Chelsea were one of the most active Premier League clubs during the first week of the January transfer window. The Blues sent Daniel Sturridge to Liverpool and quickly added Demba Ba to bolster the attack. But it's been quiet ever since.
After a strong start to the campaign, Chelsea hit the skids during the latter portion of the season's first half. Not only did it cost them first place, but it also put their top-three spot in jeopardy, which led fans to believe more moves were coming.
As the clock winds down on the winter window, let's take a look at some of the latest updates involving the Blues.
Jack Butland Rejects Move
Jack Butland is one of the most promising young goalkeepers in England. It's no surprise the 19-year-old Birmingham City star has attracted attention from clubs around the Premier League, but he apparently decided Chelsea wasn't the right fit.
While the Blues were to first side to make an official offer for him, the lack of a clear path to playing time caused Butland to sidestep the interest, according to ESPN. Everton, Fulham and Liverpool are among the other clubs linked to the keeper.
Petr Cech remains the go-to guy between the pipes for Chelsea, so Butland made the right decision if his biggest concern is staying on the pitch. The Blues were clearly thinking about the future with their bid but will need to explore other options moving forward.
Top Target Willian Eyes Future
One player on the Chelsea radar for quite some time is Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Willian. At 24, the Brazil international is about to enter the prime of his career, which is why clubs from around Europe are keeping tabs on his situation.
Willian confirmed interest from the Blues and Tottenham, according to Fernando Ahuvia of Goal.com but understands it might take awhile before he's able to leave for a bigger club. The Ukrainian side wants to keep one of its main assets.
Although the Blues would have liked to add him to the mix by now, at least they know he does have interest in heading to Stamford Bridge in the future. Whether or not he will still be a good fit for Chelsea at that point is another story.
Rafa Benitez Doubts Late Deals
The final day of any transfer window usually provides fans with a flurry of activity. Clubs that were holding out for a better price finally decide on common ground, leading to numerous agreements during the last few hours.
Chelsea supporters shouldn't expect their team to get involved in the madness. Interim manager Rafa Benitez doesn't think the club will make any late additions and has turned his focus to improving the form of his current squad, according to The Sun.
As always, things can change rapidly when it comes to the transfer window, but it sounds like the Blues are going to stand pat. Without further reinforcements, the current members of Chelsea will need to step up down the stretch.
Read more Chelsea news on BleacherReport.com
~Bleacher Report - Chelsea~
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