The transfer window is set to open in three days and Thomas Tuchel is preparing for a rebuild at Chelsea. The German coach has emphasised it is not simply about improving the squad, given the disruption that has occurred, to try and catch the Premier League's elite.
The Blues have a new ownership group led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital who have the task of financing the Blues' ambitions this summer. Marina Granovskaia is said to have £200million to work with, though that figure may take into account player sales, and compared to the summer of 2021, Stamford Bridge could be busy with players moving in both directions.
Before the squad departed for their international endeavours and breaks, Chelsea had been unable to do any significant work in the transfer market due to the limitations of their special licence provided by the government in the aftermath of Roman Abramovich's sanctions. While the first team had been introduced to Boehly, the Blues have clearly been left with a truncated timed period to resolve any contract issues and to get transfer negotiations underway.
READ MORE: Chelsea face difficult choice on forgotten ace who could be Thomas Tuchel's next Trevoh Chalobah
On the final day of the season, Tuchel said: "It's a bit strange. We will have a dinner together later and you don't really know what's going to happen; if we are able to sell, do we want to sell, do we have a chance to get alternatives. So the situation is not only for us as those responsible for the rebuild and responsible for the transfers, but also for the players it's a strange situation. And you could feel it.
"Over a long, long period of time we managed to keep the focus and put it aside, but the longer it went after the international break, it had an impact on us, and still does. So let's see, when, finally, we will have the chance to act and make up, because the disadvantage in terms of timing for the rebuild is big. We have to be fast and smart."
The Blues' requirement for such an extensive rebuild has partly been engineered by the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen. Even before the sanctions, uncertainty around the futures of the defensive duo was a constant presence in press conferences and beyond. The deals never looked like being complete before the season started and Chelsea appeared on the backfoot as interest grew from elsewhere. The club had little chance to cash-in on the players as they hoped to extend their deals and allowing their contracts to run-down provided more power to the defenders to dictate their future.
Heading into another transfer window, Chelsea face the situation once again with a number of players. Tuchel's newly found defensive issues perhaps distract from the refresh the midfield has been in need of over the last 12 months but Jorginho and N'Golo entering the final years of their deal is a firm reminder that business in one direction or another must be completed.
The Ballon D'or 2021 contenders are joined by six other players whose deals are set to expire in 2023, albeit the possibility of earning a fee and how desperate Chelsea are to keep each diverges substantially. Marcos Alonso (£12.8million - figures as per CIES), Cesar Azpilicueta (£12.8million), Ross Barkley (£6million), Marcus Bettinelli (£1.7million), Billy Gilmour (£6million), Jorginho (£25.6million), N'Golo Kante (£17.1million) and Thiago Silva (£8.5million) will all soon enter the final year of their deals. The current valuation of that group totals £90.5million, and with no agreements in place at the moment, Chelsea risk seeing little of that in return.
