The answer to Chelsea's midfield issues may well currently be at the World Cup. With both Jorginho and N'Golo Kante remaining in England over the winter - due to injury and Italian failure to qualify - there is scope to scout out new options in Qatar.
As well as Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, both of whom are in the England camp, and despite the early exit of Christopher Nkunku with his own knock, Todd Boehly and his newly assembled recruitment team will still have plenty to look out for. The Blues promise to be one of the busiest teams in 2023 and could kickstart their activities as soon as January.
With Graham Potter's men facing a tough post-World Cup schedule there is a challenge to sort out the immediate short term and also secure a safer passage towards stability in the future. Part of that comes through improving the midfield, a position that hasn't been strengthened with a permanent deal since 2018.
