How Chelsea could look on the first day of next season with three signings
Chelsea are expected to be busy in the transfer market when their ban lifts next summer – so how could the Blues line up on the first day of the 2020/21 season?
Chelsea: Transfer ban is a ‘good thing’ says Hudson-Odoi
Chelsea are currently banned from signing players in the transfer market but are expected to bolster their squad when FIFA’s restrictions lift next summer.
The Blues were slapped with a two-window suspension on registering new players after breaches in regulations surrounding the acquisition of youth players.
Chelsea have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to cut short the ban and are reportedly confident of a positive resolution, potentially allowing them to sign new players in January.
Even if this appeal is unsuccessful, the Blues will have plenty of cash to splash next summer after turning a record profit for the club under Roman Abramovich following the sale of Eden Hazard.
And manager Frank Lampard has already integrated a number of youth players into the first-team set-up, easing the pressure on the Blues hierarchy to secure new arrivals.
The emergence of Reece James at right-back could signal the beginning of the end for club captain Cesar Azpilicueta at Stamford Bridge while Mason Mount is now an integral part of the starting XI.
Tammy Abraham has shouldered the burden of the No 9 shirt well in the early stages of this season while the return of Callum Hudson-Odoi from injury has added another dimension to the Chelsea attack.
Fikayo Tomori has established himself as a genuine option at centre-back while the Blues also have the return of Ruben Loftus Cheek to look forward to – but who could arrive to improve the squad further ahead of next season?
Chelsea are expected to be busy in the transfer market ahead of next season (Image: GETTY•buildlineup.com)
Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Mason Mount have emerged as first-team players under Frank Lampard (Image: GETTY)
Ruben Dias (Benfica)
Lampard was willing to let David Luiz join Arsenal on transfer deadline day last summer, confident in the abilities of Andreas Christensen or Kurt Zouma to take over in central defence.
However, a serious injury to Antonio Rudiger has exposed the duo’s frailties and it has been youngster Tomori who has steadied the ship in recent weeks.
Both Manchester clubs have also shown interest in the 22-year-old so they will have to act fast, while Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar has been touted as another potential target.
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Ruben Dias has been attracting attention from several Premier League clubs (Image: GETTY)
Ben Chilwell (Leicester City)
Marcos Alonso is out of favour under Lampard but has returned to the team with Emerson Palmieri currently sidelined due to injury.
The Italian had impressed at left-back in the opening weeks of the campaign but the acquisition of Chilwell would be a significant statement of intent by the Chelsea board.
However, Chilwell reaffirmed his commitment to the Foxes before the start of the season and the club’s current success under Brendan Rodgers makes any deal even harder to pull off.
Ben Chilwell is expected to cost over £70million (Image: GETTY)
Zaha would add versatility to the squad with the Palace forward able to play as a striker or on the wing, and Stamford Bridge now looks a more likely destination following Arsenal’s record signing of Nicolas Pepe.