As much as Graham Potter won't want to think about post-World Cup football too much just yet, when players do return there will once again be some huge decisions to make.
The manager has been quick to experiment throughout his squad with new shapes, roles and tactics. They haven't all worked, of late nothing has, but the 47-year-old is still learning about his squad and is also working with a large portion of them out injured, making it harder to balance defence and attack.
One of the decisions he made quickly at the club was to move Kepa Arrizabalaga to first choice. This was made easier by Edouard Mendy's poor form and injury both coinciding with each other and Potter's appointment. Though far from the type of keeper Chelsea can invision themselves challenging for the title with, Kepa's improvement has been one of the success stories so far.
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The Spaniard missed out on Luis Enrique's squad for the Qatar World Cup which will be a bitter blow after his recent form, but that is why he wanted to leave in the summer afterall. The two months of resurgence came too late. They did highlight the importance of Potter's goalkeepers though.
Mendy can hardly be blamed for the capitulation at Chelsea since he came in 3-0 down at half time against Brighton, but his lack of fluidity or confidence with the ball at his feet is much more noticable after watching Kepa. That is something Potter values highly and with a transfer revamp on the way, it wouldn't be impossible to imagine the new manager following Pep Guardiola's example.
The Manchester City boss swiftly moved on Joe Hart after joining to bring in specialist ball-player Claudio Bravo, though he didn't last long before they hit the jackpot with Ederson. At 30-years-old and as a late blossomer, Mendy is unlikely to develop the side of his game that Potter values enough to truly convince him in the long run, and this was a concern of the club over the summer before Potter even came in.
Now, Mendy himself is reportedly evaluating his options. He will be at the World Cup as Senegal's first choice keeper, but meanwhile Kepa is back at Cobham working closely with Potter. Injuries aside, it's hard to imagine that once the tournament is done Kepa won't be back in-between the sticks for Chelsea.
The Daily Mail write that Mendy is holding off on contract talks right now as Chelsea plan a raid on Brighton for their own No.1. This is unsurprising. The recruitment staff at Cobham is being overloaded with those who were successful on the south coast - Kyle Macaulay is set for a busy January and Paul Winstanley is expected to join once finished with the Seagulls. The Blues had to pay £2m to get the backroom staff to Stamford Bridge with Potter, but if they can ensure a good footballing return on the recruitment decisions made, it may well turn out to be a bargain. And they were the driving forces behind the clever recruitment that helped Potter in the first place.
Robert Sanchez, who did make Spain's 26-man squad, was one of those signings and has gone on to impress during his time in England. Having been spotted as a youngster in Spain he was given a series of unglamorous loan spells across the lower leagues and worked his way up to the big time.
He is still only 24, but like Mendy his contract expires in 2025 and once the clock hits two years left, decisions become more important.
Despite playing 10 less matches in 2022, Chelsea have conceded more goals than they did in 42 games across 2021, displaying Mendy's drop off after winning Africa Cup of Nations and also a wider malaise at the club. Sanchez is one of a number of keepers being looked at, but Potter will once again have to manage his squad carefully so as not to damage one of the club's best signings in recent years.
For £20m Mendy has been worth his price already thanks to the role in the Champions League win, but as is the case with Chelsea's recruitment so often, a new manager is in and fancies something a bit different.
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