Any players Chelsea sign on transfer deadline day may not be able to make their debuts against Crystal Palace and face having to wait until after the first international break of the season.
football.london understands the Blues are looking at several options. Victor Osimhen is the club’s main target before the window closes following talks with Napoli and the player’s entourage over the weekend.
However, Brentford ‘s Ivan Toney is another striker under consideration, and Jadon Sancho is a forward they are reputedly contemplating signing. Talks are reportedly happening between Chelsea and Manchester United regarding the latter, with offers said to include Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling.
If any of those moves happen before Friday, then the players will be available to debut this weekend, but it becomes more complicated should deals drag on to deadline day itself. That is because, despite the window closing at 11pm on Friday, clubs must register new signings before noon on the last working day before a fixture, per Premier League rules.
It becomes more confusing as registering a player happens before clubs announce their arrival, which is why Kalvin Phillips and Sammie Szmodics were able to play for Ipswich Town on the opening day of the season against Liverpool despite the club not confirming their moves until after midday on the Friday before that fixture. In their statements about the signings, the newly-promoted team acknowledged they could potentially play but did not say for definite.
That wording will be worth watching out for if the Blues announce any incoming players around Friday lunchtime. But if they miss that registration deadline, they will have to wait until the middle of next month when Chelsea visit Bournemouth to debut and another fortnight until their first match for the club at Stamford Bridge, when Brighton and Hove Albion are the visitors.
