Ranking Chelsea's Transfer Window Targets

It's a new year and, in football, that can mean only one thing—the transfer window has re-opened. So cue the carnage as clubs attempt to find reinforcements they hope will bring success between now and the end of the season.

Chelsea are no different from their rivals, with the Blues being linked with all number of major signings as Antonio Conte looks to continue the fantastic form that has seen his side power to the top of the Premier League.

In the first half of the season, Chelsea won an incredible 16 of their opening 19 matches, drawing once and losing twice to Arsenal and Liverpool.

Playing largely with the squad that finished 10th in 2015/16, Conte knows he is a couple of players light of making his side the ultimate force he wants it to be. There are shortages in midfield and attack, with the boss rumoured to be targeting key players in those areas.

Join as we rank Chelsea's top five transfer targets from January, with No. 1 being the player they are most in need of adding.

5. Fernando Llorente

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Position: Striker

Club: Swansea City

Fee: Unreported

With only Michy Batshuayi as back-up to Diego Costa, it makes sense that Chelsea should be linked with strikers in this transfer window. That the striker is Fernando Llorente, though, is where the shock kicks in.

According to Spanish outlet AS (per Metro's Chris Davie), Conte is looking to be reunited with his former front man from Juventus, despite the fact he hasn't settled into English football, scoring six goals in 16 matches.

Of course, given Swansea's struggles, it's difficult to judge Llorente a complete flop, but the fact remains that he hasn't been anywhere near as effective as he should be in order for Chelsea to come calling.

A move for Llorente would be an odd one. He's not prolific enough, and his presence would give Conte the same problem he has with Batshuayi—a striker who isn't completely in tune with the English game. To add to that, Llorente isn't a player who has shown in the past that he ever will be.

The Spaniard is 31 and would only be back-up at best. When Batshuayi is sat on the bench as back-up himself, it doesn't make sense. If Conte was to sign another striker who could feasibly start alongside Costa or at least challenge him, then it would be a wiser move.

If it's the likes of Llorente that Chelsea are chasing, they're better off spending more time with Batshuayi to ensure the £32 million investment they made last summer eventually bears fruit. All Llorente would do is block the young Belgian's path, and he needs more game time to build his confidence.

4. Virgil van Dijk

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Position: Defender

Club: Southampton

Fee: £60 million

Every season there is a player from a mid-table Premier League side that makes big noises and gets linked with a mega-money move away to one of the big boys. That honour for the past couple of seasons has been John Stones', and now Virgil van Dijk has taken on the mantle.

The Southampton man has proved a shrewd investment, costing the St. Mary's club just £13 million at the start of last season. He's among their best performers in that time, and now his value has improved by close to 500 per cent if reports are to be believed.

According to Jack Austin of the Independent, Chelsea are chasing Van Dijk for £60 million, entering a bidding war with Manchester City for the Dutch ace.

On the surface of it, regardless of money, it seems a wise move. Not only is Van Dijk entering his peak years—he's just 25—but he would suit the style of play that Conte has adopted with a three-man defence. Chelsea are also looking for another defender given that John Terry's career seems to be winding down.

Chelsea must look beyond January and this season, though. Come the summer, Andreas Christensen will return to the club from his two-year loan deal with Borussia Monchengladbach, while other defenders such as Nathan Ake and Jake Clarke-Salter have hopes of being integrated. Then there's Kurt Zouma to consider, and we haven't even mentioned Cesar Azpilicueta, Gary Cahill or David Luiz.

In the short-term, there's an argument for defensive reinforcements. Yet, when we consider what Chelsea have elsewhere, there's every need for them to remain patient and look within before splashing big money on the likes of former Celtic man Van Dijk.

3. Ricardo Rodriguez

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Position: Defender

Club: Wolfsburg

Fee: £21 million

Ricardo Rodriguez has long been a name connected with some of Europe's bigger clubs. Impressing with Wolfsburg in the past few seasons, he's seemed on the cusp of a major move away from the Bundesliga. Now it seems this January could be his time.

According to The Sun's Duncan Wright and Emanuele Giulianelli, that big move could well be a £21 million transfer to Chelsea, who are reportedly ahead of Arsenal in the queue for his signature.

In the current market, that £21 million seems loose change for a player who is so established. Rodriguez is one of Europe's best left-backs and, at 24, has so much to offer in the present and future. When we consider Chelsea paid something similar for Baba Rahman, it makes it seem even more so.

With Marco Alonso impressing so much as Chelsea's left wing-back, it would seem harsh on the Spaniard that Rodriguez arrives to challenge for his place. Antonio Conte's not worried about his first XI, though; it's what he has beyond that he will be concerned with.

Without Alonso, Chelsea have no other left-sided defender. That feels too fragile for a title charge, so a player of Rodriguez's ability would certainly strengthen the Blues' options.

2. Arturo Vidal

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Position: Midfield

Club: Bayern Munich

Fee: £40 million

Arturo Vidal is no stranger to Antonio Conte's methods, having worked with the Chelsea boss at Juventus. It was while in Turin that the pair struck up a bond, and now, according to reports, Vidal is all set to rekindle that relationship in west London.

Speculation on the move hit fever pitch when Vidal apparently liked a post on Instagram that linked him with a move to Stamford Bridge, per The Sun's Toby Gannon.

It's a mouthwatering prospect for Chelsea fans as Vidal is the sort of player who would suit Chelsea's style of play. He's not only mobile in midfield but plays with the sort of physicality and aggression that has been a hallmark of Chelsea's success since before Conte's arrival.

The Chilean would add depth to Chelsea's midfield to give them the sort of muscle that wins titles. Vidal would give more balance, complementing Nemanja Matic, N'Golo Kante and Cesc Fabregas.

The big concern, though, would be how a move for Vidal would damage Nathaniel Chalobah's progression. He's being used more and more by Conte, but Vidal's arrival would certainly block his path to starting matches. It would be the same for Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

1. James Rodriguez

TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/Getty Images

Position: Midfield

Club: Real Madrid

Fee: £60 million

Colombian attacking midfielder James Rodriguez is a special talent, but in a Real Madrid side that boasts Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, he's just another face.

That wouldn't be the case at Chelsea, as Conte's men are short when it comes to attackers to back up Costa and Eden Hazard. In that sense, James would slot in perfectly for Chelsea.

Conte's big concern between now and the end of the season is what happens should he lose any of his first-choice front three for a prolonged period. The Blues have coped during the Christmas fixtures as it was just one game that Costa and Pedro were missing for. The rotation helped, but anything longer than the solitary game and Chelsea will be worried.

Willian scored twice on New Year's Eve against Stoke City to help seal a 4-2 win. It was an impressive display from the Brazilian, but those sort of performances are few and far between from him. He isn't consistent enough in front of goal, so a player like James would bolster Chelsea's attack.

Without Oscar, who has moved to China, Chelsea have to add another player in that area of the pitch, and James seems ideal. Not only does he have the profile to fit the bill, but he's an upgrade on Oscar.

James has been linked with a move to Chelsea in the The Sun, although his dad has suggested a January switch would be premature.