Graham Potter will be keen to put his own stamp on the Chelsea squad as quickly as he can. The Englishman replaced Thomas Tuchel at the helm three weeks ago and has inherited the squad the German put together.
After backing his manager to the tune of more than £250million, Todd Boehly parted company with Tuchel after the transfer window closed and replaced him with Potter. Potter will have to wait until January at the earliest to bring in any new signings and will more than likely use next summer's transfer window to make the changes he wants to make.
Chelsea could lose two midfielders to free transfers in the summer, with both N'Golo Kante and Jorginho out of contract. But they could replace them with free transfers too to save Boehly some money. And football.london understands that early discussions have already been held by the ownership group over potential midfield targets for next summer. There's an understanding amongst staff that a succession plan is required – no matter what happens next with the duo.
Here we take a look at the freebies the Blues could bring in...
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Marco Asensio
Asensio's agent Jorge Mendes is said to be testing the waters for potential suitors as he searches for a January move away for his client. London rivals Arsenal have long been linked with a move for the Spaniard's signature but have so far failed to act on their reported interest.
As someone who's a proven success at the top level, it's a deal that makes sense on paper, but his injury record is a real worry.
Luka Modric
Modric's 10-year spell with Real Madrid is set to come to an end if he doesn't put pen to paper before the end of the season. Chelsea have put their faith in experience before and if the 37-year-old's not thinking about retirement, then surely it's a move worth considering, especially with the progressive style they'll look to play under Potter.
A switch will also give Modric the chance to reunite with Mateo Kovacic, whom of course he's played with at Madrid and for his native Croatia.
Toni Kroos
Modric's long-term partner Kroos is also available as things stand. For reasons similar to those mentioned above, Kroos is someone who will bring a wealth of experience to Chelsea's midfield. As a deep-lying playmaker, he has every tool in the box necessary to be successful in the Premier League. Money shouldn't be an issue, so again, it's a situation worth monitoring.
Youri Tielemans
The Belgian was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal and Manchester United in the summer transfer window, however, both opted against making an official bid for his services. The 25-year-old is still a reported target for both clubs, but Chelsea could make things interesting if they wish to.
He has since broken his silence on the ongoing transfer saga, saying: "I'm not going to speak too much about my contract situation at the moment. I didn't leave Leicester in the summer as I always said the project had to be the right one.
“Just because things are getting worse now at Leicester doesn't mean I should regret [staying]."
Other possibilities
Arsenal also made a late move for Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz in the final hours of the summer window, but the Midlands club strangely wouldn't budge on a £25million fee despite the Brazilian's apparent desire to leave. With an established Brazilian contingent already at the Emirates, signing Luiz - who has Premier League experience too - on a free transfer seems like a no-brainer for the Gunners if it's indeed possible, but with Chelsea's financial superiority, they could persuade him to make the switch to west London rather than north.
Another option is Juventus' Adrien Rabiot who has knowingly been out of favour in Turin for some time. The 27-year-old is still a top player by all accounts, but getting the best out of him may be a difficult task for Potter and his coaching staff.
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