January is approaching, and while the Premier League makes way for the international break, transfer plans will be discussed. For Chelsea, the exit of one player is inevitable.

Chelsea are expected to be active in the January window. The form of Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana is under scrutiny, while Maxence Lacroix is injured. Aaron Anselmino is yet to be tested at this level.

A centre-back could be targeted, even with Mamadou Sarr and Honest Ahanor out on loan. Alex Scott is the priority in midfield, though the Blues are also keeping tabs on Harrison Armstrong and Lewis Miley.

What about potential sales, though? Chelsea rid themselves of around £500m worth of talent in the summer, yet their squad remains bloated for a team not competing in Europe. Departures are also likely.

The eight teams that are in the mix to sign Kendry Paez

Kendry Paez is currently in Cobham Next Gen’s side under Harry Hudson. He started on Sunday in the 3-1 win over Tottenham at Stevenage, a win that earned the praise of John Terry on Instagram this week.

But a £17m signing, currently playing in the 21s, is obviously not going to last. It comes after the Ecuador star – who has been called up by his country this month – saw his loan spell at River Plate come to an end.

There are pretty good odds on Paez leaving Chelsea on loan in January. TeamTalk say eight clubs are in the mix for the ex-Independiente Del Valle star, with Celtic said to be leading the way for the playmaker.

Birmingham City and Blackburn are also linked with Paez in the report, while Belgian side KV Mechelen and Mo Salah’s Trabzonspor are targets, too. Three unnamed Championship sides have been approached.

Foreign sides would have to sign Paez permanently

Because Paez has not trained at Chelsea for more than three years since he joined the club, he would count as a foreign loan. Clubs can only sanction six of these loans at one time. Those six spots are filled.

Currently, Jesse Derry (Sporting), Robert Sanchez (Como), Benoit Badiashile (Napoli), Mamadou Sarr (Real Sociedad), and Strasbourg duo Dario Essugo and Robert Sanchez fill those slots as things currently stand.

If Chelsea decide to cancel a loan, a slot becomes available, then Mechelen, Trabzonspor or Celtic could sign Paez on loan. If that does not happen, those three clubs would have to land Paez permanently.

For Birmingham, Blackburn and the unnamed three Championship sides, a loan deal is possible. It makes a move to another English side much more likely for Paez, as the January window closes in.