Chelsea are not desperate to sign a midfielder before Thursday’s transfer deadline, as the club attempt to offer encouragement to their young players.

Callum Hudson-Odoi will stay at Chelsea until at least the end of the season after the club rejected his transfer request and told Bayern Munich he is not for sale.

Chelsea now have four months to convince the youngster and a host of their other young stars that they will get chances at Stamford Bridge.

Head coach Maurizio Sarri has stated his desire to sign a like-for-like replacement for Cesc Fabregas, who he allowed to move to Italy, to act as cover for Jorginho. But Chelsea are wary of bringing in somebody who could cut off the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ethan Ampadu and Mason Mount, who is on loan at Derby County.

Chelsea held negotiations over Cagliari’s Nicolo Barella and Zenit St Petersburg’s Leandro Paredes, but the Italian club do not want to sell this month and Paredes has joined Paris Saint-Germain.