Chelsea and manager Frank Lampard have certainly gone on a spending spree this season. The craziest part is that the Blues have spent north of £200 million, yet they barely have a positive net spend. The big-money sales of Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata have in large funded this assault on the transfer market.
With that said, Lampard certainly will have a deep squad to work with next season, with rotation expected throughout a jam-packed season. So how could Chelsea look this season?
How Could the Chelsea Starting XI Look This Season?
Option One: Line-Up Flooded With Star Signings
The potential line-up that gets Chelsea fans most excited is the one that features all of the exciting new signings. The front four of Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz is a mouth-watering prospect for next season.
With established starters such as N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic locking down the midfield, the front four have the freedom to focus on creating attacks, interchanging positions and excellent link-up play.
At the back, new signing Thiago Silva will probably slot right into the team, as will Ben Chilwell, who should both improve the team significantly. Silva’s centre-back partner could well be Kurt Zouma, who had an impressive restart. The ever-reliable Cesar Azpilicueta will likely start at right-back. However, look out for Reece James, who could displace the captain as the season progresses.
Starting XI: (4-3-3) Kepa, Chilwell, Silva, Zouma, Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Havertz, Pulisic, Werner, Ziyech
Option Two: Chelsea Homegrown XI
Chelsea also have a number of academy graduates in their squad, with most of them set to receive substantial minutes this season.
Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount headline the young homegrown core, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek is also one to watch after finally recovering from that long-term Achilles injury. He should have regained his confidence this season, which could spell good news for Lampard.
Loftus-Cheek in full flight with his pace, power and skill is a scary sight for defenders and gives the Blues yet another creative threat. Speaking of creativity, Callum Hudson-Odoi is another homegrown talent who could have a breakthrough season.
Everyone will get their opportunities, and the onus is on these academy players to take them.
Starting XI: (4-3-3) Kepa, Chilwell, Silva, Tomori, James, Kante, Loftus-Cheek, Mount, Ziyech, Abraham, Hudson-Odoi
Option 3: Three at the Back
In some important games against top teams last season, Lampard opted for a back three to give his side more defensive stability.
Of course, you can’t say wing-back without mentioning Marcos Alonso, who is maybe the best wing-back in the Premier League but a bang-average full-back. Azpilicueta would slot in at right centre-back, with James pushing up to the right wing-back position.
Having a back three means sacrificing one of the fantastic front four, though. With only two midfielders, Havertz is too attack-minded to play in a midfield pair, so either he’d play on the wing or from the bench.
Pulisic won’t be benched, so it likely comes down to Ziyech or Havertz. While Havertz has the greater upside, the Moroccan is the more established star, so expect him to get priority this season.
Kante and Kovacic could become a very dependable midfield duo this season, especially if they can both stay fit. Both consistent performers, they are the backbone of this Chelsea side.
Starting XI: (3-4-3) Kepa, Alonso, Zouma, Silva, Azpilicueta, James, Kante, Kovacic, Pulisic, Werner, Ziyech
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