The Chelsea squad that Graham Potter will be working with is not one he has had any input in. It has been mainly sculpted by Thomas Tuchel with elements of Frank Lampard, Antonio Conte, Maurizio Sarri and even Roberto Di Matteo.
There won't be any scope for that to change until January, when the new boss is expected to receive heavy post-World Cup backing in what could make for a strangely surprising and active window for Chelsea. Before then, there are options for the 47-year-old to improve and adapt his squad.
Be it via tactical movements or from the early promotion and trust in youth that Todd Boehly failed to see on the horizon under Tuchel, Potter isn't limited in options. There is a chance that come January, though, one of the best bits of business might not be a big money transfer at all.
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Chelsea's ability, partly down to persuasion and communication from Boehly over the summer, to ensure loan deals rather than permanent transfers have left doors open for players that may previously have been stranded by Tuchel.
Speculation as to why certain players were convinced to remain on Chelsea's books will hint at Tuchel's future being decided as deals were concluded. If this is true or not, the fact remains that their futures at Stamford Bridge have been given a direct boost.
On this list is Levi Colwill, who was close to a permanent move to, ironically, Brighton. Ethan Ampadu could also return to Chelsea, but at the front of the queue is Callum Hudson-Odoi. Brighton themselves were interested in the player this summer in an ironic move. The winger was close to leaving permanently but was one of the players convinced only to leave temporarily. The 21-year-old joined Bayer Leverkusen for the season, but Chelsea and Potter hold a key trump card.
There is an option, Chelsea themselves revealed, to bring the Englishman back in January should they want to. Having started well in Germany, a country he nearly ended up in four years earlier after a £70m bid was rejected for the then 18-year-old, it is looking like a more appealing clause.
He registered an assist within minutes of coming on for his debut and also provided a brilliant mazy run and pass from midfield in the lead-up to a goal against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. Now in a position to become a mainstay in a team for the first time in his career, Chelsea fans and now Potter will be watching closely.
Given the attacking struggles recently - though the innovative Potter will look for ways around this - it is not impossible for Hudson-Odoi to become a serious option. Not only does he possess direct dribbling and flair, but he has also shown adaptability to play as a wingback, too, something that Potter has previously used his forwards for.
Although Potter has no previous experience with Hudson-Odoi, if he was to be in a position whereby form is good enough in January to consider bringing him back, then it could damage his short-term progression. If there are signs of promise and Potter likes the look of Chelsea's asset, then it could be a shrewd way to bypass more large transfer fees.
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