Chelsea have some big decisions to make in the midfield area this summer.
Who is to make way for the potential arrivals of new midfielder recruits in the transfer window which opens its doors from June 10?
With Saul Niguez a certainty to return home to Spain in the summer coupled with uncertain futures for Jorginho and N'Golo Kante in SW6 this summer amid Juventus and Man United inks respectively, the midfield is certainly an area to keep an eye on once this 2021/22 season comes to an end.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is another player who could seek an exit from west London permanently this summer if his crossroads-like situation isn't to turn around anytime soon.
Signing Rice and Tchouameni seems unrealistic with the Hammers requesting more than £150million for their midfield star whilst Real Madrid are in the prime position to sign Monaco's number 8.
This is where Paul Pogba comes into the equation.
The Les Bleus international has had his United departure confirmed by the club as the Erik ten Hag era starts to take shape. A club statement read: 'The club can announce that Paul Pogba will leave Manchester United at the end of June, upon the expiry of his contract.
'Everyone at the club would like to congratulate Paul on his successful career and thank him for his contributions to Manchester United.
'We wish him all the best for the next steps on a remarkable journey.'
Barcelona's Freddie de Jong is being targeted as his main replacement by Ten Hag also likes the idea of trying to poach both Kante and Mason Mount away from Stamford Bridge to compensate for such a big loss of a player who is well known to have a big personality in the dressing room.
Chelsea are set to prioritise signing defenders this summer but the midfield is another area of concern, so could the Blues try and poach long-serving Man United player from the clutch of the some of the European elite who will be doing all they can to try and take Pogba away from the Premier League?
With all factors and possibilities taken into consideration, football.london takes a look at five potential ways Thomas Tuchel could line up his midfield four with Pogba at the heart of things for the serial winners.
Option 1 - the Kante Pogba reunion
The pair have a great relationship that has flourished over the years on the international stage for Les Bleus.
Winning a World Cup together in Russia showcased to the world that both complement each other's game well enough to a point where no midfield pair including the strong axis of Marcelo Brozovic, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic could get the better of the duo.
Therefore, it's no surprise to see Bent fascinate over this potential powerhouse reuniting on the club stage but Kante would have to stay fit if this was to work out in the long run.
His ever-growing injury portfolio has led some to believe that the Blues may well call it a day soon for the twice Premier League winning midfielder.
Potential midfield four in the 3-4-3 next season: Ben Chilwell, N'Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, Reece James.
Option 2 - the modern Kante and Pogba partnership
As already mentioned, Kante's recent injury woes has allowed fresh faces to be given a chance under Didier Deschamps and Blues target Aurelien Tchouameni has certainly taken advantage of this.
The £80million Monaco man played a big part alongside the current Man United man in winning his nation their first-ever Nations League earlier this season.
"Very very good", Pogba told Ouest-France back in September 2021. "He's not a boy, he's a man.
"It was a pleasure to play next to him. He brings a lot of energy. A lot of energy, extraordinary technical and physical quality.
"I hope to play plenty of games together and to always be on his side."
Unfortunately, this option isn't set to come to fruition with Tchouameni set to join Carlo Ancelotti's side this summer. Perhaps, Pogba could join him at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.
Potential midfield four in the 3-4-3 next season: Ben Chilwell, Aurelien Tchouameni, Paul Pogba, Reece James.
Option 3 - Mateo Kovacic inclusion
The Croatian has been a revelation for the Blues since completing his permanent move from Real Madrid at a difficult time for the club in the midst of the transfer ban situation.
Criticism of Kovacic have been that his attacking output has never really been there but this season he has worked on just this and his wonder striker in the 2-2 Liverpool draw was an example of just this.
Furthermore, a midfield axis of Kovacic and Pogba could be something that gets the Chelsea fanbase licking their lips at just how good this pairing could turn out to be.
Both have tenacity in abundance and with Kovacic better defensively than Pogba and with United's current 6 more able in the attacking sense, the pair complement each other well.
Potential midfield four in the 3-4-3 next season: Ben Chilwell, Mateo Kovacic, Paul Pogba, Reece James.
Option 4 - Expensive Premier League pairing
Although Pogba will not cost the west London outfit a transfer fee outright, the package including wages and signing on fees coupled with agent demands means that it will certainly be an expensive operation for the Blues to pull off regardless of the situation at hand with it being a 'free signing.'
Combine this with the mammoth £150million plus that Chelsea may have to pay if they are to acquire long-term target Rice and if both hypothetical situations were to be pulled off the by the current third placed Premier League side then they would certainly be in a good position to close the gap on Liverpool and Man City come the start of 2022/23.
In reality, with Rice not expected to sign this summer, this again is one of the most unlikely proposed options to happen for the Blues,
Potential midfield four in the 3-4-3 next season: Ben Chilwell, Declan Rice, Paul Pogba, Reece James.
Option 5 - Change in formation
It is only a rumour at this moment but a change of formation could be in store for Tuchel and co who would shake things up with another spell of pre-season under their belts.
The 3-4-3 has of course provided some great moments for the Blues over the years in relation to winning silverware but one downside of it is the attacking element of the game that usually is affected.
Having more creativity and adventure from a midfield three instead of two could help relieve the burden of goal scoring on Romelu Lukaku and co who just haven't fired enough this season when you make comparisons with Liverpool's and Man City's front three.
Therefore, a change to a more traditional 4-3-3 type of formation could help repair an inconsistent Chelsea attack that suffers from a lack of quality when provided chances but also the lack of quality service.
Here are a potential list of midfield trios next season that could help solve this issue from deep:
1. Mateo Kovacic, Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante
2. Jorginho, Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante.
3. Paul Pogba, Conor Gallagher, N'Golo Kante.
4. Paul Pogba, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic.
5. Paul Pogba, Conor Gallagher, Mateo Kovacic.
