The left-back market is limited and so a touch of creativity may be needed from Chelsea, who are known admirers of Ajax’s Jorrel Hato. Some have called for Valentín Barco to be brought over from Strasbourg, but the 20-year-old may benefit from more time to hone his craft after a tricky spell on the books at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Chelsea have won the Club World Cup and return to London in glory.The Blues really swept all before them in the end, bar one wobble against Flamengo. Their relatively easy run to the final convinced

“It doesn’t make sense for Brazil to try to compete with European clubs in terms of finances,” Fluminense coach Renato Gaúcho said through a translator. “Brazilian clubs trade players and sell them to Europe so they can survive, and that’s been true even since I was a player.”

Cole Palmer scored twice and fed João Pedro for a goal as Chelsea overwhelmed Paris Saint-Germain in the first half and beat the European champions 3-0 in the final of the first expanded Club World Cup.