Chelsea’s Strategic Focus: Improving Consistency and Future Signings

Following his successful debut season at Stamford Bridge, where he guided Chelsea to a top-five finish, manager Enzo Maresca has made significant additions to the team, notably star forwards Joao Pedro and Liam Delap. The Blues began the season positively; however, their inconsistency has been evident, resulting in dropped points in matches they were expected to win.

Maresca himself has recognized the team’s shortcomings. He noted, “It is probably accurate to say that our inconsistency is the reason we are not closer to the top. We need to improve our performance against a variety of opponents. This is a key objective moving forward, as we hope to continue performing well against the top teams.”

“To be successful at the end of the season, consistency is essential; without it, we will struggle. This is why I view December, January, and February as crucial months. After that, we can set targets for March and hopefully position ourselves to compete for more.”

According to reports from The Standard, Chelsea is focusing on strengthening two key positions ahead of the 2026 season—bolstering their defensive line and enhancing the central midfield, as the team currently relies heavily on Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. However, the club is not expected to make significant signings in the January transfer window, opting instead for a quiet month.

Chelsea will keep an eye on emerging talents next month, specifically monitoring the development of Greek prodigy Konstantinos Karetsas from Genk and 17-year-old Djylian N’Guessan, a winger at Saint-Etienne.

In terms of potential signings, Chelsea was previously linked with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who has attracted interest from several top European clubs. Nevertheless, Manchester City currently leads the pursuit for the winger, and Chelsea has decided against making a move for him in January, expressing confidence in their current squad depth.

As Chelsea turns its attention to potential defensive signings for next summer, there are reports that the club may consider re-signing former star Antonio Rudiger from Real Madrid as a free agent. The 32-year-old’s contract at the Santiago Bernabeu is set to expire at the end of the season, and initial discussions between the club and Rudiger’s representatives reportedly began months ago, with financial terms already proposed. However, these negotiations were postponed after the German international sustained a muscle injury in late September.

Rudiger, who spent five successful years at Chelsea and secured numerous accolades, including a Champions League title, left Stamford Bridge for Madrid in 2022.