If finding cover for defensive departures, experimenting with striker options, sorting out the shape of a midfield and judging returning loan players wasn't enough, Thomas Tuchel can add another positional problem to his ever growing list.
The Blues have shortcomings throughout their squad and are still expected to lose further senior players this summer as Todd Boehly oversees a squad transformation in the blink of an eye. As well as already watching Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen leave for free, the Blues are preparing to see club captain Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso make decisive moves for their future in the coming weeks.
football.london understands that deals for Manchester City pair Nathan Ake and Raheem Sterling could both be completed soon, with the latter agreeing personal terms with the London club. This doesn't solve all of Chelsea's issues though, as they are still desperately attempting to make progress with key defensive targets, Jules Kounde, Matthijs de Ligt, and Presnel Kimpembe, along with a possibly sensational swoop for Manchester United target Frenkie de Jong.
READ MORE: Why Thomas Tuchel's biggest Chelsea addition for next season is already at Cobham
Just as pressing an issue comes a lot closer to home for Tuchel though. With the winter World Cup in Qatar now just three months away, players are having to make predetermined decisions on their futures, with international spots up for grabs.
Coming into this list at Chelsea includes Azpilicueta and Alonso, who both have realistic hopes of making Luis Enrique's squad, and Conor Gallagher. The English midfielder will be looking to force a late entry into the mind of Gareth Southgate after making his debut for the Three Lions earlier this season.
Elsewhere at Chelsea, Kepa Arrizabalaga has an international future to play for. The Spaniard hasn't played for his country since October 2020, and has firmly lost out on the no.1 shirt to David De Gea and Unai Simon, as they battle for the starting spot.
Kepa had become the favoured choice after he joined the Blues in 2018, but a poor second season at Stamford Bridge has seen his career stumble since then. Meanwhile, back in domestic action he also lost the faith of Frank Lampard and was relegated to Chelsea's backup keeper when Edouard Mendy joined.
Since Mendy's arrival, Kepa has played just one match for his country and wasn't taken to the European Championships last summer. However, it's not unrealistic that he could force his way into the squad for the World Cup, were he to start the season well.
For that to happen, he really needs to find a new team. Mendy is now an established Champions League winning keeper and limited Kepa to just 15 appearances in all competitions last season. Although Chelsea's second most expensive signing ever has had an upturn in fortunes under Tuchel, regaining his form to become a valuable reserve choice, with De Gea and Simon both firm favourites with their clubs, Kepa needs to look elsewhere for gametime.
It is believed that Maurizio Sarri, who bought Kepa to the club in 2018, has been interested in signing his former player, but the enormous £155k a week wages make any deal, even temporary, tough to sanction for Lazio. Chelsea are also unlikely to want to make a big loss on Kepa, even though hope of him ever living up to the £72m paid have gone.
This in turn creates an issue for Tuchel. The manager has no business keeping an unhappy player at the club, though Kepa is not a trouble maker at Cobham, it is understandable for him to prefer a move away for his career. The Spaniard is comfortably the second best goalkeeper at the club though, and even if he were to leave, would leave Marcus Bettinelli as the only other senior goalkeeper.
Bettinelli was signed for free last summer and made one appearance for Chelsea. There were thoughts within the club to promote Nathan Baxter from his loan at Hull into a backup spot, but he completed a deal to keep him at the MKM Stadium for next season, with an option of being signed permanently.
The only other feasible option could be to promote former academy graduate Jamie Cumming into the first team. The 22-year-old spent last season at MK Dons and is highly rated from within the club. Cumming has never played a domestic league match above League One level though. Not only would promotion at Chelsea see his senior development halted, playing second fiddle to Mendy, but it would ask a lot of him when called upon.
With larger issues, including a lack of first team options and depth, in some areas of the pitch, Kepa's future isn't at the front of Tuchel's mind, though a good pre-season wouldn't do his future prospects any harm in attracting potential suitors. Kepa knows that he is going into the 2022/23 campaign as Chelsea's number two, which isn't a bad place to be, especially with trust being placed on him in cup competitions.
The magnitude of the World Cup, no matter how freakish the timing of the event, isn't going to sway Tuchel's choices when it comes to his players, this much is evident. After just one month at Chelsea he spoke out on Kepa's position, saying, "For Kepa it is a disappointment not to be selected right now. That is clear, but he is super strong here, he is our player and it does not influence how we work with him and how we trust him and if we trust him and how we keep on going."
The same situation appears to apply now, 18 months down the line. "It is his personal goal to be in the squad of Spain," Tuchel said in March, 2021. "Would it be easier if he played regularly? Clearly, yes, but it is not about his personal objectives, it is about Chelsea and we have set the communication straight between our goalkeepers that Edu is the number one and he is the competitor for that and he has to be ready and he is exactly doing this.
"He is 100 per cent reliable, top guy, top goalkeeping, top performance in training. This is what he can do. Can we influence the decision from the Spanish national coach? No we cannot. Everything he can do is be focused and be ready. This is what he is doing and why I am super happy with him."
If his words continue to ring true, then decisions that could impact Tuchel and his backup keeper will have to be made soon.
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