Chelsea are likely to be one of the Premier League's busiest clubs this summer with plenty of uncertainty throughout the first-team squad. Todd Boehly's early days are set to be dominated by transfer planning with a number of high-profile names reportedly targeted already.
The departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen have already been confirmed by Thomas Tuchel but they may not be the last to leave. Cesar Azpilicueta, Marcos Alonso, Christian Pulisic, N'Golo Kante, Timo Werner, Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech have all been linked with moves away and it remains to be seen what the first-team squad will consist of once pre-season begins.
Nevertheless, with plenty of incomings expected, Thomas Tuchel's starting XI could look very different by the time the new season starts in August. With that in mind, football.london has taken a look at what the Blues' starting line-up could look like next season.
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With Rudiger and Christensen, perhaps Azpilicueta, leaving, Chelsea needs to address the centre-back position. If those three were to all depart, then Tuchel would be left with Trevoh Chalobah, Malang Sarr and Thiago Silva as natural options to play across a back-three. Of course, Levi Colwill may return to his parent club as well.
Jules Kounde seems the obvious option to replace at least one of the departing centre-backs. The Blues came extremely close to signing the Sevilla defender last summer, but the Spanish club played hard ball with the talented Frenchman's valuation. Meanwhile, Chelsea have been linked with a move for RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol. The Croatian has been impressive in the Bundesliga for Leipzig since making the move to the German club last summer and has attracted attention from across Europe. At left-back, Borna Sosa has also been mentioned as a possible replacement for Alonso, who's likely to depart.
A number of names have been linked in the midfield, with the obvious favourable addition being England and West Ham star, Declan Rice. At one stage, Aurelien Tchouameni looked as if he could move to Stamford Bridge, and the Frenchman is a long-term target for the Blues, football.london understands. But it now looks as if a move to Real Madrid is the more likely outcome.
Across the attacking line, Christopher Nkunku is a target for Chelsea, football.london understands, with the RB Leipzig attacker being scouted by the Premier League club for a while now. The Frenchman was recently crowned the Bundesliga Player of the Season after a tremendous campaign in Germany.
If the Blues can get those transfers across the line, here's how their starting line-up could look next campaign.
Possible starting XI (3-4-2-1): Mendy; Kounde, Thiago Silva, Gvardiol; James, Rice, Kante/Kovacic, Chilwell; Mount, Nkunku; Havertz.
