Either side of the new year, Chelsea have a pair of crucial fixtures to negotiate in the Premier League.
On Wednesday, they welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Stamford Bridge before the same venue will see Liverpool visit on Sunday.
After a ropey festive period, Thomas Tuchel's team have little room to manoeuvre in the title race, with Manchester City and Liverpool setting a rapid pace. And with injuries throughout the squad, January may prove to be an important transfer window for the European champions.
Here are your latest Chelsea transfer rumours, as the Blues are linked with a high-quality left-back and potential exits for three players.
Get involved in the debate! Would Digne be an ideal January signing for Chelsea? Let us know in the comments below!
Blues to pursue Digne loan
According to Goal, Chelsea will attempt to sign Lucas Digne on loan from Everton in January.
The Blues are set to be without Ben Chilwell for the remainder of the season as he will need surgery on a knee problem, leaving Tuchel with Marcos Alonso as his only natural left-back option.
Digne is potentially set to be available in January. Not only has he had a falling out with Toffees boss Rafael Benitez, Everton appear set to sign left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko from Dynamo Kyiv in the upcoming window.
In previous years Digne has been one of the standout attacking left-backs in the Premier League, but he failed to show his best when tasked with a more defensive role under Benitez.
Barcelona still want Azpilicueta and Christensen
According to Sport (h/t Sport Witness ), Barcelona are still interested in signing Chelsea's defensive pair of Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta.
The two players have contracts that expire at the end of the season and have caught the attention of the Catalan giants as a result.
It's said that while Azpilicueta and Christensen have received "very important" offers from the Blues, they are each "more attracted" to Barcelona.
In addition to the aforementioned defenders, Chelsea also have centre-backs Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger who have contracts running out at the end of the season. The Blues may require a complete restructure at the back as a result.
Everton want Barkley loan
A possible deal for Digne might not be the only transfer business done between Merseyside and London this January, as the Daily Telegraph have reported Everton are open to bringing Ross Barkley back to the club on loan.
The midfielder was a product of the Everton youth system, but he left the club in January 2018 in a controversial transfer. Barkley opted against a move to the Blues in the summer of 2017, potentially costing Everton millions in transfer fee due his contract expiring the following summer.
At Stamford Bridge, the England international has never been able to secure regular football and he's only made one Premier League start this season.
Chelsea would potentially be open to getting the midfielder's salary off the books, although it's unlikely the transfer would be well received by plenty at Goodison Park.
