Chelsea are currently seeking to add four more transfers before the window closes, according to Simon Johnson of the Athletic. They already have two solid additions in Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly, but judging from their pre-season so far, it is not enough for Thomas Tuchel to execute his plans.
The Chelsea boss has bounced between moods. What started off as a content transfer window has now turned into a flush of frustration for Tuchel. He has complained about players whose hearts are just not set on the club and are looking for a move and has also criticised the personnel in the attack. Todd Boehly will need to get down to the nitty gritty and help the manager in his rebuild challenge if he is to maintain success.
Four more players are on the cards for Chelsea - whilst it is unclear who they will ultimately sign in the upcoming weeks, four positions need addressing.
READ MORE: Every word Thomas Tuchel said on Chelsea attack, Arsenal, Kounde, Koulibaly, transfer business
Striker
It is glaringly obvious that Chelsea are in desperate need of another attacker. At the start of the transfer window, the departure of Romelu Lukaku did not feel like a loss for the Blues. If anything, it felt like a weight being lifted from both parties who simply couldn't work well together. Now it could turn out to be one of Chelsea's biggest mistakes.
Timo Werner is reportedly ready to make his Chelsea exit also. The Germany international has not been happy with his game time and feels he should be playing more. It's only fair for Werner to want more minutes as the World Cup is around the corner. However, this leaves Chelsea in a sticky predicament.
The first place that the Blues must address is the forward. Kai Havertz and Sterling can occupy that number 9 role, but they cannot depend on them for 20+ goals a season. Armando Broja is another option, but the latest news suggests he could be out the door with Werner before the window closes.
Central defender
Barcelona have become the villain in Tuchel's superhero movie. They are the Thanos to Tuchel's avengers. With the snap of a finger, they've stolen some of Chelsea's transfer targets and are using them to become one of the best teams in Europe. Jules Kounde has become the latest infinity stone that Barcelona's Xavi is on the hunt for. Chelsea had reportedly agreed on personal terms with the player and produced an offer to Sevilla that the Catalans cannot match - however the Frenchman is leaning towards staying in Spain.
Cesar Azpilicueta and Trevoh Chalobah are the only right-sided centre-backs left in the squad. Chalobah has comfortably completed his rookie season with the Chelsea first team in flying colours, but Azpilicueta was supposed to graduate and leave London this summer. Barcelona wants the Spaniard to complete their team, but it seems as though negotiations have ceased for the time being.
If Chelsea are to keep their back three regime, they simply do not have enough manpower to do so. Thiago Silva is not likely to play every single Chelsea match, so the Blues will need the perfect alternative for that central defender role. Levi Colwill remains a Chelsea player and is still an option for Tuchel, but one more player is needed.
The Blues should consider their contingency plan before it's too late.
Two wing-backs
Reece James and Ben Chilwell built the perfect partnership, one on the left and one on the right. They were a match made in heaven occupying the bylines. They are the perfect fit for Tuchel's squad but do not have adequate cover. Kenedy and Marcos Alonso have been used as alternatives during the pre-season. Kenedy could have a stake in the claim for right-wing-back cover, but Alonso is still viewed as a fan unfavourable. The 31-year-old is also tipped for a move to Barcelona, but if Chelsea cannot find his replacement, he may see out his contract with the Blues, which expires next season.
The wing-backs are crucial to Tuchel's system. We have seen Chelsea collapse without the right personnel occupying this position, and it could well happen again if either James or Chilwell are to become injured at any point during the season. The pair need a competitive alternative to keep them playing at the highest level possible, also for the benefit of the team to avoid such a dip in performance that was witnessed last season.
READ NEXT:
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