While plans have not always felt coherent at Chelsea, there has been some indication that this summer, one may be in place. Perhaps the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino as a figurehead has inspired more confidence since confirmation he would take charge of the Blues but as June ticked, it was difficult not to be impressed with the pace of the club's work.
While such an overhaul would clearly come with challenges, Chelsea have worked dilligently to trim the number of their squad. Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have all been sold while Cesar Azpilicueta and N'Golo Kanté have both departed.
The west London side have also added Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku to their ranks, with both set to join training ahead of Chelsea's trips to the United States, in addition to some talented youth products. The transfer of Nkunku and others were months in the making so it is little wonder that the Blues were able to move at pace and with structure with the likes of Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley having settled into their roles.
Indeed, the transition of Chelsea's squad this summer will have dominated their thinking and was already on their minds when meeting with Pochettino to discuss the prospect of the former Spurs boss taking over at Stamford Bridge. The influence of Chelsea's new head coach only set to be more profoundly felt now he is in position.
Pochettino explained: ”Laurence, Paul and the owners presented the strategy plan for the squad, they asked me to start on July 1 and I agreed also. They started to work, the club, I didn’t, the club started to work and I think did a very good job. I am happy to work in this way with the plan they created, and of course, from now on July 1, I am going to be more involved. I am going to try to judge the situation and work more closely with Paul and Laurence for the best situation.”
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The Blues boss did not want to consider the challenges of coaching Chelsea in his first press conference, but nevertheless there was a consistent message in it, and the club media work he did earlier last week - that the Blues do plan to make additions. That may not come as a surprise given speculation surrounding the club, or the lack of central midfielders currently in the squad, but it feels significant that Pochettino is willing to acknowledge the fact.
He added: ”For me, it is clear, it is most important to finish the squad, to have a very balanced squad. I think the club, in the plan was to reduce the number of players. That for me was the most important, to find the right profiles, the players we are going to add and of course, to try to create a group dynamic first in the training session and ground and try to work really well.”
The latter part of that comment suggests there is a clear benefit to any business getting completed quickly and pertinently signals a degree of pressure to land Moises Caicedo. Discussions over a deal for the Ecuador international have been longstanding, but with Brighton driving a hard bargain once again.
There is just over a week to complete any deals in time for the club's first friendly against Wrexham on July 19. It appears unlikely Caicedo would be available for such a fixture even in the best scenario at this moment, but with preparations underway, Chelsea will come to a point whether they are better moving on or meeting the Seagulls' demands.
The deadline of the pre-season tour will see a number of decisions made on Chelsea's squad, with Pochettino planning to house a smaller group than what Chelsea ended the last season with. With the squad's international contingent returning in advance of this moment, Pochettino plans talks with each player upon their arrival at Cobham, even Romelu Lukaku. Soon, we will find out who has the possibility of a future at the club, and incoming business could dictate that to an extent.
