Chelsea transfer news: The Blues are keeping close tabs on Como midfielder Martin Baturina and are considering a bid in the January window, according to Transfer Feed. The report mentions a potential fee of €80m (roughly £70m), the valuation Como have held since the summer. Manchester United are also linked with the 23-year-old Croatian international.

Como have shown no sign of softening. They reportedly rejected a €55m (about £48m) approach from Aston Villa in August, and Baturina’s contract runs until 2030 after he joined from Dinamo Zagreb for a reported €20m (about £17m).

Chelsea transfer news: Why Chelsea need more creativity

The timing makes sense. Xabi Alonso’s side lost 1-0 at Sunderland on 8 November, their fourth league defeat in ten games, and sit fifth, two points outside the top four.

Alonso blamed a lack of patience and creativity against a low block, and Sunderland finished with fewer shots but a much higher expected-goals figure. Chelsea’s midfield has looked short since Enzo Fernández joined Manchester City on deadline day and a deal for Monaco’s Lamine Camara collapsed, which forced Alonso to use full-backs in central roles at times.

Baturina’s strengths and weaknesses

Baturina plays as a left-sided attacking midfielder who drifts inside to receive between the lines. He has five goals in 13 games for Como this season, including Champions League strikes against RB Leipzig and Lens, and he also scored for Croatia against England at the World Cup.

He takes set pieces and creates chances from deep. The drawbacks are clear. He is slight at 5ft 8in; his defensive output is modest, with two tackles in his first six league games, and he has only one full season in a top-five league behind him.

Should Chelsea pay £70m for Baturina?

Not at that price. Baturina would add creativity, but he would arrive in the most crowded area of Chelsea’s squad, where Cole Palmer, Estêvão and Morgan Rogers already compete for the same pockets of space. The £47m Camara deal that collapsed showed Chelsea’s real priority: a midfielder who can protect the back four and set the tempo.

Como also hold every card. They play Champions League football; Chelsea cannot offer European football at all this season, and selling a key player mid-campaign makes little sense for them.

Chelsea would pay a premium for one strong season in Serie A. Fix the base of the midfield first, then revisit Baturina in the summer if the price drops. Spending £70m on another attacker would leave the weakness Sunderland exposed exactly where it is.