund are heavily considering a loan move for Chukwuemeka, according to reports in Germany. The player is free to leave this window but it is Nuri Sahin's side who are currently the most linked.

Chukwuemeka has a release clause of £40million and has been subject to plenty of interest from club's across Europe in the past 12 months. Chelsea are open to offers but are keen to sell if possible this window.

The 21-year-old could yet go to fellow BlueCo-owned outfit RC Strasbourg in France. The Ligue 1 team already have three loanees from Chelsea so would need to end one before signing Chukwuemeka but it appears to be a last resort option at this time.

Dortmund are so far the most likely destination for Chukwuemeka and things may well accelerate in the coming days after he was once more left out of Maresca's squad.

football.london says: It's a real shame that things haven't fallen for Chukwuemeka because he is an immense talent. It is also strange that, given Chelsea aren't getting many bites on the permanent transfer price, a straight loan isn't a higher priority.

Although they may not see Chukwuemeka in the long-term plans - which feels like a harsh outcome to get to already - it would surely be a benefit to have him develop and play elsewhere before things are assessed in the summer. The obligation-to-buy method is only putting teams off due to the high release clause, and that has made progress slow so far.

If Chelsea shifted their stance slightly then it could find a move that suits all parties better. You only have to look at Ian Maatsen and Jadon Sancho to see just how quickly careers can change at Dortmund. Why wouldn't they push to have a repeat of that situation?

Lampard loan

Frank Lampard could soon be returning to his old club for mid-season reinforcements as Sam Rak-Sakyi attracts his Coventry City side. The young midfielder, who made his debut last month, is set to be at the centre of talks ahead of a potential six-month loan.

Ray-Sakyi would get the first real senior experience of his career so far after brief outings with Chelsea this season, whilst Lampard adds a technically gifted player ready for the step up. Initial contact over a move is reported to have already happened, says The Evening Standard.

football.london says: This is exactly the sort of deal Chelsea need. Rak-Sakyi, like others, is too good for youth football now and would learn much more from some adult football.

Lampard has proven good in the past when it comes to aiding development, and Rak-Sakyi is among the group who might really be able to kick on with his watchful eye. The Championship is not really the league for tricky little passers and there is more than a sense of Billy Gilmour to Rak-Sakyi, but that is what makes a loan so valuable.

Unfortunately, he will struggle to get into a Chelsea squad already set to add Andrey Santos over the summer. He could easily have a small role to play between now and May for Maresca due to the strain put on Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, plus Romeo Lavia's injury problems, it just doesn't look likely to actually come.

If Rak-Sakyi can do what Maatsen, Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount, Trevoh Chalobah, Tammy Abraham, Reece James, Fikayo Tomori, and now Alfie Gilchrist have done in the Championship then everyone stands to be happy. This would be an ideal challenge for a talented player who deserves the opportunity to thrive.