There are just 10 days to the start of the Premier League season and plenty of work for Chelsea to still complete ahead of their trip to Goodison Park. The club's pre-season tour of the USA may be over but it only reinforced how much work is still to be done.
The Blues suffered defeats to Arsenal and Charlotte FC following their opening win against Club America and while each friendly was used to ensure the squad got plenty of playing time, it was difficult not to see that Thomas Tuchel's side were not yet up to speed against the Gunners. Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly both saw their debuts on the trip but were still finding their feet in a new environment.
Another warm-up match awaits against Udinese on Friday evening, and plenty of time on the training pitches at Cobham as Tuchel seeks to whip his squad in to shape for the opening day clash against Everton. Chelsea's end of season malaise saw them fall one-nil to a Richarlison goal in May and they will hope to set things right on this occasion.
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With all that said, football.london takes a look at Chelsea's to-do list ahead of the new season.
Signing a central defender
Chelsea may have sealed a £33 million deal for Koulibaly, who wasted little time before impressing in his opening cameo, but it will come as little surprise that Blues still want another to add to their ranks. Tuchel currently has the Senegal international, Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill and Ethan Ampadu among his first team ranks to select in his favoured back three, with the option to use Reece James where necessary.
However, following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, it's been suggested Chelsea wanted to land three defenders during this window. To that extent, landing another before the start of the season would appear important.
The Blues have already missed out on Matthijs de Ligt, Nathan Ake and now, seemingly, Jules Kounde in a frustrating few weeks. football.london understands that the club are now considering a move for Wesley Fofana, while the likes of Presnel Kimpembe, Josko Gvardiol and Milan Skriniar remain options. However, none will be easy to land. Fofana for example only signed a contract extension earlier this year and as a result has a deal at Leicester until 2027. The Foxes are unlikely to even entertain a deal without a bid of £70 million or more for the 21-year-old.
Cut down the squad
Chelsea's squad reached 30 while out in the United States, and that is not even including the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and N'Golo Kante who had to remain at Cobham. The tour saw Harvey Vale and Billy Gilmour depart to join up with the development squad instead in a bid for playing time, while Chelsea's defeat to Arsenal saw Tuchel lament the 'mental commitment that we lacked because we have a lot of players who are thinking about leaving and looking at their options'.
A lack of mental commitment cannot be afforded during the cut and thrust of the Premier League. Speaking of his attack while in the US, the German coach noted the importance for his attackers to have roles.
He said: "At the moment we have a lot of offensive players and we need to try to find spaces and positions and a role, because everyone needs a role to feel confident and that the players can be the best versions of themselves."
It is sentiment that can be applied to much of the squad. The Blues currently have Kenedy, Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri in support of Ben Chilwell, and the likes of Michy Batshuayi and Ross Barkley who appear unlikely to trouble first team plans. Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech have been closely linked to moves away from the club in addition to Alonso and Azpilicueta.
Incoming transfers are also likely to impact futures, with Colwill, Ampadu and Broja all needing to know how substantial a role they are likely to receive. Decisions across the board must be made for players to feel settled. Completing these before the start of the season will be difficult but likely plans must be formed to ensure the commitment Tuchel wants.
Furthermore, Chelsea currently have eight players out on loan. It's not unusual for that figure to exceed 20. Lots to do.
Get up to speed
While the transfer market often only brings uncertainty, Chelsea's defeat to Arsenal firmly cemented the fact that the Blues were not yet at the same level as their opponents. The west London side had played fewer friendlies in the build up to the match against Mikel Arteta's side but have just one remaining against Udinese too.
Tuchel acknowledged that it was up in the air whether Chelsea would be prepared for their first game. He said: "I can not guarantee. I saw today a team in Arsenal who are mentally committed to an idea of playing, a level of exhaustion, a level of physical commitment that we could not match."
That gap has to be closed, and Chelsea returned to training on Tuesday, with Loftus-Cheek, Kante and Broja all returning to the fold. "On Tuesday we need to present solutions, we need to present actions. Me and the coaching staff, together with the team, need to step up and find a way through this because it hurts at the moment," said Tuchel.
There is not much time, but it is a priority. The schedule leaves little time for Chelsea to find their feet this season. Five Premier League matches await in August with Tottenham, Leeds, Leicester and Southampton following the match against Everton.
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