Chelsea will feel that they have a point to prove next season, after surrendering the Premier League crown and failing to reach the ‘Top Four’ last term.

If the Blues want to push themselves back into the title picture, then you’ve got to believe that they have to act fast this summer and get rid of the increasing negativity that surrounds the club.

We still have no assurances on what the future holds for manager Antonio Conte. No one at the club has said whether or not the Italian is staying. Reports have been doing the rounds that the London side have touted his job to various bosses including Luis Enrique, Maurizio Sarri, Zinedine Zidane and Laurent Blanc.

A decision regarding the managerial position has to be sorted out. It seems Sarri is favourite but Napoli are playing hardball over a compensation package, claims suggest they want £7m for him.

The uncertainty about the gaffer’s hot-seat has an impact on what happens next with the squad.

Player recruitment over the next few months could be tricky.

Who do you bring in?

The top stars will usually want to know who they’ll be playing under and the incoming boss will want footballers that suit their plans and style. The fact Chelsea aren’t in the Champions League next season means that they are already working at a disadvantage because the best players want to be participating in the best club competition.

The fact is that after last season’s poor finish in the Premier League, by Chelsea’s standards, that new faces have to come in and improve them. Liverpool have already made two impressive signings, while Manchester United and Manchester City are making bids to strengthen their squad too. Arsenal have already replaced their long term manager and Tottenham Hostpur have tied their talented head coach down to a new deal.

In comparison to the rest, Chelsea are already looking weaker and struggling to keep up.

Then who do you keep? 

Certain players might have been out of favour under Conte and if he stays then you can only imagine that the likes of David Luiz, Alvaro Morata and Willian might believe that their futures lie elsewhere. But if he goes then it could be a clean slate for all of them.

Chelsea are usually a side that send plenty of youngsters out on loan, even that can be delayed just in case a new boss wants to keep any of them in his squad; Michy Batshuayi, Mason Mount, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Kurt Zouma would possibly fall into that category.

Not being in European football’s elite competition also leads to many questioning the futures of the key men that ply their trade at Stamford Bridge.

Speculation has suggested that Chelsea have withdrawn from contract talks with number one goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, if true then he’ll be sold this summer. That means a big position needs to be filled and quickly. Eden Hazard has been continually linked with a move away and maybe this is the summer when Real Madrid finally snap him up.

Then you have to look at the future of the owner.

Roman Abramovich has been refused entry to the UK recently and he has decided to withdraw his application to extend his visa. This issue has seen the club put plans for a new stadium on hold and might delay various other club decisions. Reports also suggest that the Russian may also look at selling the club.

Chelsea had a slow and poor summer last year and it cost them a lot.

They can’t allow the sideshows to slow up their preseason this time around. Huge decisions need to be made and they need to happen sooner rather than later.

Posted on June 2nd, 2018 by scott
Filed under: Article