We takes a look at what Mauricio Pochettino’s dream 25-man Chelsea squad could look like next season following what is expected to be a busy transfer window
Chelsea will push to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton this summer (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
Chelsea are expected to once again be very active in the summer transfer window as Todd Boehly and the ownership group look to provide Mauricio Pochettino with all of the tools to compete in the Premier League in his first season.
After an abysmal 2022/23 campaign that saw the Blues finish way down in 12th-place in the league table, so many things have got to improve at Stamford Bridge. That’s why Pochettino has been brought in, with the owners believing the Argentine is the right man to spearhead the club’s long-term project.
To do that, Chelsea will need to be active in this summer’s transfer window, with a host of players expected to leave the club. Also, players are set to come in through the Stamford Bridge door in what is bound to be a typically manic period for the west Londoners.
It’s literally anybody’s guess what Pochettino’s Chelsea squad will look like once the transfer window is over. That being said, football.london comes up with what would be the new head coach’s ‘dream’ 25-man squad next season.
Goalkeepers: Onana, Kepa, Bettinelli
Chelsea want to sign a new goalkeeper and by all accounts and purposes, Andre Onana of Inter Milan looks to be their priority target in that position. The Blues and Inter are expected to hold meetings this week to discuss a number of players, with Onana on the agenda.
Meanwhile, football.london understands the club are open to offers for goalkeepers Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga. Both had stints in goal last season but neither impressed enough to be considered as the first-choice goalkeeper for the 2023/24 campaign.
Defenders: Fofana, Badiashile, Koulibaly, Chalobah, Silva, James, Gusto, Chilwell, Hall
This was quite a difficult one to call. Chelsea have so many defenders and while they are not expected to make any signings in defence, there will be one new face in Malo Gusto, with the right-back arriving after being signed in the January transfer window.
Gusto is likely to provide some much-needed support to Reece James. Marc Cucurella is not included in the list after a disappointing debut season for the club. Lewis Hall showed in those final few matches that he deserves to be challenging Ben Chilwell for the left-back spot.
In centre-back, Chelsea are pretty well equipped. The brilliant Thiago Silva is likely to be a key figure for the Blues once again, while the younger Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana could all have crucial roles once more.
Midfielders: Fernandez, Chukwuemeka, Caicedo, Lavia, Mount, Gallagher
There is set to be a mass clear-out of central midfielders this summer. N’Golo Kante is on his way to Saudi Arabia for a new chapter in his career. Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mateo Kovacic are expected to leave the club, while Conor Gallagher, too, has interest from elsewhere in the Premier League.
If three or even all four of these were to leave, then it would leave Chelsea short in the centre of midfield. However, the Blues are looking to sign two in that area over the course of the summer transfer window, with Moises Caicedo looking like the priority at the time of writing.
Brighton, though, are notoriously tough negotiators so it will not be easy. And it’s even more complicated when you consider Arsenal, who have Champions League football next season, are interested in the Ecuador international as well.
Meanwhile, the Blues have an interest in Romeo Lavia from Southampton. The club watched him thoroughly last season, football.london understands, and are considering making a move for the talented Belgian following the Saints’ relegation to the Championship.
Whether or not Mason Mount remains at Stamford Bridge remains to be seen. Chelsea are determined to keep Mount but accept it might be difficult and that’s why they have placed a £70million price-tag on the England international, who has 12 months remaining on his contract with the west Londoners.
Manchester United are the favourites to sign Mount and Chelsea are braced for another attack from the Red Devils to try and sign the Cobham graduate. Chelsea, though, remain stub𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 and insist they will not accept a penny less than their £70m valuation.
Forwards: Nkunku, Osimhen, Sterling, Havertz, Madueke, Mudryk, Broja
Christopher Nkunku is on his way from RB Leipzig. That’s all done and we’re just waiting on an official announcement for that, which is expected to be once he returns from international duty with France.
Chelsea are still on the hunt for a new central striker to try and solve their goal scoring woes. Their dream target is Victor Osimhen from Napoli, who set the Serie A alight last season, helping the Naples-based outfit win the Italian top-flight trophy. However, a deal for the Nigerian might be difficult with the lack of Champions League football and widespread interest in the striker.
Kai Havertz’s future remains uncertain but with the likes of Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech both expected to leave, Chelsea may want to keep hold of the German. But the Blues wouldn’t be adverse to selling Havertz should the right offer, believed to be around the £70m-mark, come in for him.
Noni Madueke showed glimpses of what he can offer the side in the latter stages of last season, while we still wait to see the very best from Mykhailo Mudryk. Raheem Sterling was good in patches of last season but it’s really time for him to kick on in a Chelsea shirt.
Pochettino will also be boosted by the return of Armando Broja. The Albanian has been out since December with a serious knee injury but football.london understands the striker is targeting a return in the next couple of months.
Pochettino’s ‘dream’ 25-man squad: Onana, Kepa, Bettinelli; James, Gusto, Fofana, Silva, Koulibaly, Badiashile, Chalobah, Hall, Chilwell; Fernandez, Gallagher, Lavia, Caicedo, Chukwuemeka, Mount; Sterling, Nkunku, Osimhen, Havertz, Madueke, Mudryk, Broja.
Soucre: football.london
