Chelsea are actively putting together an impressive shortlist of midfield targets, with sources from TEAMtalk identifying their most likely signing in the January transfer window.
Manager Enzo Maresca is eager to bolster the midfield, as injuries and a thin squad have highlighted the need for reinforcements to maintain their title ambitions this season.
TEAMtalk insiders say Chelsea are pursuing a dual approach: short-term solutions for the remainder of the season, alongside long-term planning for 2026.
Crystal Palace and England standout Wharton tops their wishlist. The 21-year-old has caught attention with his composure, vision, and ability to control the game from deep positions. Chelsea view him as a potential long-term cornerstone, but Palace are firm on not selling mid-season. Any January move would require a nine-figure fee, making a summer 2026 transfer more realistic.
Meanwhile, Nico Paz, the 21-year-old Spanish playmaker currently excelling at Como, represents a more immediate option. Chelsea have already made direct inquiries to both Como and Paz’s representatives. The former Real Madrid youth prospect is reportedly attracted by a Premier League switch, seeing Chelsea as the perfect stage to display his creativity and left-footed flair.
While Como, backed by substantial financial resources, are keen to keep their rising star, a strong offer could sway them. Paz fits Chelsea’s recruitment strategy of targeting young, high-potential players with significant resale value.