The first year of Todd Boehly’s regime has been an absolute disaster. The 2022/23 Premier League campaign ended with the Blues languishing in 12th place with their worst Premier League points tally ever and their worst finish in the top flight since 1994. That in itself is bad enough but when you consider the £600 million spent in the last two transfer windows and the rotation of four different managers through the Bridge’s revolving door since the start of the campaign, this season will go down as one of the biggest calamities in club history. The owners openly acknowledged the disappointing season the club endured and vowed to build a squad to compete next year; whether he delivers on that promise is another story. Simply put, Boehly needs to get a handle on things quickly if they are to avoid repeating the same mistakes in 2023/24. His first step in addressing the mounting problems in West London was a positive one though. In appointing Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea now have one of the most highly sought after managers in the world with pedigree in finding untapped potential and giving direction to players with low morale, a well-documented feature of the current squad. The Argentine is the one charged with fixing this mess but he is the perfect man for the job, and if Boehly can temper his impulses in the transfer market this summer then they will be on course to significantly improve next campaign. Here’s a look at what Chelsea need to prioritize this pre-season to achieve success in 2023/24.
It’s no secret that the squad is too big. The Blues have over 30 players on the books and that is before the return of loanees and the arrival of pre-agreed signings. Pochettino and the board have their work cut out trying to rally this squad low on confidence while also removing some notable names from the roster of players. Mason Mount, Kalidou Koulibaly and Mateo Kovacic are among the players facing uncertain futures while Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and club captain Cesar Azpilicueta all look unlikely to stay. That’s just a few on a long list of high-profile players heading for an exit but it’s a necessity of the position Chelsea find themselves in; the 51-year-old boss will not find the best out of this squad if the club doesn’t follow through. When at Spurs Pochettino moulded the club into a dominant force that went unbeaten at home for an entire league campaign. That side was built on genuine competition for places and the integration of academy talents who were capable of making the step up to first team football. Given the resources at his disposal at Chelsea he is more than capable of repeating the feat, but that won’t be achievable unless the opportunity is there and it certainly won’t be with more than 30 players fighting for just 11 spots. So provided the Blues’ erratic owner doesn’t go on another uncontrollable spending spree again, expect there to be more outgoings than incomings this summer.
Having said that, the club have also made known their intentions to bring in a goalkeeper, midfielder and striker before pre-season gets underway. Of those, the priority should be finding an out-and-out goalscorer. Chelsea scored 38 goals last season; relegated Leicester City and Leeds United netted 10 goals or more than that and even bottom side Southampton managed to score only two fewer than the Blues’ tally. The need for a regular source of goals is clear and the arrival of Christopher Nkunku will certainly help with that. Chelsea fans will be hoping the former RB Leipzig talisman can deliver on the potential he has shown at the Bundesliga outfit thus far. He’ll be under a lot of pressure to deliver but he unquestionably possesses the talent Chelsea are in desperate need of in front of goal. Who will be pushing him for a place in the starting lineup is unknown with Romelu Lukaku’s future uncertain. The club have made it clear they want the Belgian international off the books and are bidding to recoup a large transfer fee. The Nerazurri expressed their interest in retaining the forward’s services after impressive form scoring seven goals in his last seven Serie A appearances. Financial problems at the club mean that they are unlikely to table an offer to acquire him on a full-time basis and Chelsea’s refusal to loan him out means that negotiations are unlikely to progress between the two clubs. His quality is undeniable but his fractured relationship with the fanbase makes London an unappealing and unlikely destination for him this summer. In Lukaku’s stead, Victor Osimhen has emerged as the top target. At top online bookmakers, Chelsea are 2/1 to sign Osimhen in the summer. The Nigerian has developed into one of Europe’s most prolific strikers in Naples, scoring 30 goals in 38 games across all competitions during the 2022/23 season as Napoli won their first Serie A title in 33 years. Any major club worth their salt is in for the forward and so he is expected to fetch a hefty fee but that is unlikely to deter Pochettino from signing the talismanic striker.
Elsewhere on the pitch Enzo Fernandez has proven to be one of the very few bright sparks in Chelsea’s side over the last 12 months. The 22-year-old is practically the only player guaranteed a place for the coming season after matching the lofty expectations put on him courtesy of his mammoth transfer fee. The Argentine is legitimately one of the world’s best midfielders and should he be accompanied by a solid and commanding presence alongside him next season then Chelsea will have a midfield pairing the envy of the league. The player who fits that mould the best out of the most viable options is Moises Caicedo. There are plenty of suitors keen on acquiring the Ecuadorian’s services but Chelsea are the most likely to throw the kitchen sink at signing the 21-year-old. The Brighton midfielder has been sensational for the south coast club and has helped the Seagulls soar their way into Europe next season for the first time in the club’s history. He is not a typical holding midfielder and there are perhaps players out there who would allow Fernandez to show off more of his attacking flair but he possesses all the necessary attributes to be a success at Chelsea and would more than justify the hefty price tag Brighton have placed on him this summer.
