There isn't a single position in the Chelsea first-team squad that doesn't require attention this summer. And with the transfer window officially open as of today, it's time for Thomas Tuchel and new Blues owner Todd Boehly to get to work on the rebuild that is required.
It will not be easy, as Tuchel himself has accepted. "The rebuild is big," said the German last month. "The two top clubs [Man City and Liverpool] improve their teams – and they already have teams that are very clear on which to build. A rebuild is necessary for us, and that makes it more challenging, of course.
"We have clear ideas for the profiles and characteristics of these players. But it's not like we put a name on the list, and then we get the player. We have to convince the player, speak to their clubs, and convince ourselves this is the player [we need]. So there is normally a lot of work, and it will be the same to be competitive next season while everyone else tries to close the gap to us."
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Unlike the majority of his predecessors at Stamford Bridge, Tuchel has been given licence by Boehly to guide Chelsea's transfer business this summer. It will be the German who makes the call as to who leaves his squad and which players are targeted in the window. And here, we break down the state of play across the squad.
Goalkeeper
Edouard Mendy is Chelsea's first-choice stopper and that isn't going to change next season; football.london understands a new contract is planned for the Senegal international, who is currently one of the lowest-earning members of Tuchel's first-team squad.
Mendy's deputy at Stamford Bridge is the world's most expensive goalkeeper: Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Spaniard, who was signed for £71.6million from Athletic Club in 2018, made just 15 appearances last term and lost his role as domestic cup goalkeeper toward the end of the 2021/22 campaign.
"I know for sure that Kepa is not happy about the situation. He deserves to play more and he can be a strong number one," Tuchel admitted last month. "I know the goalkeeper coaches have had these conversations [about Kepa's future] and then we will take our time to speak with him, reflect on what is best and what the possibilities are."
It's understood Kepa is ready to move on from Chelsea after two seasons behind Mendy. But it will not be easy for the Spaniard to find a new home – unless he takes a significant reduction in his salary, which is around £190,000-per-week. Serie A side Lazio, managed by Maurizio Sarri, have a long-standing interest in the 27-year-old and are believed to have held talks with Kepa over a move.
Chelsea will need a new number two if Kepa does depart this summer and football.london has previously reported that Nathan Baxter has support from inside the club to step up. The 23-year-old spent last season on loan at Hull City, for whom he kept seven clean sheets in 15 Championship appearances.
Defence
It's at centre-back that urgent attention is required for Tuchel. Antonio Rudiger has moved on to Real Madrid and he is set to be joined in La Liga by Andreas Christensen, who is understood to have agreed a contract with Barcelona. And the Dane isn't the only Chelsea player who could head to the Camp Nou this summer.
There is an initial two-year contract on the table for Cesar Azpilicueta if he decides to bring his decade-long stay at Stamford Bridge to an end, although Barcelona would have to pay Chelsea a small fee for the 32-year-old. Marcos Alonso is also on the La Liga giants' wishlist and the Blues are prepared to let the wing-back depart if an acceptable bid arrives.
So reinforcements are needed. Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde is expected to complete a switch to Stamford Bridge with personal terms agreed for some time. But as yet, no official bid has been submitted for the 23-year-old, who is currently away on international duty with France.
Sources have told football.london that Tuchel would love to bring Marquinhos, who he worked with at Paris Saint-Germain, to Stamford Bridge. However, the Chelsea head coach appreciates such a transfer would be near impossible. Presnel Kimpembe is viewed as a more attainable target should PSG decide to refresh their backline this summer.
Other centre-back options for Chelsea include Josko Gvardiol, Pau Torres, Jose Gimenez, and Matthijs de Ligt, who was offered to the Blues earlier in the year but is currently in talks with Juventus over a new contract.
There is an in-house option at centre-back: Levi Colwill. The 19-year-old impressed hugely on loan at Huddersfield Town last season and has a number of clubs, from both the Premier League and Europe, interested in signing him this summer either permanently or on loan. Yet Tuchel is keen to evaluate Colwill in pre-season and the academy graduate should be on the Blues' tour of the USA.
If Alonso does get his wish and joins Barcelona, Emerson Palmieri is in line to return to the first-team set-up to offer support to Ben Chilwell at left wing-back, although Chelsea have retained their interest in Stuttgart's Borna Sosa.
Midfielders
The long-term futures of Jorginho and N'Golo Kante remain undecided. Both are out of contract next summer and there have been no talks to extend their respective stays at Stamford Bridge. It's why if a sizeable offer arrives for either player, Chelsea will not dismiss it. There is room to negotiate.
Juventus have long been mooted as a possible destination for Jorginho, who is currently on holiday having been allowed to leave the Italian squad early, but no bid has been made as yet. Meanwhile, Manchester United have been linked with a move for Kante but their first-choice midfield target is Frenkie de Jong of Barcelona.
football.london has been told there is genuine interest from Serie A clubs in a permanent deal for Ruben Loftus-Cheek this summer, but any transfer would require the midfielder to take a cut on his £150,000 a week salary. The 26-year-old is also understood to be content at Chelsea and happy with his role under Tuchel.
Conor Gallagher is set to be incorporated into the first team this summer by Tuchel and is understood to want to lay down a marker in pre-season – the 22-year-old midfielder wants to ensure he plays enough football to remain in the England squad for the World Cup in Qatar.
In terms of a central midfield signing, the Blues had put in years of work with Aurelien Tchouameni – stretching back to his time at Bordeaux – but were unable to progress a deal for the French midfielder after Roman Abramovich was sanctioned and that allowed Real Madrid to move ahead and seal a deal.
Declan Rice remains a Chelsea target and Tuchel is a huge admirer of the West Ham midfielder, who wasn't involved in the promotion of the Irons' latest kit release. David Moyes has stated it would take a bid of around £150million for the Hammers to sell Rice, but it's believed negotiations could begin if a bid in excess of £75million was submitted.
An alternative to Rice is PSV midfielder Ibrahim Sangare, while football.london understands RB Leipzig's Konrad Laimer was watched by Chelsea during the 2021/22 campaign. The Austrian, however, is expected to complete a cut-price move to Bayern Munich due to his contract expiring next summer.
Forwards
There are big decisions Tuchel faces over several of his attacking players. Romelu Lukaku is steadfast on leaving Chelsea this summer and would like to return to Inter Milan, from whom the Blues signed the Belgian for £97.5million less than 12 months ago.
Tuchel is understood to be willing to let Lukaku depart – the relationship between the pair is not exactly strong – but Chelsea will not be prepared to do the striker any favours and it will be on Inter to offer a sizeable loan fee in order for the 29-year-old to get his wish.
There are also question marks over the futures of Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic, none of whom nailed down a regular starting spot under Tuchel last season. And while there is interest from across Europe in the trio, nothing has been put to Chelsea in terms of an offer as yet.
One player that could arrive is Ousmane Dembele, who will be available on a free transfer this summer as his Barcelona contract expires at the end of this month. football.london understands talks have been held with the France international but no contract has been agreed upon as yet. And Paris Saint-Germain remain a threat to the Blues' chances as their interest remains.
As reported by The Telegraph, Raheem Sterling is being considered by Chelsea. The England international has just a year left on his contract and is believed to be open to a move away from Man City if an attractive proposal is made.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus has been offered to Chelsea – and a number of other clubs across Europe – with the Brazilian keen to move on ahead of Erling Haaland's arrival at the Etihad Stadium. Also pitched to Chelsea is Richarlison, but the Everton forward is unlikely to be pursued.
football.london revealed at the beginning of May that Christopher Nkunku was on Chelsea's shortlist of attacking options, but they face competition for the French forward from several European sides.
