Chelsea will reportedly be unable to sign one of their transfer targets in the final days of this transfer window, but there’s a chance they return for him at the end of the season.
Chelsea have been linked with countless individuals throughout the January transfer window. The Blues still haven’t managed to get any new permanent signings over the line, though.
Many fans feel like the Chelsea squad could do with one or two new faces through the door to lift them, especially due to the team’s poor run of one win in their last seven league matches.
Chelsea still have an attacking signing on their radar, but let’s see if they can get anything over the line before the window closes on 3 February.
Chelsea could return for midfield target in the summer
Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, 21, is a profile who’s been linked with the Blues in recent times.
Chelsea enquired about Brighton star Baleba this week, but the Premier League side responded to the approach by insisting he won’t be leaving the Amex Stadium.
Now, fresh rumours suggest that Enzo Maresca’s side could try again to get the Cameroon international later in 2025.
According to GiveMeSport, Chelsea and Manchester City could attempt to try sign Brighton ace Baleba in the summer.
Apparently, Brighton have made it clear that it will ‘not be possible’ for their 21-year-old midfielder to leave in the final hours of the mid-season transfer window.
The report says Chelsea and Man City will be unsuccessful with their respective pursuits of Baleba, but his name could pop up again as a target at the end of the season.
How good is Carlos Baleba?
Based off this season, Brighton enforcer Baleba is one of the very best defensive midfielders in the Premier League division. Therefore, we’re not surprised to hear he’s linked with a big transfer move.
Moises Caicedo, 23, was previously a colossus in the Brighton midfield because his record transfer to Chelsea in 2023. In many ways, Baleba has been his direct replacement on the South Coast.
The statistics are actually very close when you compare Caicedo and Baleba in the league this year…
| Player | Appearances | Minutes | Pass completion | Tackles won | Interceptions | Blocks | Fouls committed |
| Moises Caicedo | 23 | 2,035 | 88.7% | 40 | 33 | 29 | 47 |
| Carlos Baleba | 20 | 1,250 | 88.4% | 26 | 31 | 26 | 26 |
Brighton paid £23m (Sky Sports) to sign Baleba from Lille in the summer of 2023, but surely his valuation has rocketed up because of his success in English football.
We’ve got no doubt he’s got the individual quality and potential to be a big hit at Chelsea. We’ve seen it often takes a lot of money to get these types of players out of Brighton, though.