With just hours remaining of the winter transfer window, there is still plenty of talk flying around before the deadline, including when it comes to Chelsea.
Last night, it was reported that central defensive transfer target Jeremy Jacquet had instead opted to move to fellow Premier League side Liverpool, with the defender seeing a clearer path to the starting XI on Merseyside.
Meanwhile, we are still waiting for official confirmation on Aaron Anselmino's loan to RC Strasbourg, with Mamadou Sarr set to move the other way, in what is essentially a swap deal of sorts.
This has been one of the main stories of the last few days. But amidst the chaos, there has been talk regarding another central defender. Indeed, as The Guardian are reporting that Chelsea have rebuffed a loan offer from Crystal Palace for Josh Acheampong.
Having lost captain and talisman Marc Guehi to Manchester City earlier in the window, Palace are desperate for defensive additions, but Chelsea don't have plans to allow another defender to leave.
It is a shame for Acheampong in some ways. The back three that Oliver Glasner plays would have suited him. He would have had the chance to play European football of some sorts too. The loan spell at the South London side served Trevoh Chalobah pretty well last season.
But, well, in fairness - there is a non zero chance that Glasner is not manager in the coming days and weeks, such is the volatility of the situation at Selhurst Park. So perhaps it would not have been an optimal place to develop as a young player.
That said, you do worry about his game time for the remainder of the season, with Sarr coming in. Acheampong has been an unused sub in all of the last four games, and played just five minutes in the previous outing - and that is before adding the Senegalese defender into the mix.
So perhaps a loan, even if not at Palace, would have been beneficial for the player. He has played just 950 minutes in all competitions this season. 227 of those came in the Carabao Cup against fodder opponents, a luxury that doesn't exist anymore for this season. Perhaps the fourth round FA Cup tie against Hull City could be a good opportunity for him to get 90 (or more) minutes.
Let's wait and see what happens moving forward.
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