There is less than a week until the transfer window opens for Premier League teams and things are already bubbling away for Chelsea. There is a great deal of work to be completed in terms of incoming and outgoing players as the Blues look to form a squad that Mauricio Pochettino can lead to glory.
There is set to be plenty of turnover in midfield with the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and N'Golo Kante set to leave and the west London side looking at the likes of Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo to come in and assist Enzo Fernandez in the centre of the pitch. Cutting the squad down will be imperative.
Frank Lampard noted that the sheer volume of players to manage was a major issue upon his return to Stamford Bridge. The caretaker manager went further to say his players were disillusioned. Chelsea cannot afford another season like that again.
Lampard explained: "The squad has been too deep and that's the biggest challenge I've found day to day. Coming in and trying to work with big numbers and players that are maybe a little bit, for whatever reason, disillusioned, for right or wrong, that they're not playing or they might be leaving. Those situations can be sorted out now and they have to be."
As such, football.london takes a look at what Chelsea's best-case scenario.
In an ideal world things move quickly and those players linked with departures say their goodbyes in a timely manner. As well as the aforementioned players, perhaps Kante stays to aid Chelsea's transition, while Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic seal deals away from west London. The former to Saudi Arabia and the latter perhaps to AC Milan.
READ MORE: Chelsea expected to complete transfer after Newcastle, West Ham and Liverpool interest
Having completed some business with the Serie A side, the Blues are able to persuade them to part ways with Mike Maignan with the Frenchman is able to slot in quickly to a backline that has Malo Gusto, Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana from the same nation, as well as Trevoh Chalobah and Thiago Silva who have played in Ligue 1.
Of course, midfield will need some reinforcement and Moises Caicedo arrives without Levi Colwill having to head in the opposite direction. Then to tick off the club's third requirement, Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley lock into negotiations with Inter Milan.
It may not come easily but Chelsea are able to use Romelu Lukaku to facilitate a transfer for Lautaro Martinez to the satisfaction of Pochettino, for the Blues to have a focal point for the talents of Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk and Christian Nkunku to thrive alongside.
And in a surprise turn of events, Chelsea come through with a last-ditch offer to Mason Mount that proves his worth to the club, while not being out of keeping with the club's wage structure after a lengthy discussion with the new Blues boss.
Have your say on Chelsea's season and what comes next!
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