The signing of a central defender depends on exits and the club have to fund the purchase of a striker and a right-footed winger too. There are two questions to answer on the issue: why Chelsea are pursuing another player in this position at all and what are the ramifications for those centre-backs at the club?

Chelsea have stolen a march on their rivals in the race to sign Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. The 19-year-old has enjoyed a stunning breakthrough season with the south coast club and is already regarded as one of Europe’s most highly-rated young defenders.

At Chelsea Fofana (67.5%) and Trevoh Chalobah (60.56%) are the others to better Huijsen. The Spaniard’s 59.8% aerial duel success rate places him in the 60-80th percentile among centre-backs, which isn’t the worst but you’d want more from such a tall player. Colwill (59.52%) and Adarabioyo (58.06%) are also in that percentile.