Thomas Tuchel already has an idea as to who Chelsea should target in the summer transfer window but accepts discussions are needed with the club's next owners before the Blues attempt to bring new signings to Stamford Bridge.
There is plenty of work needed to be done to the Chelsea squad this summer with fresh alternatives to Reece James and Ben Chilwell needed at wing-back, new defenders required with Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger departing, and decisions to be made on key midfielders and forwards.
The sanctions placed upon Roman Abramovich by the UK government and EU has meant Chelsea have been unable to act or make progress in their pursuits of transfer targets. Yet the moment the takeover by the consortium led by U.S. billionaire Todd Boehly is completed, the Blues will be free to approach clubs over players once again.
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Yet Tuchel admits conversations will first be required to discover how the incoming ownership group views the summer transfer window. The Chelsea head coach explained: "We have an idea, but unfortunately, the guys don't know that we have an idea, nor do the clubs. We have ideas, but we also need to find out what the ideas of the new owners are. This is also a key point, and from there, we go.
"Normally, at this time of the season, you are contacting players, you are out, you get a feeling, a read, you have discussions, you have dialogue, you have feedback, you know who is committed, you find your targets, you sign your players, and you go from there to the next step. Because we didn't have this step, this is where we are."
It's central defence that requires the biggest work. Christensen is set to move to Barcelona, while Antonio Rudiger is headed for Real Madrid. Cesar Azpilicueta may also move on after a decade at Stamford Bridge – something Tuchel says will be largely down to the Spaniard – while at 37 years old, Thiago Silva can't be relied upon week in, week out for much longer.
"We had a core in our back three, and we do have an issue with Thiago," said Tuchel. "He is not Benjamin Button. It seems like he is, but he's not. He is getting older, and it would have maybe been enough to find a natural replacement for this kind of position and keep everybody else.
"Suddenly, we lose two, three, three-and-a-half players at the back and this is actually concerning. It is a huge, huge challenge, given the fact that you cannot act.
"Everybody else is driving from the start, and you are still not finding the right gear to get your kickstart. This is where we are. It is a long race, but we don't give up. It makes it a bit more complicated, but this is what it is. We try our very best to make up for the disadvantage, but there are some things to solve."
