Predicting how Chelsea could line up on the opening day of next season is proving just as difficult as it is to predict who will become the next Chelsea owners.
With just under two months to go until the 2021/22 season reaches its conclusion, Chelsea are gearing up for a rather productive end to the season on and off the pitch. On the field, Thomas Tuchel's side remain in strong contention to the Champions League and FA Cup, whilst a top four position still needs to be secured in the back end of the Premier League season to ensure European football next season.
It's a different story off the pitch, though. Chelsea have been looking for new owners now for the last few weeks after Roman Abramovich was sanctioned due to his links to Russia's Vladimir Putin - something he strongly denies. Consequently, the ownership race had been dominating a large proportion of the agenda at this current moment and the need for the new structure to act fast upon their arrival to the special government license is imperative if Chelsea are to have a productive summer.
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Todd Boehly's consortium and Sir Martin Broughton's Group are the reported two frontrunners with the Ricketts Family and Atalanta owner Stephen Pagliuca both in the ownership race. Despite initial optimism suggesting that a deal could be reached before the Brentford game that follows the international break, the next phase reportedly has a deadline of the end of April - meaning we're a little way off yet. Raine have set out criteria for what each party needs to do, so all parties will be hard at work over the coming weeks.
Whilst all the off field events haven't filtered onto the playing side of things, the Blues are trying to find an immediate solution to their transfer restrictions. If the transfer ban was removed once the license is altered by the new ownership group, Tuchel has at least four to five areas in which new additions can make a difference immediately to the starting line-up. Whether that is via external or internal means to add more quality and depth to a squad who aim to bridge the gap to Liverpool and Man City at the summit of the table remains to be seen.
The first area may have to be in the goalkeeping department, with Kepa Arrizabalaga expected to seek more first team opportunities elsewhere. The Blues may have to either fork out pennies to sign an experienced back up to Edouard Mendy or even perhaps promote a loanee goalkeeper like Jamie Cumming, who has fared well at MK Dons, to the first team.
Next, the defence is an area of massive concern for the summer with all of Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen set to leave on free transfers in the summer, as things stand. Marcos Alonso is also a potential exile after his recent La Liga admission.
Jules Kounde has been someone on the agenda for a long while now and if the club is able sign players, he looks likely to be one of the first names to finally get his dream move after heartbreak last summer. The likes of Levi Colwill and Dujon Sterling could come back from their loan spells to help with covering the departures. Alternatively, a young defender like a Ronald Araujo could be signed alongside Kounde to complete the defensive re-shuffle that is expected to take place at the end of 2021/22.
Moving further up the field and one of Declan Rice or Aurelien Tchouameni would need to be signed if Chelsea want to make the leap up to Man City's and Liverpool's level. With the West Ham man priced at more than £150million, the Monaco man is more attainable to a side who may need to be smarter with their signings after Abramovich leaves.
Maybe the likes of Jorginho could call it a day and heads back to Italy for his swansong after a few good seasons in England. Alongside one external midfield acquisition, one internal one could be made with Conor Gallagher expected to be given a chance after his impressive season in the red and blue of Crystal Palace. Ruben Loftus-Cheek could potentially end his long association with Chelsea for a new challenge. If that was to happen, then someone like a Billy Gilmour could be his internal replacement.
In the attacking line, two purchases could be made with club legend Eden Hazard reportedly wanting to move back after a nightmare Real Madrid spell. His know-how and experience will be something relished by Tuchel.
A new winger like a Raphinha or Antony from Ajax could be signed to try and add a more fear factor from an attack that has lacked a ruthless streak. For this to happen, Chelsea may have to end the Timo Werner experiment, with the German star having an indifferent time in SW6. Could Callum Hudson-Odoi also be on his way out after struggling to really make his mark this term and in a season that has been overshadowed by various injury woes?
In the striking position, Kai Havertz will likely be the top man based on form, and with Romelu Lukaku's future uncertain, Armando Broja could be given a rare chance next season to play a big role in the team. With all taking into consideration, football.london takes a look at what could be the best line-up initially for the opening day of next season.
Araujo and Kounde would come straight in due to a likely exodus from the backline. In midfield, the Kante-Kovacic axis would be the best to start off with. Tchouameni is definitely good enough to start, but Tuchel would not want to rush him in as he will need time to adapt to the English top flight. Jurgen Klopp's management of Fabinho is an example of how patience can pay off hugely.
Further up the pitch, Raphinha would need to have the guarantees of being able to start over Ziyech if he was to snub strong Barcelona interest to switch Premier League allegiances in the summer. Hazard would be a player to make the impact of the bench in a Blues homecoming, with his ever-worsening injury portfolio which has him a doubt for the upcoming Champions League quarter-final between Real Madrid and Chelsea.
Chelsea's starting line-up for the opening day of 2022/23 (3-4-3): Edouard Mendy; Ronald Araujo, Thiago Silva, Jules Kounde: Reece James, Mateo Kovacic, N'Golo Kante, Ben Chilwell; Mason Mount, Raphinha, Kai Havertz.
Chelsea's bench initially could consist of a selection of: Marcus Bettinelli, Aurelien Tchouameni, Trevoh Chalobah, Romelu Lukaku, Hakim Ziyech, Marcos Alonso, Malang Sarr, Christian Pulisic, Eden Hazard, Levi Colwill, Conor Gallagher, Armando Broja, Jamie Cumming, Harvey Vale.
