The European transfer window is wide open, with the Premier League returning to normality by staying open just as long as the other leagues. In celebration and recognition of this, Millsy’s View is going to go through the Premier League and analyse where they need to strengthen, as well as possible targets for them.
Last season, Chelsea just about achieved their aim of finishing in the top-4 and staying in the Champions League for next season. It was an up and down season from Frank Lampard’s men, as his team of young starlets had inconsistent form. Still, they got Champions League, reached the final of the FA Cup and qualified out their group in this season’s Champions League, so they should be happy with that.
Where Do They Need To Strengthen?
With Pedro already gone and Willian also tipped to possibly leave, Chelsea were going to be left with big gaps up front, which they have already worked hard to fill, with the signings of Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech. Apart from that, their goalkeeping situation looks shaky and has looked shaky for a while now. They have supposedly been looking at Dean Henderson of Manchester United, but I can’t really see that happening.
Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso have been at the club a long time now and, at points this season, they have looked a little lazy in their defending. Kurt Zouma, too, has looked a little slow to some tackles, but perhaps that is the added pressure of actually playing for Chelsea again now. In general, Chelsea do need some more defensive backup, because they have conceded the most goals in the top-10 which Frank will know is not good enough.
Who Needs To Go?
As I alluded to earlier, Azpilicueta and Alonso have looked sluggish, so I’m not sure if they are still first XI material. If you had asked me in January, I would’ve said that Olivier Giroud should go, but he has made a fantastic return to form, and not for the first time in his career. Other than that, Emerson Palmieri is almost a forgotten face at the club, having only played 30 Premier League matches in 3 years, so I can’t see him sticking around for long. He is 26 years old and in his prime and will probably want to play more often.
Who Could They Bring In?
One defender that Chelsea are already looking to bring in, is supposedly the “next Virgil Van Dijk“. Honestly, I find comparisons like this absolutely ridiculous when the current Virgil van Dijk is still playing and at his prime, but hey that’s football. But anyway, back to the topic, Xavier Mbuyamba left Barcelona this summer and could join Chelsea on a free. It could be a good bit of business, but he is not the rock in defence that Chelsea need yet.
Another player that Chelsea could be looking to bring in, is Mathias Ginter from Borussia Moenchengladbach. He is currently a hot piece of property, with Arsenal supposedly also ready to battle with Chelsea for his signature. He has had a great season in the Bundesliga so far and, at 26, is an absolute prime player for any Premier League club to bring in.
One piece of news to get every Chelsea fan a little excited in the pantaloons, is that they might sign Jan Oblak from Atletico Madrid this summer. Oblak is a player that pundits are having trouble finding new superlatives for, after his performances in La Liga and in the Champions League have made him rated as one of the best goalkeepers in the world
This article was written by Nicholas Mills of Millsy’s View. Find more of his writing on his blog page, on his Twitter or follow his Facebook page.
