Chelsea attempted to sign the now‑Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth in the summer but were unable to do so, and then struggled to identify a suitable alternative. Chelsea also say they want to add physicality to the squad, with Jacquet standing at 6ft 3ins. This summer is expected to be a significant market for the position, with several leading players likely to move. "I won't speak about players or their futures because I have a lot of respect for Strasbourg. But in terms of our plans for the future or now, it's not the right time to speak about that."

Source: BBC January 21, 2026 13:36 UTC