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Marina Granovskaia has been proven right in Chelsea's January transfer strategy with former Premier League icon Nigel De Jong admitting he is 'not surprised' at seeing no signings arrive in SW6 this month.

Thomas Tuchel's squad had been stretched to the limit in the build-up to the first transfer window in 2022 with large proportions of the Chelsea squad spending time on the side-lines due to injury and Covid issues respectively.

Most of these said problems have come in the Blues' backline with Reece James and Ben Chilwell long-term absentees - injuries that have affected the European Champions' form during the festive schedule.

Heading into the Club World Cup, Tuchel's men sit in the precarious position of third place with 47 points but could be hanging on to that position when they return from the United Arab Emirates with all of Spurs, Arsenal, Man United and West Ham playing catch up over that period.

Man City and Liverpool also have games in hand meaning that the 10 point deficit at the top is likely to be more when the Blues are to play in the Premier League again, with a London derby assignment at Crystal Palace next on the agenda once their involvement in the upcoming Club World Cup comes to an end.

Squad depth is vital in these congested situations and the lack of