Just looking at our current squad on the Chelsea page and for fun, my Chelsea FC breakdown of KEEP, LOAN, SELL, BUY:
Goalkeepers:
1st Choice – Petrovic
2nd Choice – Sanchez
Back Up – Bettinelli
LOAN – Bergstrom
SELL – Kepa
BUY – None
GK is an area which i think we should wait and see to assess how Petrovic develops. I thought he showed himself to be a competent GK with potential. If a reasonable offer came in for Sanchez then moving him on would make sense. At that point, you either look to buy a promising keeper or invest in upgrading the 1st choice position, with Petrovic proving backup. Unless Maignan or Costa become available now and financially feasible.
Defenders:
KEEP – Disasi, Cucurella, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Colwill, James, Gusto, Veiga, Fofana
LOAN – Gilchrist, Wiley
SELL – Chilwell, Sarr, Chalobah
BUY – None
This is an area in the squad which I think needs 12 month’s worth of analysis and review to see how players develop, come back from injury and blend into the squad. I still believe Fofana can develop into a very good CB but he needs 12 months being injury free. James also needs to stay fit this season. We have depth but not lots of quality, this will be a make-or-break season for the likes of Badiashile and Disasi. With the resurgence of Cucurella and the purchase of Veiga, i think its time to let Chilwell go. Chalobah has been a good teammate and player and deserves a chance at a 1st team spot, something which probably lies away from Chelsea.
Midfielders:
KEEP – Enzo, Dewsbury-Hall, Caicedo, Lavia, Kellyman, Mudryk, Madueke, Palmer
LOAN – Ugochukwu, Chukwuemeka, Casadei, Santos, Gabriel, Vale, Moreira
SELL – Gallagher, Anjorin, Sterling,
BUY – None
Very similar to the above, we have players with something to prove ie: Enzo and Mudryk, players with potential coming back from injury ie: Lavia which need to show promise this year. Santos, Casadei and Carney need game time, so loans make sense from my perspective. I think its time to let Sterling go to provide space in the squad for Madueke to get more minutes and prove himself. Gallagher is a tough one but due to him not wanting to sign a contract extension (right or wrong on the club and players POVs) its probably time to cash in and say thank you and goodbye.
Attackers:
KEEP – Jackson, Nkunku, Guiu
LOAN – Washington,
SELL – Lukaku, Broja, Fofana
BUY – None
I really do believe Jackson will turn into a 15 goal a season player based on his raw attributes and having a season in the premiership under his belt. Nkunku should provide versatility across the front 3 and push Jackson. Guiu im excited about and will have opportunities to make his mark.
Selling Lukaku, Broja and Fofana seem to make sense as none are going to be challenging for the 1st or 2nd striker positions.
This leaves us with a 23 man playing squad, with spots available for talented academy players like Acheampong, Castledine, Burstow etc
Lastly, you will have seen under each position I haven’t listed anyone to buy. This isn’t because we have world class players 1-11 or across the squad. I think a period of calm, development and analysis to a young and bloated squad is needed. If players like Maignan, Oshimen, Williams are available, we should be in the market for them. I just don’t think right now, with a young squad, new manager, new system, new approach to wage structures and a lot of unknowns, I don’t think we should be spending £60-80m on players this window. That would be a more Arsenal and City approach to sharing goals across the whole team, which is something we have needed to improve upon over past seasons.
Just my thoughts, would be good to hear other peoples opinions 🙂
Written by ChelseaFC July 23 2024 14:03:36
