Chelsea rue James Maddison transfer opportunity as dream Mauricio Pochettino target 'identified'

Mauricio Pochettino has been urged to sign a new attacking midfielder in the January transfer window. After Christopher Nkunku suffered a devastating injury in pre-season, Michael Olise was identified as a makeweight for the former RB Leipzig star.

However, unfortunately for the Blues, a move collapsed late into the summer after he decided to sign a new long-term deal at Crystal Palace instead. football.london understands that Chelsea were once confident of securing Olise's signature, verbally agreeing personal terms before proceeding to pay his £35million release clause.

Despite the west Londoners' best efforts, a transfer failed to materialise and Pochettino was left scrambling for alternatives in the final days of the window. In the end, Chelsea's co-sporting directors signed Cole Palmer from Manchester City – and he already looks set to be a shrewd acquisition.

The England Under-21 international impressed on his first start for the Blues, cruising past Brighton into the Carabao Cup fourth round. While Palmer caught the eye, Pat Nevin still believes that Chelsea should sign a new attacking midfielder in the winter.

«Chelsea will have a lot of options, but they've already signed a huge amount of players,» the 60-year-old told OLBG. «They also have Nkunku to come back and I think [Armando] Broja will shock everyone. Before his injury, a lot of people thought he was the answer. He's still young, has a great build, and has plenty of potential.

»Chelsea will know more about those two by January. If I was looking at the squad, I'd upgrade the number 10 position. I really wanted the club to move for Maddison as I love creative midfielders as I was one myself.

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