Todd Boehly £145m 'talks' overlook Chelsea's most pressing transfer need before deadline day

It is quite remarkable that Chelsea are on course to spend their most ever in a single transfer window but will likely end it again having ignored one of their most pressing concerns.

Yes reader, here we are again. I am now the embodiment of the Bernie Sanders meme, I am once again asking Chelsea to sign a new central midfielder, particularly one who has defensive qualities.

Many conversations around Chelsea's squad have felt tiresome and repetitive in recent years. What will happen with Callum Hudson-Odoi? Will Christian Pulisic ever rediscover his lockdown form? And will the club finally replace the talismanic presence of Diego Costa?

Anthony Gordon and Rafael Leao to Chelsea: Transfer dream won't fix Thomas Tuchel oldest flaw

Since 2018/19, almost every area of Chelsea's squad has been revamped or had significant investment in it. Reaching nearly £400m in attack, over £100m in left-back and likely similar in the centre of defence before this window concludes. But a defensive midfielder is one area that has been omitted.

Maybe the reasoning could relate to the club's main target in Declan Rice being unattainable again, a situation that could be different in another 12 months' time as the player's contract ticks down. But the Leeds defeat again highlighted a core issue in the squad, particularly if Thomas Tuchel wants to play more expansively.

Jorginho's Chelsea career has gone better than many would have expected during his first season when he faced heavy scrutiny and even some jeers from his own crowd, 2021 was a standout year for the Italian with the Champions League win and success with his nation at the European Championships.

But as tidy as he can be with the ball with a team who wants to control