Express Sport takes a look at what would help Chelsea to end their dire campaign on a positive note as their search for a new permanent manager continues.
Chelsea have endured a torrid time of things in the Premier League so far this season but managed to give their fans something to cheer about by claiming their first victory of Frank Lampard’s temporary spell in charge on Saturday. The Blues made light work of Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium thanks to a much-improved showing after several weeks without a win, although they are still only playing for pride as they continue to languish in the bottom half of the table.
Todd Boehly’s first season as co-owner of Chelsea has undoubtedly been a failure given their inability to challenge for a top-four finish in the Premier League, while the west Londoners will also end the campaign without a single major trophy after crashing out of the Champions League and both domestic cup competitions. The American billionaire will be hoping for things to get better at the next time of asking, though, after spending over £600million on transfer fees alone since taking over from Roman Abramovich last year.
The Blues remain on the hunt for a permanent first-team manager after sacking Graham Potter in early April, with the likes of Mauricio Pochettino and Vincent Kompany having been linked with the vacancy over the last few weeks. There is also an expectation that Chelsea will continue their spending spree by targeting a number of high-profile signings in the summer as they look to make a fresh start under the guidance of a new head coach next season.
Express Sport takes a look at what the dream scenario could look like for Chelsea if they manage to get everything right over the coming months…
Express Sport takes a look at the dream scenario for Chelsea ahead of next season
Express Sport takes a look at the dream scenario for Chelsea ahead of next season (Image: GETTY)
Pochettino takes charge
Former Tottenham boss Pochettino is widely believed to be the favourite to replace Lampard at Stamford Bridge next season, with the 51-year-old having already held productive talks with those in charge of Chelsea’s recruitment process. The Argentine coach, who has been out of work since leaving PSG last summer, is also thought to be the most popular choice in the Blues dressing room after the club’s other target, Julian Nagelsmann, withdrew from discussions earlier this month.
His arrival would likely bring about a handful of changes at Chelsea, with Pochettino likely to tweak their playing style in order to implement a high-octane attacking philosophy that has been consistently overlooked by the club’s last few managers. He would also be expected to place a greater emphasis on bringing through the club’s young players than some of his predecessors, given his success in helping the likes of Dele Alli and Harry Kane to thrive during his time at Tottenham.
Osimhen joins the Blues
Chelsea are said to have identified free-scoring Napoli forward Victor Osimhen as one of their priority targets for the upcoming summer transfer window, with the Blues seemingly on the hunt for a new first-choice striker to lead the line for them next season. Osimhen is almost certain to be in high demand when the bidding opens, though, given the interest that is reportedly held by Manchester United as Erik ten Hag looks to add some extra firepower to his squad over the coming months.
It seems clear that whichever club ends up signing Osimhen will be getting one of the best players in the world on current form, with Napoli facing a battle to retain his services for another year amid the growing speculation over his future in Italy. Chelsea will be hoping that their aggressive recruitment strategy will stand them in good stead to land the 24-year-old, although only time will tell how the situation will play out between now and the start of the new campaign.
The Blues could benefit from resolving their goalkeeper situation when the transfer window opens
The Blues could benefit from resolving their goalkeeper situation when the transfer window opens (Image: GETTY)
Smart player sales
One of the first tasks facing Chelsea’s new manager will be to trim their bloated first-team squad, with some of their high-profile stars having failed to pull their weight for the Blues over the course of this season. It can be difficult to keep players happy when there are too many big names in the dressing room and it will be crucial for the club’s next head coach to instil a close-knit dynamic from the word go in order to stand the best chance of improving on this season’s lacklustre efforts.
It would, therefore, make sense for Chelsea to find new clubs for the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Hakim Ziyech and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang when the transfer window opens, while Mason Mount has also been linked with a move elsewhere and could reportedly leave Stamford Bridge in the not-too-distant future. However, it could be difficult for Chelsea to get enough of their highest earners off the books if the Blues are too greedy in their transfer fee demands, with many of their recent signings having been tied down to mammoth seven- or eight-year contracts on extremely high wages.
New goalkeeper signs
One of the first tasks facing Chelsea’s new manager will be to trim their bloated first-team squad, with some of their high-profile stars having failed to pull their weight for the Blues over the course of this season. It can be difficult to keep players happy when there are too many big names in the dressing room and it will be crucial for the club’s next head coach to instil a close-knit dynamic from the word go in order to stand the best chance of improving on this season’s lacklustre efforts.
It would, therefore, make sense for Chelsea to find new clubs for the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Hakim Ziyech and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang when the transfer window opens, while Mason Mount has also been linked with a move elsewhere and could reportedly leave Stamford Bridge in the not-too-distant future. However, it could be difficult for Chelsea to get enough of their highest earners off the books if the Blues are too greedy in their transfer fee demands, with many of their recent signings having been tied down to mammoth seven- or eight-year contracts on extremely high wages.
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