The Champions League winning front three for Chelsea appear to be no more. Timo Werner has already left the club, Kai Havertz is there but still struggling for consistency - let alone possibly moving in the summer - and Mason Mount is back in midfield.
Just 18 months on from the famous win in Porto and a first choice Chelsea team looks very different. It's a different shape, there's a new manager in charge and the owners have changed too. They do still play in blue. Other than that the Blues will be virtually unrecognisable from the team that lifted their second European Cup crown in 2021.
Reece James and Ben Chilwell still get into a best XI as full-backs rather than wing-backs and Edouard Mendy is floating about but currently doesn't have the confidence of Graham Potter, or the fitness. N'Golo Kante is a shadow of the player he was on that night against Manchester City.
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Thomas Tuchel's success with that team can be ironically held somewhat accountable for the slow drop off since. It has left no uncertainties over where the squad needed improving and Todd Boehly has moved to ensure that there are no shortages of attacking options.
The defence is prepped and ready for some loan additions but has a youthful backbone. The midfield is the new area for attention. It could do with the sort of investment that was afforded to the frontline. Chelsea have 11 forward players - or more if you count Omari Hutchinson and Carney Chukwuemeka - on their books including loanees both in and out.
It's a remarkable number considering the money splashed on new, glossy additions since 2018. Of the current crop there aren't likely to be many survivors. Kai Havertz may be into his final months at Stamford Bridge whilst Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are all expected to be available for a sale.
With Mykhailo Mudryk coming in as the club's fifth January signing Potter now has plenty of choices, albeit with injuries currently cutting options short.
Here's how they could look at the start of next season.
Mykhailo Mudryk
Chelsea's newest buy. The £62m left winger joined from Shakhtar Donetsk with a blaze of expectation after a stellar Champions League group stage and he may be chucked into the action quickly for Potter.
On an eight-and-a-half year deal he is just as much one for the future though and will have a period to get into his surroundings before even more potential incomings join him over the summer. As a rapid forward that can shoot with both feet he is certain to get the Chelsea faithful off their feet and he slots in on the left in a 4-2-3-1 here.
Kai Havertz
Currently playing for his future at SW6, Havertz is still filling in as a makeshift striker despite it not being his natural role. However, Potter is the third Blues manager that has so far been unable to find out just what that position is.
With the players that could join Havertz next season there may well be an option to play in his prefered floating role behind or alongside another forward. Blues fans haven't given up hope of seeing his best form yet, but the coming months may well decide if he is in a position to stick around for the next stages of Chelsea's development.
Christopher Nkunku
Amongst all of the incomings it is easy to forget that Nkunku is in pole position to also come in and make a huge difference. Although not yet announced, Nkunku is all but a Chelsea player and will join over the summer.
His best position for RB Leipzig has been on the left but he is more versatile than Mudryk so may have to deputise on the right for now. He is also capable of playing as a No. 10 or shadow striker like Havertz is in this team. He may also be an occasional centre-forward too.
Joao Felix
This is, remarkably, the most unlikely player to be in the front four. Felix is only on loan currently and there is no option or obligation to buy from Chelsea's side.
He impressed in the hour he played against Fulham before being sent off and added a new dimension and freedom to the frontline that has been missing for too long. Although Felix may well cost upwards of £80million, once more he could be a game-changing attacker for Chelsea to have a look at over the summer.
Such was his link-up play with Havertz in their brief time together he could dovetail perfectly as the furthest forward player in this dynamic selection.
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