"We need to talk and to try and improve in the next transfer market. If we are not aggressive enough (on the pitch) maybe we need to do something. Our reality now is mid-table and if we want to go up we have to push ourselves. If perception here (indicating one point on a line) and reality is here (indicating another point) then we are missing something in the middle. Sometimes it’s good, a reality check."
That was Mauricio Pochettino's not-so-subtle suggestion that he will demand that Chelsea's free-spending owners open their bottomless wallets once again in January, and a damning indictment of the Boehly-Clearlake consortium's reckless spending to date.
Despite their outlay surpassing £1 billion ($1.3bn) since the takeover in 2022, head coach Pochettino wants further reinforcements for his toiling squad in the new year, with a defender, midfielder and striker all on his shopping list.
The Blues' spent north of £320 million (£407m) in January 2023 and they are set to be very active once again just 12 months on - but who should they be looking to bring in? GOAL weighs up their best options...