This summer looks likely to herald significant change at Stamford Bridge, with a high turnover of players coming and going.
High-profile deals have already been secured for both Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech, while the club are also said to be pursuing a move for Bayer Leverkusen ace Kai Havertz.
Long-serving forward duo Willian and Pedro Rodriguez are both leaving at the end of their contracts, while several others look set to follow suit as Frank Lampard shakes up his squad.
However, the fact the Blues shipped as many Premier League goals this season as Brighton and Hove Albion, who finished 16th, has not gone unnoticed and surely requires urgent attention.
While the transfer business so far leaves Chelsea fans salivating at the prospect of what their team will produce in the final third next season, this is tempered by concerns over how the side will be balanced out defensively.
It is likely that after the forward positions have been sorted out, the club’s hierarchy will then focus on the goalkeeper situation, with the future of Kepa Arrizabalaga under heightened scrutiny.
However, Chelsea’s defensive issues go beyond the goalkeeper and the make-up of next season’s backline remains far from certain.
West Ham United’s Declan Rice has been the defensive player most strongly linked with a switch across London this summer. The 21-year-old spent seven years of his youth career at Stamford Bridge before being released, and he is also a close friend of midfield star Mason Mount.
It is worth pointing out that Rice - who is closing in on 100 Premier League appearances for the Hammers - has played most of his career to date as a holding midfielder.
However, with the Blues well-stocked in this position it appears they have instead earmarked him for a defensive role. So, if Rice is signed, who would he be most suited to partnering him in defence?
As highlighted by WhoScored, of Chelsea’s 46 games across the Premier League and Champions League this season, Lampard has most often deployed a back four (34 games), although he has also utilised a back three (12 matches) at times.
There are currently four other players who are vying for positions in central defence for next season. Of the four currently at the club, Antonio Rudiger has the highest profile but his form last season was punctuated by individual errors and a lack of consistency.
While adept at playing out from the back and having a reasonable degree of flexibility, the German international isn’t the best in the air and his positional awareness is not always ideal - as highlighted by his decision to show Andriy Yarmolenko inside, and onto his left-foot, for the last-minute winner at the London Stadium last month.
However, Rudiger’s passing ability and elegance may complement Rice’s more rugged approach of being proactive in cutting out opposition attacks.
Kurt Zouma was the second most-used central defender but he still appears cumbersome. He has failed to kick on from his early promise, although a long-term injury did not help.
Andreas Christensen and Fikayo Tomori are still in the development phase, but both may be keen for more regular first-team elsewhere if a suitable opportunity arises. Tomori’s performances this campaign gave great encouragement, but he has featured just once since January and not at all since lockdown.
It remains highly unlikely that the Blues will sign more than one new central defender this summer, partly due to the options already available in the squad but also because other positions have been prioritised.
The signing of Rice is only possible through a significant outlay of funds and, unless several players can be sold, any further central defensive additions are unlikely.
Next season, one of Rudiger or Zouma is likely to be vying for a slot alongside Rice - if the Hammers star arrives - with Cesar Azpiliceuta likely to complete the back three when Lampard opts for the wing-back formation.
