Chelsea are set for a very busy summer as they look to prepare a squad ready for Mauricio Pochettino's arrival. The Blues have been bloated in 2023 and that led to a number of issues for both Graham Potter and Frank Lampard in the latter half of the Premier League season.
The likes of Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and N'Golo Kante all look set to depart the club while there is an expectation that Conor Gallagher will also leave Stamford Bridge. With Jorginho having already joined Arsenal in January, the Blues midfield could be overhauled from where it was 12 months ago.
Chelsea's owners vowed to transform the club's playing staff around elite talent earlier this week and will be forced to deliver to ensure the Blues improve upon their 12th-placed position last term. After a mixed bag of signings in their first 12 months following the takeover, the pressure will be on Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley to deliver.
This summer, Chelsea have already pulled out of the race to sign Miguel Ugarte but hold interest in midfielders Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia. Neither will come cheap with Brighton hoping to take advantage of Arsenal's interest to ensure an offer in excess of £80million, while Southampton are said to want £50million for Lavia.
Chelsea have opened negotiations with the Saints and will push to land Ecuador international Caicedo, having already got a deal in place for his international teammate Kendry Paez who will join the Blues when he turns 18. The club will be required to aim for more than one midfielder should the raft of departures occur.
The start of pre-season could see some competition from the Blues younger ranks too. Andrey Santos is set to join up with Chelsea for the first time when his loan to Vasco da Gama ends, while Cesare Casadei has lit up the under-20 World Cup with seven goals and joined the club last summer.
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It remains to be seen whether they are in first team contention however, with Pochettino's judgement required. Carney Chukwuemeka remains in the running for a spot, while Lewis Hall's preference is to play in central midfield.
That could perhaps be where a problem arises.
At 21 and 19 respectively, Caicedo will be signed for now and the long term. With Casadei aged 20 and Santos having turned 19, the Blues may have to work hard to convince their next generation of a clear pathway, when the current generation are the same age.
Enzo Fernandez himself is only 22 and will be Chelsea's lynchpin moving forwards, offering little room beside him depending on the system of Pochettino's choice. Of course, Santos and co. will have every right to compete for a place in the starting XI and may be presented with the opportunity to prove themselves.
However, big-money signings may be handed an opportunity first and if they take it, a pathway will be difficult to forge. Santos and Casadei lack the Premier League experience Chelsea's prospective arrivals can offer so will be on the backfoot, though their futures should not be written off.
There has been a clear emphasis in the first year of Chelsea's new ownership to target younger prospects, and the Blues have been successful in doing that. Their task may be more difficult moving forwards, however.
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