Frank Arnesen's departure from Chelsea could set back the club's transfer plans months.
The People says long-serving Arnesen, who will leave officially at the end of the season, has been working on finding Chelsea a new centre-half and an attacking midfielder for the January window.
Fitness fears over John Terry and Frank Lampard - plus the poor form of Ramires - had put the scouting staff on red alert for a couple of captures.
Arnesen made a personal check on Blackburn's Phil Jones recently while his top men were in Italy to watch a Serie A star only yesterday.
The Chelsea chief was also lining up meetings with agents about players for those positions.
The move will also be a shock for Arnesen's army of staff. He has built up a team of trusted scouts who work around the globe and their future will be uncertain.
