With the Premier League and Capital One Cup already won, attention at Stamford Bridge would surely have turned to an assessment of the season’s successes and disappointments, as well as the design of a grand plan to ensure Chelsea remain dominant next season – both home and abroad.
A review of this season would surely see the 3-3 away goals loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League Round of 16, the 4-2 reverse against Bradford in the FA Cup and that 5-3 humbling in the hands of Harry Kane and his Tottenham mates, all fall under the disappointments category.
Thankfully, Jose Mourinho, ever the pragmatist, has taken steps to ensure the slump stopped. But despite heavy transfers all season, it remains evident that quality investments need to be made to sustain a period of dominance.
Below is a look at who should go OUT and who should come IN, as Chelsea prepare to splash the cash as they really must if they want to keep up with or pull away from the likes of Arsenal and the Manchester clubs.
INS
Goalkeeper: Club icon Petr Cech does not look likely to be at the club next season, and after a decade of service, Chelsea fans can only wish him the best. Thibaut Courtois is terrific and with a huge potential, but when injuries come, the Blues will need a reliable hand in the gloves.
QPR’s Rob Green is the only name touted so far as Cech’s replacement and a deal would make sense both financially and in a sporting way. QPR need the £2m Chelsea will offer, as per the Standard while Green would add to the homegrown quota of the club and bring with him 35-year old experience. Latest reports suggest that Green could snub the League champions, but that remains to be seen.
Defence: Raphael Varane and John Stones are two names linked to the London outfit. A deal for either or both would make a great deal of sense.
While Stones would bring talent and homegrown benefits, both players would be quality replacements for an ageing John Terry who must retire in the near future. Kurt Zouma already looks at home in the Chelsea defence, but Mourinho must look to secure the future by signing up a young centre back.
A full back, to backup Branislav Ivanovic and Chelsea’s most consistent defender, Cesar Azpilicueta, must also feature.
Midfield: Paul Pogba, Koke and more recently, Phillipe Coutinho have all been mentioned. While Pogba or Koke would immediately transform the Blues’ midfield, a deal is really unlikely.
Both players would cost massive sums (especially Pogba), and in this era of financial frugality, Chelsea may plump for a cheaper alternative to both: Coutinho. It is hard to see the transfer materialise though. What is sure is that the club needs to spend quality money on quality players. In that case, Koke, instead of Pogba would be an ideal choice. The France international is courted by half of Europe and may set Chelsea back several million if they push a deal, and while Koke would not come cheap, he will not have the spotlight on him as Pogba would.
Attack: Only a year after changing his entire forward line, Mourinho is set to effect even more changes. A backup striker is needed, as is a versatile wide man. Gareth Bale has been mooted at some point, and his signing would surely mean the end for Chelsea’s opponents. But so would a deal for Antoine Griezmann, who has scored 25 goals for Atletico Madrid this season.
Bale may not be available this summer, and Atletico will only allow one of Griezmann and Koke to depart, but sign either Bale or Griezmann and one of the rumoured strikers (Christian Benteke, Alexandre Lacazette, Mauro Icardi) and the job would be done.
Don’t forget that Juan Cuadrado is expected to make an impact next term and any of Dominic Solanke, Isaiah Brown and Patrick Bamford are in line for some responsibility.
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