Graham Potter will face some really tough decisions when it comes to choosing a 20-man squad for the remainder of the season in the Premier League.
Chelsea have signed seven players so far this month – with hours still to go before the window closes. Malo Gusto is the latest man to put pen-to-paper on a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge as the rebuild of the club continues.
Chelsea won't be able to call upon the French right-back until next season, with the player loaned straight back to Lyon as part of the deal that brought him to west London.
However, Chelsea rate Gusto that highly that they would rather wait to use him than sign another right-back for the rest of the season. There's a belief at Stamford Bridge that Gusto can develop into a world-class full-back, so he is worth the wait in that respect.
READ MORE: Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea transfer: All the latest news on Blues' pursuit of Benfica midfielder
There are six other signings, though, who will be able for selection for the rest of the season. David Datro Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Joao Felix and Mykhailo Mudryk have all already been used by Potter since signing earlier this month, but Andrey Santos and Noni Madueke are still waiting for their debuts.
Bar Felix, who is serving the final game of his three-match ban after being red carded on his debut away to Fulham earlier in the month, should be available to be in the squad for the home clash with the Cottagers on Friday evening. Fingers crossed that Chelsea can call upon another man on Friday night, with the club looking to complete their eighth deal of the month as talks continue with Benfica over the signing of talented midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
Chelsea have recently reopened talks with Benfica over the Argentine World Cup winner and are confident they can strike a deal before the clock hits 11pm this evening. Benfica, however, remain adamant that either the Blues pay the €120million (£105million) release clause, or there is no sale in this window.
There are still a lot of things that need to happen for the transfer to be complete, but if everything is done, then Fernandez could make his Chelsea debut this week as the Blues welcome Fulham to Stamford Bridge. So, with that being said, football.london predicts what squad Potter could choose for Chelsea's 21st game of the Premier League season.
Goalkeepers: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Marcus Bettinelli
Edouard Mendy had an operation earlier this month on a fractured finger he sustained in training. There is no official timescale for when the 30-year-old goalkeeper will return to action, but he is still in his rehabilitation phase.
Defenders: Cesar Azpilicueta, Kalidou Koulibaly, Benoit Badiashile, Thiago Silva, Marc Cucurella, Ben Chilwell, Reece James
Chilwell is set to be in the squad as he returns from a hamstring injury he suffered back in November against Dinamo Zagreb. Likewise, James is expected to return to action in some capacity after injuring himself at the end of last month against Bournemouth.
Midfielders: Mateo Kovacic, Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Carney Chukwuemeka, Enzo Fernandez
N'Golo Kante remains out and is not expected to return until the end of next month, or even early March. Chelsea could still sign a central midfielder before the window closes on Tuesday, but as it stands, the above could be who Potter selects in his 20-man squad for Fulham.
Denis Zakaria remains sidelined with an injury. Fernandez, as mentioned above, if he is signed, will be eligible to take on Fulham in front of the Stamford Bridge faithful.
Attackers: Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk, Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech, Mason Mount, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Madueke is expected to be in the Chelsea squad for the first time after he signed for around £35m from PSV Eindhoven on January 20. Mudryk, who made such an impression with his 35-minute cameo at Anfield recently, is set to be involved once again and could even make his first start for his new club.
Raheem Sterling has stepped up his recovery from a hamstring problem in recent days, but he is still doing individual work in training, so he won't be involved. Elsewhere, Christian Pulisic remains sidelined with a medial collateral ligament injury that he picked up against Manchester City in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Armando Broja is out for the season with a serious knee ligament injury.
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