Chelsea are currently battling with the biggest transition period the club has faced in its recent history. The loss of two first-team defenders would be enough to rock any squad, with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen leaving on free transfers.
Add to that the potential to lose two midfielders in the next year, with N’Golo Kante and Jorginho in their final 12-months under contract at the club. While there are options in the forward areas, the lack of cutting edge throughout the campaign proved costly at times for the Blues.
So it leaves a squad that needs bolstering across the board, with the new ownership reportedly willing to invest over £200million in backing Thomas Tuchel’s project. However, given the structure of the new regime compared to the last, there is far less room for mistakes, meaning every transfer decision must be spot on.
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With that said, here’s a look at a few potential transfers that could mean the Blues have the best window possible.
The defence is an area that cannot be ignored after the loss of Rudiger and Christensen, two key parts of Tuchel’s back three since the German took charge. His current options as natural centre-backs are Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah, Malang Sarr and Levi Colwill, while Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta can fill in there.
Looking elsewhere for defenders, long-term target Jules Kounde should be one firmly on the radar of the club still. The 23-year-old has continually impressed for Sevilla, even managing regular call ups to the French national team.
With the La Liga club reportedly in need of some financial support in the form of player sales this summer, Kounde could be a far cheaper option to the likes of Matthijs de Ligt. The Dutchman is another defender who has been heavily linked with the Blues, but he has a release clause worth over £100million attached to his deal.
In the midfield, another long-term target could make the switch in Declan Rice, however his reported price tag of £150million may make him a tough deal to finance this summer. However, his contract is continuing to dwindle, meaning the wait could go on to get him at a bargain fee.
Instead, the Blues could turn to a cheaper option for the middle of the park. That option could be Ibrahim Sangare from PSV, a player that has been linked with a move to the Premier League.
At six foot three inches, the 24-year-old more than stands his ground in midfield. His physical profile and defensive output make him more than capable of making the switch to England and as he plays in the Eredivisie, he will come at a snip of the cost of a similar player profile in the top five leagues.
Up front there are a few issues to contend with, as the Blues look to add flair and creativity to match with the end product. With Romelu Lukaku looking set to leave the club, as well as one or more of Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech, forward additions are required.
In terms of a versatile threat, Raheem Sterling would be an exciting, elite option to take from Manchester City. The England international can play on the left, right and through the middle and with just one-year remaining on his deal, he could come at a bargain price.
If the Blues wanted to add further, Leeds United’s Raphinha may be another impressive option. The Brazilian looks set to leave Yorkshire, should the right offer of roughly £50-60million comes in.
The 25-year-old scored 11 goals and assisted three in a tough season at club level, proving he is more than capable of doing the same at a higher level. It remains to be seen whether any of those deals would go through, with shrewder squad options also available.
However, that core of four signings could bulk the side out going into next season and would help Tuchel gear up for another long campaign.
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