Chelsea have been the busiest club so far in the ongoing summer transfer window. They have managed to sign Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva, Malang Sarr and Kai Havertz and are looking forward to challenging for the Premier League trophy next season. However, despite so many additions, it looks as though further business could be conducted at Stamford Bridge.
Pedro and Willian have left Stamford Bridge for free and Giroud and Caballero have signed extensions for the Blues. Despite Caballero’s extension, the Blues are keen on bringing another top goalkeeper to challenge Kepa for the top spot. Onana and Edouard Mendy are linked with a move. Frank Lampard now has a plethora of options in all positions and the squad depth will be immense for the Blues in the upcoming season. Let’s first take a look at Chelsea’s squad depth:
Attackers: Olivier Giroud, Michy Batshuayi, Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Christian Pulisic, Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi
Midfielders: Ross Barkley, Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus Cheek, Kai Havertz, Mason Mount and Billy Gilmour
Defenders: Cesar Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger, Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen, Fikayo Tomori, Malang Sarr, Ethan Ampadu, Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Emerson, Marcos Alonso
Goalkeepers: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Wilfredo Caballero
It’s safe to say that Frank Lampard now has a team for the future. With so many top talents already at their disposal, Chelsea have signed players who can score a lot of goals for them. However, they still need a defender and a goalkeeper because they conceded the most goals among the top four last season.
Former Chelsea star Nicolas Anelka has admitted that Lampard has a good chance of winning the Premier League next season.
“I think they have a great chance to win the title. It depends on what Liverpool and Manchester City will do as well.
“But he’s got the quality to finish fourth in the league last season and, with the signings, he’s got the quality to win it.”
So with so many talents at their disposal, how would Chelsea’s starting line up look like next season? Let’s check out.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has mostly preferred a 4-2-3-1 formation which can quickly change into a 4-2-1-3 as the wide midfielders push ahead and join the strikers. He has also tweaked his lineup into 3-4-3 and 4-3-3. In the recent friendly against Brighton, Lampard deployed a 4-2-3-1 and we feel he will use the same formation next season if all players are available.
Goalkeeper:
Kepa will get the nod over Caballero for the number 1 position as Lampard will give him another chance to prove himself a key member of the squad.
Defenders:
Azpilicueta and Ben Chilwell will get the nod for the full-backs spots. Azpilicueta will also don the captain’s armband. Reece James, Alonso and Emerson will be used as backups for these two. Chelsea may also decide to cash in on one of their left-backs.
Thiago Silva and Kurt Zouma could be the CB duo for the upcoming season. Rudiger, Christensen and Tomori could be the backups and may also get to start over Zouma at times.
Midfielders:
Jorginho and Kovacic will be the first choice for Lampard for the deep midfield spot. Jorginho will take up the number 6 role while allowing Kovacic to move forward and help out with the attack. Kante, Gilmour and Loftus Cheek will provide depth for the deep midfield spots.
Kai Havertz will take up the attacking midfield spot, a position he has been bossing at Leverkusen. Mason Mount and Barkley will be the backups to Havertz here and may rest him ahead of important fixtures. Pulisic and Ziyech will be the wide midfielders. Pulisic will take up the left-wing and Ziyech, his usual right-wing. Huson-Odoi will be the back up for the wide midfield spots.
Striker:
Who else? Timo Werner takes up the striker position. He is equally adept on the left-wing and can take that role when necessary. Giroud, Tammy Abraham and Batshuayi will the backups for the lone striker position.
This is how the line-up looks like:
Kepa
Azpilicueta Silva Zouma Chilwell
Jorginho Kovacic
Ziyech Havertz Pulisic
Werner
