How Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea squad could look next season
Christopher Nkunku and Lautaro Martinez joining Romelu Lukaku in a new-look attack, Malo Gusto at the back and Manuel Ugarte in midfield… How Chelsea’s squad could look after Mauricio Pochettino’s £280m purge
- Mauricio Pochettino is ready to slash his oversized Chelsea squad this summer
- He has already decided against pursuing a permanent transfer for Joao Felix
- So who else could leave this summer? And which players could the Blues sign?
Chelsea are poised for a huge rebuild this summer, with up to 15 first-team players to depart in a £280million clear-out under Mauricio Pochettino.
Pochettino was finally confirmed as Blues head coach on Monday, and while he does not officially start work until July 1, he will already be drawing up plans for his squad with the transfer window set to open in 11 days’ time.
Along with co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, the former Tottenham boss needs to streamline his squad to a more manageable size this summer. As things stand he is taking on a group of over 30 players after Todd Boehly and Co splashed the cash like never before in 2022-23.
Mail Sport revealed on Wednesday that Chelsea are ready to move on up to 15 players to make life easier for Pochettino, so how could his squad look next season?
We’ve run the rule over which first-team stars could stay and who could leave Stamford Bridge this summer, as well as potential arrivals from elsewhere.
Chelsea are set for a huge clear-out after appointing Mauricio Pochettino as their head coach
Goalkeepers
One of the biggest priorities for Pochettino and Chelsea this summer is to strengthen in goal.
When they claimed a second Champions League crown in 2020-21, Edouard Mendy cemented his status as the Blues’ No 1 goalkeeper, producing some heroic displays in between the sticks as Thomas Tuchel’s men conquered Europe.
The following year, however, Mendy struggled for consistency before spending the majority of this season out injured. He has since lost his starting place to £73m shot-stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga, a player who has simply never lived up to his price tag in five years at the club.
Kepa in particular has made far too many costly mistakes and is unlikely to ever cut it as first choice, while Mendy also produced a howler on his return to action against Nottingham Forest earlier this month.
Pochettino needs to find a new No 1 this summer and sell one of his current keepers, and given he has already proven capable of flourishing in Champions League-winning teams, the logical move would be for Chelsea to hand Mendy a second chance and cut their losses with Kepa.
However, the latter’s hefty wage demands mean they are unlikely to find a suitor, so Mendy may have to be moved on.
One of Chelsea’s biggest priorities is signing a new goalkeeper, with Kepa Arrizabalaga proving in five years at the club that he is not a sufficient No 1 for a team aiming to win titles
Edouard Mendy has also fallen drastically out of favour due to injuries and poor form
Reports suggest Chelsea are eyeing up three goalkeeper options ahead of the summer window, with the Evening Standard claiming they have been monitoring Inter Milan’s Andre Onana, Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel and Brentford’s David Raya.
Raya has just enjoyed a superb campaign at Brentford, helping the Bees achieve a ninth-place Premier League finish, while Kobel came desperately close to winning the German title with Dortmund.
Onana, meanwhile, has played his part in Inter’s run to the Champions League final, and compared to the aforementioned pair he has greater top-level experience after spending six years as first choice at Ajax.
The 27-year-old would be the smart option to replace Mendy this summer.
IN: Andre Onana
OUT: Edouard Mendy
Inter Milan’s Andre Onana appears the smart option to replace one of them in the summer
Centre backs
Chelsea are well-stocked in central defence after adding Wesley Fofana, Kalidou Koulibaly and Benoit Badiashile to a backline also containing Trevoh Chalobah and the experienced Thiago Silva this season.
With Pochettino likely to set his team up in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, that means one or two will likely be surplus to requirements.
Badiashile and Fofana, both 22, are certain to stay given they only arrived as long-term signings over the past 12 months. Badiashile, in particular, enjoyed a thoroughly impressive debut campaign and could be part of Pochettino’s starting plans.
At 38, Silva remains one of Chelsea’s most consistent performers and the Brazilian is set to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge for at least one more season.
That leaves Koulibaly and Chalobah, who are both understood to be on the club’s list of potential departures.
Koulibaly only joined in the previous summer window in a £48m switch from Napoli.
The Senegal international was widely considered one of the best defenders in European football, but his first season in England proved a difficult one as he struggled to find consistent form and a regular place in the side.
The Blues are already well-stocked at centre back after signing Wesley Fofana (left) and Benoit Badiashile (right) this season on long-term contracts and both look certain to stay
Thiago Silva also looks set to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge for at least another year
It could make sense for all parties for Kalidou Koulibaly to be offloaded in the summer
Chelsea have turned down a £30m offer from Brighton for Levi Colwill (pictured) after he spent the 2022-23 season on loan at the Amex Stadium
If Pochettino insists on using a four-man defence next season, Koulibaly’s departure would appear to make sense for all parties.
Chalobah, 23, represents more of a dilemma for Chelsea given he was one of few players who performed admirably during their torrid run of form at the end of the season but with room needed to be made, he could be cut loose.
The Blues are also facing calls to bring back promising young centre back Levi Colwill, 20, after his impressive season on loan at Brighton – and have shown their hand by turning down a £30m bid from Brighton.
He is viewed as one of the hottest prospects in the country, and Chelsea are keen to keep hold of Colwill, with newly-appointed manager Pochettino seeing him as part of his future plans.
Ethan Ampadu, who has spent the last four seasons out on loan in Germany, England and Spain, is expected to do so again in 2023-24.
IN: None
OUT: Kalidou Koulibaly, Trevoh Chalobah
Full-backs
Another position Pochettino does not need to strengthen is full-back, where Reece James and Ben Chilwell will almost certainly be first choice on the right and left side of a defensive four.
Ben Chilwell (left) and Reece James (right) will be two of the first names on Pochettino’s team sheet next season
When fit, which admittedly is a big when these days, there are few better right backs in world football than James, who has almost been undroppable ever since breaking into the senior side under Frank Lampard in 2019.
Along with Chilwell, the pair have been Chelsea’s biggest attacking threats in recent years and often struggle in the final third without them. Pochettino will therefore be desperate to keep them both fit for the majority of next season.
Other full-back options at his disposal include left-sided Marc Cucurella, who endured a miserable debut season after arriving from Brighton for £62m last summer, and 20-year-old right back Malo Gusto, who is set to join the squad after signing in January and spending the remainder of the season back on loan at Lyon.
Cesar Azpilicueta, at 33, could be shown the door after years of service but there would also be merit in keeping his leadership in the dressing room to guide so many young stars.
Pochettino will head into the new season with two credible options on either side, allowing him to play either a flat back four or a wing-back system.
There is also academy graduate Lewis Hall, who produced a string of exciting displays towards the end of the season, though with Cucurella unlikely to depart given his expensive transfer last summer and probable lack of suitors a loan move may suit the 18-year-old’s development best next season.
IN: Malo Gusto (return from loan)
OUT: Cesar Azpilicueta, Hall (loan)
Marc Cucurella is unlikely to leave this summer after joining for £62million last year and can serve as Chilwell’s understudy at left back
Malo Gusto is set to join the squad next season after signing in January and being loaned back to Lyon for the remainder of the season
Midfielders
The biggest area of concern for Chelsea and Pochettino this summer comes in midfield, with a host of first-team players either out of contract, set to leave or facing uncertain futures.
N’Golo Kante arguably stakes a claim to being the best box-to-box midfielder on the planet when fit. Though after spending the majority of this season unavailable, and with his contract expiring next month, at 32 years of age Chelsea must decide whether it is worth renewing his deal.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who appeared to wave goodbye to the Stamford Bridge crowd when he was substituted in Sunday’s final game against Wolves, looks destined to leave with one year to run on his deal amid talk of a potential move to AC Milan.
Mateo Kovacic is another player out of contract next summer and he looks set to wind up at Man City after the Premier League champions were given permission to speak to the midfielder about a move.
Denis Zakaria, meanwhile, is heading back to Juventus when his season-long loan expires this week.
Moreover, it appears Mason Mount’s long affiliation with the Blues is reaching its crescendo as Manchester United accelerate their move.
The main hurdle to overcome will be agree a fee; United value Mount – who has just 12 months left on his contact – at around £55m while Chelsea price the England star at closer to £85m.
Pochettino is a fan of the academy graduate, who is set to enter the final year of his contract this summer, but it seems that an exit is imminent and Pochettino will have holes to fill across the middle of the park.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek looks certain to leave after seemingly waving goodbye to Chelsea
Mateo Kovacic is another player set to leave, with Man City given permission to talk to him
Manchester United will step up their pursuit of Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount next week
Conor Gallagher, 23, only broke into the first team last season but is another who looks set to be heading for the exit door.
While he could remain a useful squad member to keep around next season – and he is under contract until 2025 – moves for better players is likely going to further limit his game time and harm his international prospects.
The Blues are in advanced talks to sign Sporting Lisbon’s Manuel Ugarte
Pochettino will also have countryman Enzo Fernandez pulling the strings at the heart of his midfield, while 19-year-old Carney Chukwuemeka may be needed for cover if the likes of Kovacic and Loftus-Cheek do indeed depart.
At least one midfield recruit is essential for Chelsea this summer, and Sporting Lisbon’s Manuel Ugarte is understood to be one of their top targets.
Mail Sport recently revealed the Blues are locked in advanced talks with Sporting over a potential £53m deal for Ugarte, who is also wanted by Paris Saint-Germain.
Tiemoue Bakayoko, the forgotten Chelsea loanee, will likely head out on loan again with another year remaining on his deal.
Granted with these changes Pochettino looks a little light on viable options at No 10 but a change in system could unlock the potential of others normally used further forward, like Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling.
IN: Manuel Ugarte
OUT: Denis Zakaria, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher, Bakayoko (loan)
Forwards
It’s no secret that Chelsea are crying out for a striker after scoring just 38 goals in the Premier League this season, working out as a measly one per game.
Relegated clubs Leicester (51) and Leeds (48) even found the back of the net more.
There are few teams in world football who operate without a centre-forward these days – even Pep Guardiola has ditched his flexible false-nine system for a traditional frontman in Erling Haaland – and Pochettino needs someone leading the line who can guarantee 20 goals.
Sterling and Havertz were this season’s top scorers with nine.
Returning to the club this summer is club-record signing Romelu Lukaku, who has spent the season back on loan with Champions League finalists Inter Milan.
Lukaku may have endured a nightmare campaign at Stamford Bridge last term – both on and off the pitch – but at his best he is a proven goalscorer who could at least serve as a solid option off the bench.
Romelu Lukaku’s loan at Inter Milan is expiring this summer and Chelsea need a striker
Lukaku endured a disastrous first year back at Stamford Bridge in the 2021-22 campaign
But with strike partner Lautaro Martinez (left) potentially heading to west London, bringing him back into the fold could be a smart move
Reports in Italy earlier this year claimed Pochettino was planning to pitch his project to the Belgian in a bid to keep him, though even if he stays put next season Mail Sport understands Chelsea will also target another striker.
Lukaku’s Inter team-mate Lautaro Martinez is at the top of their list, a player who has previously enjoyed a fruitful partnership with the £97.5m man, winning the Serie A title together in 2021.
With three years to run on his contract at the San Siro, Martinez will come at a significant price, yet if they balance the books as expected Chelsea could fund a £60m bid.
Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Juventus’s Dusan Vlahovic are other names that have been considered but both would require a premium.
Out wide and in attacking midfield, the Blues have far too many options and will need to offload a host of them in the upcoming window, especially with incoming RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku heading to west London this summer.
Chelsea are also set to welcome RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku to the club
Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech are two of the first names out the door, while Callum Hudson-Odoi, who failed to score a league goal in an underwhelming loan stint at Bayer Leverkusen, is not expected to be in Pochettino’s plans and will therefore depart.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is another forward heading for an exit after a disastrous season.
Sterling and Havertz were far too ineffective last term but are unlikely to move elsewhere.
January arrivals Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke will also be hoping for more rewarding campaigns as they look to find their feet in a less chaotic season at Stamford Bridge.
IN: Christopher Nkunku, Lautaro Martinez, Romelu Lukaku (return from loan)
OUT: Joao Felix, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi
How could Chelsea’s squad look next season?
In: Andre Onana, Manuel Ugarte, Christopher Nkunku, Lautaro Martinez, Romelu Lukaku (return from loan), Malo Gusto (return from loan)
Out: Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher, Joao Felix, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, Edouard Mendy, Denis Zakaria, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Kalidou Koulibaly, Cesar Azpilicueta, Trevoh Chalobah, Lewis Hall (loan), David Datro Fofana (loan), Armando Broja (loan), Ethan Ampadu (loan), Tiemoue Bakayoko (loan)
Potential Chelsea squad 2023-24 (Rumoured signings in bold)
Goalkeepers: Andre Onana, Kepa Arrizabagala, Marcus Bettinelli
Defenders: Benoit Badiashile, Thiago Silva, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Marc Cucurella, Malo Gusto
Central midfielders: Enzo Fernandez, N’Golo Kante, Manuel Ugarte, Carney Chukwuemeka
Attacking midfielders: Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Christopher Nkunku, Kai Havertz
Strikers: Romelu Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez
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