Chelsea are quickly approaching one of the club's most important transfer windows in the club's history. Though the west London club are going through a takeover saga, Thomas Tuchel will be keen to bolster his armoury in the summer.
So we, football.london, delved into what the Blues' dream 25-man squad would look like come the start of next season. Whether it be Declan Rice, Romelu Lukuku or Callum Hudson-Odoi, tough decisions will have to be made.
Goalkeepers; Edouard Mendy, Nathan Baxter, Marcus Bettinelli
Edouard Mendy has been central to the majority of Chelsea's success since he arrived from Rennes in 2020 for a shrewd £22m. The 30-year-old shot-stopper has grown into one of the world's leading goalkeepers, and his place in Thomas Tuchel's 25-man squad goes without saying.
football.london understand that Juventus are keeping tabs on Kepa Arrizabalaga with regard to a loan move, while Maurizio Sarri remains open to the idea of reuniting with the goalkeeper at Lazio. There is also background interest from Barcelona, but nothing is truly expected to come from that unless a sizeable bid is received for their first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
READ MORE: Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: Takeover latest, Jose Mourinho verdict, Lautaro Martinez twist
With that in mind, Chelsea should look to offload the Spaniard and bring in loanee Nathan Baxter as backup to Mendy. In an interview with The League of 72 on Youtube, Baxter said that he's ready for a chance in the first-team.
The 23-year-old said: "From my point of view, I believe I’m good enough to play for Chelsea and that’s still my goal. But if the decision is taken that it’s not going to be the route forward for me, then the [Hull] fans can tell how much I enjoy playing for this football club.
"But from my point of view, it’s all about playing games. If I’ve got to take a move elsewhere, whether on loan or permanent, my priority is going to be where I’m going to play every week.”
Defenders; Reece James, Dujon Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Ian Maatsen, Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Jules Kounde, Josko Gvardiol, Ethan Ampadu
Much of Chelsea's backline speaks for itself ahead of next season. With Dujon Sterling, Ian Maatsen, Ethan Ampadu and Levi Colwill returning from loan in the summer, the quartet can offer Tuchel good balance across various roles.
The west Londoners could also do with two statement signings to provide cover for Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen. Kounde and Gvardiol, both of whom Chelsea have been heavily linked with lately, would bolster Tuchel's options while also contributing towards a long-term project costing £179m, according to CIES Football Observatory.
Midfielders; Declan Rice, Aurelien Tchouameni, Mateo Kovacic, N'Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Conor Gallagher
In an ideal world, the new Chelsea owners bring in both Rice and Tchouameni. However, with a combined value of £119m and many other factors out of the Blues' control, it seems unlikely. Conor Gallagher warrants a place in Tuchel's side, as does Loftus-Cheek, who has impressed this season.
Jorginho faces an increasingly uncertain future at Stamford Bridge, with Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Juventus all interested, according to reports. Meanwhile, Saul Niguez returns to Atletico Madrid and Ross Barkley is gifted an escape route.
Forwards; Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Armando Broja, Ousmane Dembele
Holding onto Havertz, Mount and Ziyech will be pivotal for Tuchel next season. With Timo Werner, Romelu Lukaku and Christian Pulisic linked with summer exits, Chelsea should be inclined to spend shrewdly.
Including Broja in the 25-man squad will be crucial. And, Dembele, who has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, would be a great acquisition via a free transfer.
