Six players Chelsea should consider signing in the 2024 January transfer window

Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney's names have dominated the gossip columns in Chelsea's search for a new No.9, but they would likely both cost in the region of £100m ($127m) and neither is risk-free, given the former has never played in the Premier League and the latter is returning from an eight-month betting ban.

Although those sorts of figures are increasingly the norm, the limited success of their mind-blowing spending a year ago should lead the Blues' transfer chiefs to be more cautious this time around.

That's where Gimenez comes into the picture. The Mexican has plundered 20 goals in 22 games this season for Feyenoord, and various reports suggest he would represent far better value than his counterparts at anything between £35m-£60m ($44m-$76m).

History dictates that it's a gamble to sign the Eredivisie's leading lights, but Gimenez might just represent a calculated mid-season risk worth taking.

Despite spending more than £220m ($279m) on Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in 2023, Chelsea somehow still find themselves short of central midfield depth beyond their starting trio of the South American pair and Conor Gallagher.

Romeo Lavia is only just about to turn 20 and is still working his way back from an injury that has delayed his debut for months, while Lesley Ugochukwu probably would have been loaned out in different circumstances.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, Pochettino wants another new midfielder to bolster his squad, and given he is keen on Premier League experience, Fulham destroyer Palhinha would fit the bill - the kind of player who could be transformative for a leaky defence and would enable Pochettino to rotate and perhaps avoid yet more injuries.

In another world he would already be a Bayern Munich player, but in the months since his £60m ($76m) deadline-day move collapsed, the Bavarians' interest seems to have gone cold. That means there could be an opportunity to take the Portugal international across west London, although there is competition from Manchester City.

A signing that may well be necessitated by Reece James' incessant hamstring problems. The club captain is set to undergo surgery having suffered yet another injury following the one that ruled him out at the start of the campaign.

Marc Cucurella had deputised for him out of position, but the Spaniard has also gone under the knife, and fellow left-back Ben Chilwell is only just coming back from his own hamstring issue. That leaves Chelsea desperately short in the full-back positions, with Malo Gusto and Ian Maatsen their only recognised options, although Pochettino has often turned to centre-backs Levi Colwill and Axel Disasi.

With Wesley Fofana also out for the long-term, the Blues are believed to want a new defender in January, with Gladbach's Elvedi among those linked. The Switzerland international can play at both right-back and centre-back, so would come in very handy given Chelsea's predicament - and he could be available for just £30m ($38m).

Another prolific alternative to Osimhen or Toney could be Sporting's Gyokeres. The former Brighton hitman has moved across Chelsea's radar courtesy of 25 goal involvements in 20 games, an excellent return in his brief time in Lisbon.

Pochettino has admitted he wants to improve the overall height of his squad, and at 6'2 Gyokeres would fit the role. Like Gimenez, though, it's a move that would come with a degree of risk, as the west Londoners will need him to adapt quickly to the step up to the Premier League.

His price tag may prove to be a significant stumbling block, too. Despite obviously being worth significantly less at this stage, Gyokeres' has a €100 million (£86m/$109m) release clause - and Sporting currently have no intention to let him go for less. Speaking recently, manager Ruben Amorim said: "He will only leave if someone pays the buyout clause in January - otherwise he will stay."

Onana rejected Chelsea's advances a year ago, but the Blues may return for the towering midfielder in their search for reinforcements in that area. The Belgian fits within the ownership's preferred youth policy, and he brings the height and Premier League experience that Pochettino craves. In terms of where he would fit, he represents a strong rotation option as both a defensive midfielder or box-to-box No.8.

However, Everton value him highly (they'd want around £55m ($70m)), and it remains to be seen whether he would be willing to jump ship from a team on an upward trajectory to join a Chelsea side who are in more or less the same place they found themselves in 12 months ago. Manchester United may well provide competition, too.

Do Chelsea need another orthodox centre-back? Leverkusen stalwart Tah is reportedly a target for the Blues despite their wealth of options in the position (when everyone is fully fit).

When you delve behind the squad list, though, some cracks have begun to form; Fofana's long-term injury problems will be a major concern, and there are doubts over Thiago Silva's form and future at Stamford Bridge as his contract ticks down.

That still leaves Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi and Colwill, with Trevoh Chalobah expected to depart in the new year, but Tah would perhaps bring the leadership, consistency and experience that Chelsea lack without an in-form Thiago in the side.

This is arguably a piece of business that could wait until the summer, but the Blues could future-proof by bringing in the Germany international in January, with his release clause supposedly as little as €18m (£15m/$20m). Whether he would be willing to leave high-flying Leverkusen mid-season, though, after so many years of loyal service, remains to be seen.