Chelsea academy graduate Nathan Baxter has claimed that he is ready to step up to the Blues' first team after an impressive season out on loan with Hull City in the Championship. Kepa Arrizabalaga continues to be linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge and a new back-up to Edouard Mendy could soon be on the cards.
Thomas Tuchel and the Chelsea board already have a large amount to do during the summer transfer window. With Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen set to depart on free transfers, at least two new centre-back recruits will be required while a midfield overhaul is also rumoured to be a priority.
In between the sticks, there is no doubting Mendy's position as number one. But the future of Kepa remains up for debate with Newcastle United one of the clubs to be linked with a summer move for the Spaniard.
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Marcus Bettinelli remains a part of the first-team but there is another in-house option Tuchel could choose to utilise in the form of Baxter, who has impressed during his spell on loan with Hull City. The 23-year-old has made 15 Championship appearances and kept seven clean sheets, helping the Tigers to Championship survival.
Having played alongside the likes of Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori, Baxter is continuing to back his chances of making it into the Chelsea squad, telling League of 72: "Obviously those lads got fortunate to have a manager which trusted them. But that doesn't take away from my goals and my ambitions.
"It is not just something you say for the press, you do have to take it game by game and loan by loan. If I went to an Accrington or a Yeovil on loan and didn't perform, then there would be no way that I could have progressed each year and stepped up a league each year and even dream of playing for Chelsea. Although that is my end goal and I'll never be afraid of saying that's what I want to do and I believe that I will do it, I believe that I can do it."
