Maurizio Sarri had to make do without a new midfielder in the January transfer window despite the club electing to let Cesc Fabregas depart.
The Spaniard headed for Monaco at the turn of the year with opportunities in the first team at Stamford Bridge few and far between following the appointment of the Italian in the summer.
It was believed that the FA Cup holders would bring in a replacement for the ex-Arsenal man, with Leandro Paredes and Nicolo Barella both heavily linked with a move to the capital.
Chelsea ended up missing out on the former as he joined Paris-Saint Germain, while the latter remained with Serie A side Cagliari despite talk of a big-money move.
The Blues have managed to cope without Fabregas as Mateo Kovacic has filled in for Jorginho a handful of times since the turn of the year, but a new midfielder will almost certainly be on the cards if the club's appeal against their upcoming transfer ban is successful.
With Gonzalo Higuain and Christian Pulisic signing on the dotted line for Chelsea in January, assistant boss Gianfranco Zola has revealed exactly how close fellow countryman Barella was to joining him in SW6.
"Very. He’s good and Sarri has always liked him, but things fell through," he told Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness ).
Linked with Manchester United, Liverpool and a host of Serie A clubs in recent months, Chelsea certainly won't have it all their own way if they move for the 22-year-old in the summer.
Cagliari are reported to be holding out for €50million for the Italian international.
Paul Merson names the surprise manager Chelsea should have approached to take over from Sarri
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