Chelsea made shock approach for Virgil van Dijk while England stars eyed ahead of transfer splurge

Chelsea are exploring adding a new defender this winter, talkSPORT understands.

It follows calls to sign a new centre-back from former head coach Enzo Maresca in the aftermath of Levi Colwill’s ACL injury.

Getty

Chelsea missed out on Dean Huijsen, who joined Real Madrid over the summer, and made an initial enquiry on Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk in March last year before he signed a new two-year contract with Liverpool.

Heading into the 2025/26 season, Chelsea decided to put faith in their existing defenders, with Trevoh Chalobah playing his way into regular game time and Josh Acheampong backed to succeed at Stamford Bridge.

Any move for a new defender is not expected to open the door to an exit for the 19-year-old, but Manchester City and Bayern Munich both hold an interest.

Chelsea also added Jorrel Hato from Ajax over the summer and have Wesley Fofana fit again plus Tosin and Benoit Badiashile – another reason why the Blues chose not to bring in another defender after their Club World Cup win despite public calls from Maresca.

Yet with the January window now open, Chelsea have decided to look at another defender.

Any arrival would likely be a summer target the club feel they can bring forward to this winter unless a short-term market opportunity presents itself.

Chelsea are keeping tabs on Rennes centre-back Jeremy Jacquet and Como’s Jacobo Ramon.

They have also been linked by Spanish media with a surprise return for Antonio Rudiger despite Chelsea insiders downplaying any approach to date.

Marcos Senesi is another older name Chelsea have discussed, but it is Juventus and Barcelona more seriously exploring a move.

Senesi turns 29 in May and Chelsea are more inclined to look at a younger name.

Getty

Bournemouth insiders have told talkSPORT they are yet to receive any formal approaches but Senesi is a free agent this summer meaning foreign clubs can pre-agree a contract with him now.

Chelsea have also scouted Toulouse’s Charlie Cresswell, who has been subject of a formal bid from Wolfsburg this week.

Tottenham Hotspur are also tracking the former Leeds defender.

And last summer former Chelsea academy product Marc Guehi was explored and subsequently ruled out.

It remains to be seen whether Chelsea reconsider their position.

As of now, City are the most intent to try and strike a deal this winter, with Liverpool, Arsenal, Bayern, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid among the suitors for the Crystal Palace captain for the summer.

Getty

AFP

Crystal Palace want in excess of £35million to sell mid-season.

Chelsea also want to add a new midfielder this summer with Nottingham’s Forest’s Elliot Anderson one of their targets.

Chelsea will likely face competition from Manchester United and City.

There is historical appreciation for Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton as well with Rosenior to now play a role in deciding which names Chelsea go for in the market even though the club’s model does not give the head coach autonomy or a recruitment veto.

New era at Stamford Bridge

Having given Enzo Maresca, Mauricio Pochettino, Graham Potter and Thomas Tuchel money to spend, Chelsea are showing no signs of cutting the purse strings for Rosenior.

The 41-year-old was appointed Blues boss earlier this month having been poached from Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg.

Rosenior has been in charge of two Chelsea matches, the first seeing them breeze to a 5-1 victory at Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup.

However, his Stamford Bridge honeymoon ended on Wednesday night with a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final tie inflicting a first defeat for Rosenior as Blues boss.

He takes charge of his first Premier League game on Saturday as Chelsea entertain Brentford, kick-off 3pm.