Mauricio Pochettino teases Chelsea transfer before deadline as Karim Benzema linked

Mauricio Pochettino claims Chelsea are 'ready' for whatever the January transfer window throws their way. Chelsea are still on the lookout for a new striker to help bolster their attacking numbers with 2022 Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge in recent days.

The Frenchman is unhappy in Saudi Arabia and wants to leave Al-Ittihad just six months after completing a lucrative move to the Middle East. Several Premier League clubs are reportedly queueing up to acquire his services on a short-term loan deal with Chelsea among those in contention for his signature.

Prior to the Africa Cup of Nations, Nicolas Jackson had led the line for the west Londoners but his inconsistency is concerning. The Senegal international has scored eight goals in 23 games for Chelsea in all competitions.

There have been moments of real promise for the 22-year-old such as his hat-trick against Spurs in November, but he doesn't look like the finished article just yet so reinforcements are required.

Chelsea are yet to sign or sell a single player in the winter transfer window but this could be about to change as deadline day draws near. When asked whether the Blues are 'desperate to sign players', Pochettino replied: “No, not really. We are desperate to win a title, not sign players.

"I am happy with the players but if something happens we need to be ready for anything that can happen in the final week.” Reports before the window opened suggested that Noni Madueke, Trevoh Chalobah, Armando Broja, Marc Cucurella, Axel Disasi, Ian Maatsen, and Malo Gusto were all expected to be sold in the next two transfer windows.

But so far only Maatsen has departed, and that was on a six-month loan to Borussia Dortmund. Chelsea will need to offload some players to help their FFP situation after another heavy summer of spending that saw the five-time Premier League winners fork out £400million on players.

In terms of incoming deals, a surprise move for Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran is on the cards, as per the Daily Telegraph. Duran has only scored four goals this season for the Villans but Chelsea are said to hold 'legitimate interest' in the player. The Benzema deal would be far more favourable for the Chelsea faithful but his £86m-a-year salary could prove to be a stumbling block.