Chelsea Ramp Up Midfield Chase As Luiz And Jones Talks Heat Up

As the January transfer window barrels toward its final days, Chelsea find themselves right in the thick of the action, hunting for midfield reinforcements to bolster their squad for the remainder of the season. The London club, under the guidance of manager Liam Rosenior, has made no secret of its desire to add depth to a midfield that has both shone and shown its vulnerabilities in recent weeks. The saga surrounding Douglas Luiz, the Brazilian international currently on loan at Nottingham Forest from Juventus, has dominated headlines, but as talks hit a snag, Chelsea’s transfer radar has expanded—most notably in the direction of Liverpool’s Curtis Jones.

Let’s rewind to Sunday, January 18, 2026, when Chelsea’s midfield orchestrated a convincing 3-1 win over Crystal Palace. It was their fourth victory in five matches under Rosenior, a run that has injected fresh optimism into the club’s campaign. The win was crafted in the engine room: Andrey Santos, in perhaps his finest display in a Chelsea shirt, racked up a remarkable 15 defensive actions, tied for the most duels won, and ranked second in tackles across both teams. Moises Caicedo’s relentless energy and Enzo Fernandez’s newfound freedom higher up the pitch made Chelsea’s midfield a force to be reckoned with. "It’s not bad," Rosenior said when asked about his central options, before adding, "I’ve been really clear on this: I don’t want to bring in players that don’t enhance the group or the chemistry that we’re building. So we have to be very selective at this stage of the season. If we do bring in the right player in a certain position, they have to have a clear impact on the team."

Yet, even with the midfield trio firing on all cylinders, depth remains a concern. Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia are both sidelined with injuries—Essugo after a recent setback and Lavia having not featured since suffering a quad injury in November. Reece James, usually a versatile option, was deployed at right-back against Crystal Palace, further highlighting the lack of available midfielders. Behind Caicedo, Santos, and Fernandez, Chelsea’s options are paper-thin, and Rosenior knows reinforcements are a must if the Blues are to maintain momentum through a grueling second half of the season.

Enter Douglas Luiz. The 27-year-old Brazilian has had a tough go since leaving Aston Villa for Juventus 18 months ago in a £42.5 million deal. After just 19 league appearances—only three of them starts—Juventus sanctioned a loan move to Nottingham Forest last summer, hoping Luiz would find regular minutes and reignite his career. Unfortunately, things haven’t panned out as hoped. Luiz has made just five league starts for Forest, hindered by a hamstring injury and a managerial change that saw Sean Dyche take the reins in October. Since then, Luiz has started only three league matches, and his future at the City Ground is uncertain.

Speculation intensified when Luiz was left out of Forest’s squad for their 2-0 win over Brentford last Sunday. Was a transfer imminent? Not so fast, said Dyche: "He’s ill. He’s got what’s going around—the flu sort of situation. He came in and spoke to the doctor. We said we had to get him out of the camp because we had such a long injury list when we got here and we don’t want illness to creep in as well. Hopefully he will recover quickly." Dyche, however, was less committal about Luiz’s long-term future, admitting, "We’ll see."

With Forest considering terminating Luiz’s loan, both Chelsea and Aston Villa have stepped up their interest. Villa, who lost Boubacar Kamara to a season-ending knee injury, are eager to bring Luiz back to Villa Park, where he enjoyed a successful five-year stint and helped secure Champions League qualification in his final season. For Chelsea, Luiz’s Premier League experience and versatility make him an attractive target, particularly given the club’s injury woes. Reports suggest Luiz is open to a move to Stamford Bridge, and Italian media even claim he gave an enthusiastic "yes" to Chelsea. But the path is anything but straightforward. Juventus, still holding Luiz’s registration, insist any loan deal include an obligation to buy this summer—a condition Chelsea are reluctant to accept, preferring an option rather than a commitment upfront. Negotiations have stalled as a result, and the clock is ticking.

While the Luiz saga simmers, Chelsea’s attention has shifted to other options. According to Simon Phillips, Curtis Jones of Liverpool has emerged as a potential late-window acquisition. Jones, an England international and set-piece specialist, finds himself down the pecking order at Anfield, behind Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai. With just 18 months left on his contract and limited opportunities ahead of the World Cup, Jones is seeking regular minutes to prove his worth to England manager Thomas Tuchel. His versatility—capable of playing deep, box-to-box, or further forward—makes him a valuable commodity, and Chelsea are monitoring his situation closely. Still, it would be a surprise if Liverpool allowed him to leave, especially with the unpredictability of injuries looming over every squad.

Amidst the midfield shuffle, Chelsea are also active in the center-back market. Rennes youngster Jeremy Jacquet and Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi are on the club’s wishlist. Reports indicate Chelsea have agreed personal terms with Jacquet, though a fee with Rennes remains to be negotiated. Meanwhile, Aarón Anselmino is expected to return to Stamford Bridge after a loan spell at Borussia Dortmund, adding further competition in defense. The Blues’ ambition to strengthen both midfield and defense underscores their intent to compete on all fronts as the season heats up.

As the window’s final days approach, Chelsea’s transfer activity remains a hot topic. Will Luiz’s loan be terminated in time for a move to Stamford Bridge or Villa Park? Will Liverpool budge on Curtis Jones? And can Chelsea land the defensive reinforcements they crave? One thing’s for sure: Rosenior’s side is determined to make the most of this window, but as always, the transfer market has a mind of its own.

For now, Chelsea fans can savor the team’s recent on-field successes and look forward to the potential arrival of new faces. The Blues are in the hunt, and the next few days promise plenty of drama as the transfer window slams shut.