Chelsea could be forced into the transfer market to sign a left wing-back in January after deciding that Ben Chilwell needs a knee operation.
Chilwell is unlikely to play again this season after undergoing surgery on an anterior cruciate ligament injury and Chelsea have not looked the same without him.
The Blues could look at a loan move for Lucas Digne, who has fallen out of favour at Everton under Rafael Benitez.
Another option is to recall Emerson Palmieri from his loan spell at Lyon, but reports in France suggest the Ligue 1 side have rejected a request from Chelsea to take him back to Stamford Bridge.
Romelu Lukaku will not be sold despite his controversial interview in which he went public with his unhappiness about life at Stamford Bridge.
Lukaku said he was “not happy” with his situation at the club and would one day like to return to Inter Milan, but the £97.5million club-record signing is keen to move on from the episode and there is no chance of him leaving Chelsea in January.
The futures of out-of-contract players will come into even sharper focus this month, with Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta all able to talk to foreign clubs.
Thiago Silva has signed a one-year contract extension, meanwhile.
