It’s exciting times once again for Chelsea fans after enduring a difficult period in the transfer market last term. The Blues lost star forward Eden Hazard to Real Madrid and were slammed with a two-window transfer ban by FIFA, which prevented them from improving their squad, let alone replacing Hazard.
The ban was reduced by CAS ahead of the January transfer window, but Chelsea still couldn’t lure any of their targets to Stamford Bridge.
But ahead of the 2020/21 season, they have gone all-out in the transfer market and so far have signed Hakim Ziyech (£37m), Timo Werner (£47m), Malang Sarr (Free transfer), Ben Chilwell (£50m), Thiago Silva (Free transfer), and have agreed a £72 million deal for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder, Kai Havertz.
On the other hand, the likes of Willian and Pedro have departed, with more exits (mostly loans) expected.
With the recent additions and departures in the Chelsea squad, TOP SOCCER BLOG looks at how the Blues are expected to lineup next season.
GOALKEEPER
Due to KEPA ARRIZABALAGA‘s struggles last season (Chelsea conceded 54 goals in the Premier League, the worst among the top 10 teams), he was expected to be sold, but with Chelsea refusing to meet the asking price demanded for their goalkeeping targets and unable to move Kepa on due to his huge fees and wages, the club’s Technical and performance advisor, Petr Cech, recently assured him of his place in the team.
Nevertheless, the club are trying to bring in EDOUARD MENDY from Rennes to provide competition for both Kepa and the 39-year-old Willy Caballero between the sticks.
DEFENCE
Chelsea struggled defensively last season —conceding 54 goals in the league alone. Frank Lampard is expected to beef up the defence ahead of the new season and has been backed in the market by the board with the signing of former PSG captain THIAGO SILVA, on a free transfer. MALANG SARR was also signed from Nice but is expected to be loaned out to garner more experience. ANTONIO RUDIGER is expected to partner the highly experienced Silva in central defence while the likes of ANDREAS CHRISTENSEN, FIKAYO TOMORI, and KURT ZOUMA will provide competition at the centre-back position.
In the left-back position, BEN CHILWELL will slot in straight into the starting lineup after his huge transfer from Leicester City. He will be provided a competition by MARCOS ALONSO while EMERSON has been informed to look for a new club.
CESAR AZPILICUETA is expected to be the favorite at right-back ahead of REECE JAMES, but the impressive youngster will surely give Azpilicueta a run for his money.
MIDFIELD
NGOLO KANTE will sit at the base of the midfield, shielding the defence, with both MASON MOUNT and KAI HAVERTZ playing ahead of the Frenchman. A starting place in the middle of the park won’t be a straightforward one for the aforementioned players, though, as the likes of MATTEO KOVACIC, ROSS BARKLEY, RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK, JORGINHO, and BILLY GILMOUR are also vying for a place in the starting lineup.
ATTACK
With the departure of Willian and Pedro, HAKIM ZIYECH will slot in at the right side of the attack while CHRISTIAN PULISIC will keep his place on the other side. Both will be provided competition by CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI. Timo Werner, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek can also all be deployed on the wings due to their versatility.
Spearheading the Blues’ attack next season will be TIMO WERNER who was signed from RB Leipzig —where he scored an impressive 34 goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions last season. TAMMY ABRAHAM (who scored 18 goals in all competitions last season) and OLIVIER GIROUD will keep Werner on his toes while MICHY BATSHUAYI is expected to be moved on.
Lampard’s favourite formation is 4-2-3-1, which he used mostly last season but altered the formation various times in accordance to teams, situations, and tactics. Chelsea are expected to lineup in that formation with their new squad. So the team will look as follows:
WRITTEN BY MUFTAUDEEN ABDULLAHI ISHOLA
