Graham Potter may well have a very different Chelsea team available to him by the time Premier League football is back in full swing in mid-January.
The Blues don't play again now until December 27 but that is their final fixture of the year and then attention on results may well be overshadowed by what happens in the transfer window. The post-World Cup impact on business is already unknown, but with Todd Boehly seemingly committed to the rebuild needed at SW6, Potter can probably expect some serious backing.
With this in mind, a turn of form may not be too far around the corner. Chelsea have now lost four of their last five, including all four domestic matches and three in the league, but that is without the context of being without three first-team defenders, a world-class midfielder and balancing squad issues that go deeper than the current malaise on the pitch.
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The Blues have known for several seasons that neglecting the midfield would cause issues down the line and that is exactly what has happened, though Reece James' absence has also seen an immense imbalance to the side. These will both be top of the to-do pile when the window opens, but another transfer opportunity may well have arisen as Cristiano Ronaldo is now available on a free transfer.
Manchester United confirmed on Tuesday evening that the 37-year-old has left the club with immediate affect following his TV interview with Piers Morgan last week. Ronaldo admitted to feeling 'betrayed' by the club and that senior executives wanted to push him out of Old Trafford.
Chelsea have already been linked with the striker this year after he was offered to the club by agent Jorge Mendes. Todd Boehly was keen on the deal but Thomas Tuchel less so. He could now be the answer to Potter's attacking problems.
Although he doesn't look like a Potter-type player, the draw to him as a goalscorer is obvious. Signing another player past their best and on a short-term deal wouldn't hit many of the boxes for a rebuild though. With this in mind, football.london is taking a look into the crystal ball to see how Chelsea may look after the World Cup and with more money spent on the squad in January, including the signing of Ronaldo.
Once the World Cup is over Kepa Arrizabalaga should come back into goal as the first choice after demonstrating his skills over the past month. The Spaniard took advantage of Edouard Mendy's poor form and injuries to become the go-to man, his ability with his feet is also a must-have in Potter's system.
James will also be returning from injury and, like Kepa, having not been selected for action in Qatar, he should be fresh to make a big impact for Potter straight away. Alongside him in defence will be another player coming back from the treatment room, Wesley Fofana. The 21-year-old may well feel like a new signing having only been fit enough to play consistent first team minutes at the end of September, his pace in defence will hopefully breathe new life into the backline.
Alongside him, and in a back four due to transfers further forward, is Kalidou Koulibaly. The 31-year-old has had a tough start to life in England but has a break coming up from club football that might do him some good. The Senegalese international has been used to playing in a back four in Italy and that could help him here whilst Thiago Silva recovers from the World Cup effects.
On his left will be Marc Cucurella in a more natural fullback role. There will be more solidity in front of him which should help his diminishing confidence.
The first new signing in January could be Ajax's Edson Alvarez. The £43m bid made late in the summer wasn't enough to prize him away from the Dutch side and the Blues are expected to go in for him again in the winter. With both Jorginho and N'Golo Kante free to discuss free transfers elsewhere on January 1, getting someone in straightaway will be vital.
Alongside him in midfield will be two No.8s in a 4-3-3. One will be Mateo Kovacic - who will hopefully be able to shake off his niggling injury worries that have seen him heavily rotated this season - and another will be Mason Mount returning to his best position. Depending on the situation with Denis Zakaria, Chelsea could also go in for another midfielder. Take your pick from Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Romeo Lavia, though they are all more likely to be summer deals.
On the wings will be a hopefully rejuvenated Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic - who has shown enough in his brief cameos under Potter to deserve a start. They could be challenged by January statements of Christopher Nkunku if the Blues manage to push a deal across the line earlier than the summer, he would add some attacking flair. Rafael Leao is also an option but is another one to be looked at later on instead.
Up front, Cristiano Ronaldo for this team of course. It may be unlikely, but with wide players around him, James' crossing and some freedom after moving away from Old Trafford, maybe it's the unlikely move Chelsea need? As we say, unlikely, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with Ronaldo isn't a strike partnership covered in glory in 2023 as it would have been in 2017.
Dream Chelsea XI after the World Cup: Kepa, James, Fofana, Koulibaly, Cucurella, Alvarez, Mount, Kovacic, Sterling, Nkunku, Ronaldo
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