Chelsea are already setting their summer window plans in motion with moves for a new central midfielder and striker seeming the absolute priority. The Blues have struggled significantly in front of goal this season, and severe injury issues in midfield have prevented a consistent partnership from developing between any of Chelsea's midfield options.
Since the turn of the year, Chelsea have played 10 games in three different competitions, but have managed just four goals in that time. A damning stat brutally exposed by Real Madrid who managed to score more goals in England in just 90 minutes following their comprehensive 5-2 Champions League last-16 win against Liverpool.
Six attacking options, worth a combined total of £172million, have arrived at Stamford Bridge since Todd Boehly and Clearlake capital completed a take over of the club in May 2022, but none have been able to soften the obvious goal-scoring woes which have been prominent at the club for some time.
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In midfield, N'Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Denis Zakaria and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have all suffered injury problems this season which has greatly impacted results for the club this season. Enzo Fernandez's arrival, sanctioned on the same day as an exit for Jorginho, looked set to lessen any concerns, but for Chelsea to get the best out of the World Cup winner, he needs a consistent midfield partner.
There is hope that person can be Kante as he closes in on a return from injury and a contract extension, with Chelsea now very confident he will sign a new contract before his current deal expires in a few months' time, football.london understands.
A new midfielder and striker are therefore concerns that need addressing. However, the goalkeeping situation at Stamford Bridge is certainly volatile. At the moment Kepa Arrizabalaga is the number one with Edouard Mendy nursing a broken finger.
Although Kepa's performances have improved, he is yet to completely eradicate his inconsistencies which saw Frank Lampard bring in Mendy in the first place. The 30-year-old has spent the last few months out of the team through injury as contract extension talks rumble on without much progress.
Neither 'keeper has completely shown they can hold down the starting spot with Kepa also having some injury issues earlier in the season which opens some cause for concern that a new goalkeeper should be Todd Boehly's transfer priority.
However, a rather under-the-radar signing made in the summer could solve those woes with relative ease. Gabriel Slonina was acquired by Chelsea, who beat off interest from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, for £12million from MLS side Chicago Fire.
The teenager headed straight back to America on loan but he has now linked up with the first-team squad and has been involved in training. Chelsea released a video on social media of how sessions at Cobham are conducted at the club with the cameras catching a close-up of a spectacular double save by Slonina.
In the coming years, Slonina is more than capable of establishing himself as Chelsea's first choice shot-stopper but those plans could be fast tracked. On his debut for the USMNT, the 18-year-old pulled off two wonder saves in quick succession against Serbia and that appearance for his national team also set a new record for the youngest goalkeeper ever to start for his country.
Kepa and Slonina were joined by Eddie Beach and Marcus Bettinelli in the video but there is still no sign of Mendy. A new goalkeeper signing is on the agenda for Chelsea, but Boehly and co. face a number of important decisions.
Mendy's injury and contract are still at play likely highlighting an immediate need for a senior back-up, however Slonina's rapid development could mean that plan is placed on the back burner.
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