All the latest news and views from Stamford Bridge including the Chelsea defender who strikes fear into Arsenal striker and the latest transfer gossip.
Perhaps the biggest shock of the mid-season transfer window was not the sale of Juan Mata to Manchester United, nor Arsenal's seemingly panic-influenced loaning of injured Sweden international Kim Kallstrom, but Chelsea's lack of a striker recruit when they made considerably fortifications of their own midfield.
The theory at the time was that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was merely biding his time until the summer, when he could perhaps purchase Wayne Rooney from United for a lesser fee as the Englishman would only have 12 months left to run on the terms of his current contract.
Now, even though the mid-season window slammed shut last Friday, January 31, there is still transfer activity, with Daily Mail speculating that the agency (Ungelkart) of Paris Saint Germain's superstar striker Edinson Cavani are in London to meet with officials from Chelsea and from United ahead of a prospective move in the summer.
With 13 goals and four assists from Ligue 1 football thus far this season, and four strikes in the Champions League, Cavani, 26, has been responsible for affecting the scoreline once every 95 minutes on average.
More transfer news from France suggests Chelsea have joined Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City as interested parties in 16-year-old Marseille striker Maxime Lopez, according to The Express. A source at the club is allegedly quoted by La Provence to have said that Marseille simply cannot compete with the financial might flexed by the elite-level clubs in Europe.
The goal-scorer against Manchester City, Branislav Ivanovic, is apparently the opponent Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud is most fearful of playing against, according to the player himself and Arsenal, who were fielding questions on an #askgiroud, earlier today.
