Chelsea’s recent 2-1 win over West Ham provided a welcome distraction on transfer deadline day, but it also laid bare the gaps in our squad that have become increasingly concerning under Enzo Maresca. The winter window, deliberately kept quiet as we avoided big-money moves, has highlighted issues in several areas—whether it’s the lack of robust midfield cover and a reliable striker, or the risk of injuries further weakening our frontline. With 19-year-old Mathis Amougou unlikely to immediately replace the likes of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, and with the unforeseen loan move of Joao Felix to AC Milan underscoring our struggles, our current recruitment strategy appears to have left us short where it matters most. While our co-sporting directors focused on exploring bright young winger options—leading to moves such as Mathys Tel joining Tottenham on loan—the benefits of our summer 2024 signings have so far been marginal. Our successes over the past eight months have mainly come from the signings of 2023, including Palmer, Caicedo, Jackson, Enzo Fernandez, and Madueke. Now, with our hierarchy banking on a model that lowers base salaries and targets young players who can later be sold if they do not work out, we face a significant challenge. Looking ahead, Maresca is counting on the return of Andrey Santos from Strasbourg, the anticipated arrival of Estevao, and high hopes for defender Aaron Anselmino to help push us to the next level. Ultimately, the performance of our 2023 signings will be crucial in determining if we can close the season in the top four.