Chelsea are in the transfer window with the one next to it Raheem Sterling £50m signingas the new era begins under Todd Boehly.
The Blues are expected to finalize a deal for the Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly in the coming days and they are targeting more names to strengthen their roster.
Boss Thomas Tuchel has also strengthened his squad with Conor Gallagher returning from his impressive loan spell crystal palace and stated his desire to fight for a place in the squad.
sports mail takes a look at the strength and depth of the current Blues roster, which areas they still need to do business in and which players they need to try to improve this season.
Chelsea are in the window with £50m signing of Raheem Sterling
Conor Gallagher has returned to the Blues with a desire to stay and fight for a spot on the team
GOALKEEPER
It’s clear the Blues see Edouard Mendy as their first-choice goalkeeper despite the £70m price tag for Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Tuchel manages to juggle game time to keep both shot-stoppers in play, with the Spaniard playing a large part of cup games and of course stepping in during the Africa Cup of Nations.
Of course, speculation will center around Kepa because he costs such a high fee and is only a second-choice goalkeeper.
It does, however, offer Chelsea options and three established first-team goalkeepers in the squad, meaning it’s an area where they can avoid diving into the transfer market or worrying things.
Most teams would appreciate a combination of Mendy, Kepa and Marcus Bettenelli, allowing them to rotate for different competitions.
Chelsea have a well-established goalkeeping department in Edouard Mendy (left), Kepa Arrizabalaga (right) and Marcus Bettenelli
DEFENSE
In defence, that’s a huge area that Tuchel is keen to improve and strengthen, and probably position as well as in attack where the Blues are lighter in numbers.
The Blues have been linked with numerous high-profile defenders and are expected to be pushing to sign at least two new centre-backs in a £34million move for Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, who is approaching.
They were chasing Nathan Ake but it appears he will remain with rivals Manchester City, with Sevilla star Jules Kounde once again becoming a top target.
A £34m deal for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly (pictured) is drawing near
At the heart of defence, they’ve already lost Antonio Rüdiger and Andreas Christensen to Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively – so they need to fill the gap.
Playing three at the back means options are required and they still have Thiago Silva, Malang Sarr and the rising Trevor Chalobah, who worked his way into the first team last season.
Apart from that, they are extremely light now, they have Cesar Azpilicueta who can intervene on the right flank or right-back.
Options are needed at centre-back with experienced Thiago Silva being the main pick
But unless Tuchel supports youngsters Ethan Ampadu and Matt Miazga, who have returned from loan spells, he will have to recruit some centre-backs.
At full-back it’s a different story and at left-back they all have to fill that position with Ben Chilwell, Marcos Alonso, Emerson and Baba Rahman.
Rahman is seen as one the Blues should move on to, and perhaps even Emerson, as neither of them have been able to impress since arriving, although if Alonso gets his wish to leave, they may be forced to keep either one or to sign someone new.
Right-backs, assuming they can keep captain Azpilicueta who has interest from Barcelona then they have the options of him and Reece James.
MIDFIELD
Spoiled for choice is the best way to describe Chelsea midfield and if anything they only need to vacate a few bodies to make room in the squad.
Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount are the most used players in midfield and are all classified as elite players.
England international Conor Gallagher has also returned to the club after his impressive loan spell at Crystal Palace and is keen to stay at Stamford Bridge in a bid to fight for a position.
Gallagher will be fierce competition for the likes of Jorginho, Mason Mount and Co
His form last season would suggest he will stand out in terms of the pecking order including Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ross Barkley, Billy Gilmour and Tino Anjorin.
They would expect someone to make room or maybe Gilmour and Anjorin are loaned out again to make room in the squad, the latter has even been linked with Everton this week.
Loftus-Cheek and Barkley were used sparingly at Chelsea for many years, which has meant that they have not even featured among England’s regulars on most club and country occasions.
Ross Barkley (left) and Ruben Loftus-Cheek (right) may both want to seek out football on a regular basis
One of them, if not both, could head to the exit door in search of regular first-team action to revive their careers.
At the same time, to be a successful Premier League side you need options and depth to compete on all fronts, so they won’t want to take their own lives.
Loftus-Cheek and Barkley still played their part in certain cup games and off the bench last season and can be considered good squad players.
It doesn’t make sense for the Blues to keep all those midfielders into the new season.
ATTACK
It seems that Tuchel could opt to play without a natural striker and instead continue to use Kai Havertz in the position, especially after Romelu Lukaku returned to Inter Milan on loan.
New signing Sterling could also fill that role, having played as a false nine for City on numerous occasions during his seven-year stint at Etihad Stadium.
One could imagine Havertz and Sterling being two of the first names on the team list in attack, regardless of whether the boss plays a 3-4-3, a 4-2-3-1 or some other formation.
Sterling (pictured) and Kai Havertz will be the main attackers for boss Tuchel this season
There has been speculation that Chelsea are still determined to add another attacking option with ties to Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele but both will play at Barcelona next season.
It’s maybe an area in the squad where they don’t necessarily have numbers but maybe low quality.
Havertz, Sterling, Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Armando Broja, Michy Batshuayi and Kenedy are at your disposal.
Timo Werner (left) and Christian Pulisic (right) both struggle to live up to their price tags
Aside from Havertz and Sterling, none of them have produced much for Chelsea and Tuchel could look to add more, although it seems his primary focus is on improving defence.
Pulisic, Werner, Ziyech and Broja have all been linked with a move at some point this summer but they will want to retain some of that attacking lineup to give them options off the bench and squad competition.
Pulisic, Werner and Ziyech have all failed to live up to their lofty prices since arriving at Stamford Bridge, while Broja is young and impressed at Southampton last season and will most likely be given the odd chances.
However, Batshuayi and Kenedy are low down the pecking order and should be players Chelsea hope to advance this summer.
Michy Batshuayi (pictured) and Kenedy are expected to be at the bottom of the pecking order
