The start of the 2020/21 Premier League campaign is now just over two weeks away and there is a sense of excitement in the air around Stamford Bridge.
That is because Chelsea are enjoying one of their most successful transfer windows in recent years.
After securing deals for Ajax midfield star Hakim Ziyech and RB Leipzig and Germany striker Timo Werner earlier in the year, the Blues made their first move to bolster their defensive ranks on Wednesday, landing Leicester City and England left-back Ben Chilwell for a fee of around £50million.
The Blues, who will face Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium in a friendly this weekend, then added some strength in depth at centre-back, signing former Nice centre-back Malang Sarr on a five-year deal, although he will spend the 2020/21 season out on loan.
Though it has already been a busy week for the Blues, further signings are expected to arrive in the not too distant future, with the club poised to wrap up deals for Brazilian intentional Thiago Silva, following his release from Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayer Leverkusen starlet Kai Havertz, who is poised to cost the club somewhere in the region of £90million.
Though the arrivals of Silva and Havertz will significantly strengthen key areas within Frank Lampard's side, the Chelsea head coach, who will be looking to lead his side to a Premier League title charge this season, is still in need of further reinforcements, particularly in goal.
Despite having the most expensive goalkeeper of all-time on their books in the shape of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Lampard is not convinced that the Spaniard is the man to be the Blues' first choice shot-stopper.
In recent months, the Blues have been linked with an array of new faces that could replace Arrizabalaga between the sticks, including Manchester United's Dean Henderson, who has just put pen to paper on a new long-term deal at Old Trafford, Jan Oblak of Atletico Madrid and Ajax star Andre Onana.
Though Henderson would have most probably been a much cheaper option that Oblak or Onana, that ship has now sailed following the former Sheffield United loanee's decision to commit his future to the Red Devils.
Now it seems that Lampard's search for a new 'keeper could boil down to between Oblak and Onana, with both shot-stoppers up their with the very best that football currently has to offer.
Though Oblak would be a very expensive addition, with him reportedly boasting a release-clause of more than £100million, France international and Barcelona star Antoine Griezmann has already explained why the Slovenian No.1 would be the ideal 'keeper for Chelsea to have on their books, with the duo having spent time together at Atletico in the past.
Speaking two years ago, Grizemann, as quoted by Goal, said: "Jan is the best in the world at this time.
"Not because he's my team-mate but because of the saves he makes, the points he wins us."
With that in mind, it could be considered as foolish for Chelsea not to go all-out to try and land the Atletico star.
Admittedly, they have already spent huge amounts of money this summer, and are poised to spend even more on Silva and Havertz's likely arrivals, but they seem hungry to bridge the gap on the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City, meaning a big-money move for Oblak could make that desire even more likely.
