Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink was keeping his cards close to his chest when questioned about the club’s potential transfer activity in his press conference ahead of the seldom straightforward fixture with West Brom on Wednesday night.
There appears to be a measure of harmony once more in the Chelsea camp as the calm and excellent Hiddink has got his feet under the table for a second time at Stamford Bridge.
But he may well be looking to add to his newly calmed squad and had this to say when asked whether he had spoken to the board about winter acquisitions:
“We talk, yes,” he said. “That’s I think between us and I don’t think it’s now the moment to go public if we have some wishes or we feel that we have to cover up a position. First things have to be done before you go out.
“So far I don’t think there have been a lot of transactions.
“Clubs might panic at the end or wait. Tactics or strategies behind a signing. They might wait until the ultimate hour.”
Chelsea look in pretty decent shape in their squad. Poor form and a lack of unity, more than a paucity of quality, were to blame for their early season results but they could definitely use more teeth up top.
If they do invest we expect it to be in the attacking third and, to that end, the name of Alex Teixeira has been mentioned by virtually all the sports media outlets in England.
The player himself seems keen on a move and has scored 26 goals in 25 games for his club, Shaktar Donetsk, this season.
Teixeira was quoted as saying in November:
‘What I saw and what my manager said was that Chelsea, Juventus and PSG made proposals,’
‘I’m glad to have received the proposal of Chelsea as they are a big club in Europe, but my manager will sort that.
Chelsea may struggle to get this one over the line in January but they have also been linked to a move for The Premier League’s top scorer, Jamie Vardy.
As usual, most of these deals will probably have to wait until the final week of the window when the posturing stops and the money comes out.
