The beginning of the 2023/24 Premier League season is around a month-and-a-half away, with Chelsea kicking off their campaign at home to Liverpool on Sunday, August 13.
The Blues take on the Reds in what will be the first competitive match of Mauricio Pochettino's reign at Stamford Bridge. The Argentine, who will officially begin his new role on July 1st, has a whole pre-season campaign to get used to his new squad and identify those who are in his plans and those who will be moved on.
Chelsea have already made a head-start in that respect. The Blues have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to try and offload those unwanted players and trim down the squad for when Pochettino does start his job.
So far, the club have offloaded four players in the form of N'Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly, Mateo Kovacic and Edouard Mendy. While the former moved on a free transfer, Chelsea received way over £50million for Koulibaly, Kovacic and Mendy. There are still plenty more who are expected to follow suit, too.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek has agreed to join AC Milan and Chelsea have settled on an £18million fee for the 27-year-old. football.london understands Loftus-Cheek is expected in Milan this week to complete his medical and officially move to the San Siro.
Kai Havertz completed a £65m move to Arsenal on Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, Hakim Ziyech is on his way to Saudi Arabia like his former teammates Koulibaly and Kante.
READ MORE: Mauricio Pochettino already has 'perfect' Chelsea midfielder amid Moises Caicedo transfer talks
As well as selling a number of players, the club are looking to add reinforcements to the squad. Moises Caicedo remains Chelsea's number one target in midfield, while the club retain a big interest in Southampton's Romeo Lavia, also, football.london understands.
Chelsea are still on the lookout for a new first-choice goalkeeper. Mike Maignan and Andre Onana have emerged as the two favourites in that particular position. However, for the former, a deal is seen as really complicated with Milan looking to fend off any interest with an extremely high price valuation of the 'keeper.
Nicolas Jackson is all but done. Chelsea triggered the Villarreal striker's £30million release clause and the Senegal international is expected to be announced in the very near future.
With all of this being said, football.london's Chelsea writers Bobby Vincent and Scott Trotter have given their verdict on what would be the 'dream' XI Pochettino could field on the opening weekend against Liverpool. Let us know if you agree in the comments section below...
Bobby Vincent
It might seem unrealistic at the moment, but if Chelsea can make some in-roads with Milan over a deal to sign Maignan – who is one of the top goalkeepers in world football right now – then that would be the dream for Pochettino in between the posts. Kepa Arrizabalaga had a decent 2022/23 season but did not do enough to convince that he should be the first-choice next term.
Levi Colwill is returning to the club and despite interest from Brighton, football.london has been told there is no chance Chelsea will let him leave the club this summer. He should come into the side alongside the experienced, and brilliant, Thiago Silva.
As mentioned above, Lavia and Caicedo are of big interest, so if Chelsea can somehow manage to sign these two then the midfield three would have a really nice balance. Enzo Fernandez, of course, alongside them, with the Argentine bound to get even better in his first full season in England.
It remains to be seen what plans Chelsea have for Jackson in his debut season in England. But £30million suggests he could be a key player and with Havertz leaving, he could be the man to start as the No.9 on the opening weekend of the season.
Bobby's XI: Maignan; James, Silva, Colwill, Chilwell; Lavia, Fernandez, Caicedo; Mudryk, Sterling, Jackson.
Scott Trotter
Even that it was an early priority, the arrival of a first choice goalkeeper would still be significant for Chelsea, even if it looks unlikely at this stage. Andre Onana showed plenty to be excited about during the Champions League final and could be a fun addition to help drive Chelsea forward from the back and used in any transfer dealings over Romelu Lukaku with Inter.
Reece James and Ben Chilwell are simple choices provided they are fit, with Chelsea's partnership in the centre of defence going to provide many debates over the course of the season. With Trevoh Chalobah deliberating a move to Serie A and Benoit Badiashile working back form injury, the competition comes down to Thiago Silva, Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill. With the latter still at the Under-21 European Championships perhaps the greater time spent with Mauricio Pochettino gives the former duo the edge for the first day of the season.
Enzo Fernandez is among the first names on the teamsheet too and he can provide a base in the centre of midfield alongside Moises Caicedo. New arrival Christopher Nkunku could be the man to line up ahead of them providing supporter to whoever leads the line, while Raheem Sterling can provide some width after having the opportunity to refresh before pre-season.
Noni Madueke has shown more than Mykhailo Mudryk thus far can operate with discipline down the opposite flank with the question of Chelsea's striker remaining up in the air. Nicolas Jackson is set to arrive in the coming days and will compete with Armando Broja. Could the Blues still pull a rabbit out of the hat and land Lautaro Martinez, however? For the moment, it would be dream-like for Broja to return from injury and set the side alight in pre-season to remind everyone of his qualities.
Scott's XI: Onana; James, Silva, Fofana, Chilwell; Caicedo, Fernandez; Nkunku, Madueke, Broja, Sterling.
