Chelsea enters the season with limited midfield options after transfer window closes

Chelsea enters the remainder of the year relying on a narrow set of midfield players following the conclusion of the transfer window. The club failed to secure late deals for Lamine Camara and Manu Kone, while Enzo Fernandez completed a move to Man City. With Moises Caicedo currently sidelined by injury and both Romeo Lavia and Reece James carrying reputations for being injury-prone, squad depth remains a primary concern for the club. Chelsea faces roughly 23 to 24 matches before the January window opens. Coaching staff have already experimented with positional changes, including starting Malo Gusto in the midfield during recent action. Valentin Barco is expected to take on a larger role to help fill the gaps in the rotation.

• 12:45 PMYahoo Sports — Chelsea’s season now hinges on one injured player and two injury prone players