Following a season-ending injury to Ben Chilwell, Chelsea have been on the hunt for a new left-back all January transfer window. Now, they have added one.
And while they have been aiming for a recall for Emerson Palmieri, Lyon are refusing to let him return to Chelsea even when offered 4 million euros in compensation.
There’s been no progress on bringing Emerson back from his loan.
Lyon want him to stay unless they get a very large compensation offer.
Kenedy is not seen as an ideal wing-back solution. #CFC exploring bringing in someone on loan but it isn’t easy to find a suitable option. https://t.co/VMTgnDBQ63
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) January 20, 2022
Now the club have moved to add a left-back to their side, but one that seems much more likely to play at youth level than slot straight into the first team as they announced the addition of Dylan Williams from Derby County.
The 18-year-old defender made 6 league appearances for the Championship club this campaign, and joins the club for an undisclosed fee. The Blues are expected to continue looking for a full-back, but for now a switch to a back 4 with Malang Sarr deputising at left-back seems to work, as he did brilliantly in their 2-0 win over Tottenham.
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The addition does raise other questions, though.
What next for Maatsen?
Ian Maatsen, currently on loan at Coventry, is very highly thought of at Chelsea’s academy. His progress should see him in and around the first team squad next season, and this addition only strengthens this idea.
Maatsen’s move to the first team has now been covered with the addition of Williams, meaning that the defender can progress without harming the strength of the youth side.
