We analyses the full Chelsea squad and its depth after Mauricio Pochettino described it as ‘unbalanced’ following the Blues’ draw with Newcastle United

 

Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino (Image: (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images for Premier League))

 

Mauricio Pochettino made it abundantly clear on Thursday morning that Chelsea needed to address some areas in their squad in the summer transfer window.

The Blues have offloaded 13 players this summer, whether that’s been for a fee, on a free or released by the club. In doing this, it has left some areas of the squad lacking more than others, which has forced Pochettino to send a clear message to those at the club working on transfer business.

“We need to add players as maybe in another position we miss some players and in that position we have four and sometimes the squad is unbalanced,” Pochettino told reporters after Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle United. “We need to build a balanced squad to have the possibility to complete for a position but not have players who are going to be the third or fourth option to play and it is going to be impossible for one position, for four players to play for one place.”

With this being said, football.london takes a look at each of the positions in the Chelsea squad and all of the options the Blues have at their disposal. This, of course, is subject to change if the club add or offload any more players.

Goalkeeper

Kepa Arrizabalaga, Gabriel Slonina, Marcus Bettinelli, Eddie Beach, Jamie Cumming

It is well reported by now that Chelsea have considered bringing in a new first-choice goalkeeper this summer. However, the club will not rush and sign one for the sake of it and are more likely to wait for the right player to come about.

READ MORE: Romeo Lavia to Chelsea transfer latest as Liverpool prepare new offer for £50m star

This means, with each passing day, Kepa Arrizabalaga looks the most likely to be in goal for the side’s first Premier League game against Liverpool next month. Gabriel Slonina is expected to be loaned out to try and further his development with regular first-team minutes.

Meanwhile, as football.london reported recently, Eddie Beach is set to stay in and around the squad for the first six months of the season at the very least. Jamie Cumming could once again be loaned out, with Marcus Bettinelli set to stay around to be a back-up option in goal.

Right-back

Chelsea are now well stocked at right-back after last season brought some issues in that particular area. The addition of Malo Gusto looks to be a smart piece of business, with the young Frenchman impressing thus far in pre-season.

Gusto looks a very good back-up option to Reece James, who has struggled with injury problems in recent campaigns. James remains Chelsea’s first-choice on the right-hand side of a back-four – and is even being considered to be the club’s new permanent captain – but Gusto is some really solid competition for the England international.

Centre-back

Wesley Fofana, Thiago Silva, Levi Colwill, Benoît Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Bashir Humphreys, Alfie Gilchrist, Malang Sarr

Wesley Fofana will miss a large chunk of the upcoming season after the Chelsea defender ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament recently. That injury does leave Pochettino short of options in the centre of defence, particularly with Benoît Badiashile still recovering from the hamstring injury he suffered towards the end of last season.

Badiashile is stepping up his recovery back at Cobham and is still aiming to be back for the start of the season, although he may have to settle for a couple of weeks after that. The return of Levi Colwill from his loan spell at Brighton is a welcome and timely boost for the club given the current situation in the centre of defence.

Thiago Silva has been a mainstay in the line-up over the past couple of seasons and looks set for another significant role under Pochettino. Meanwhile, Trevoh Chalobah now looks set to remain at Stamford Bridge given the injury situation.

Malang Sarr is expected to be moved on, preferably on a permanent basis from Chelsea’s point of view. Bashir Humphreys’ representatives have been in talks with multiple clubs over a possible loan move for the 20-year-old. Fellow youngstder Alfie Gilchrist has interest from newly-promoted Sheffield United.

Left-back

Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella, Lewis Hall, Ian Maatsen

One area Chelsea are very well equipped in is left-back. The first-choice is undoubtedly Ben Chilwell, who will be looking to have a largely injury-free 2023/24 season after more problems last time out.

Then there’s three back-up options in Marc Cucurella, Lewis Hall and Ian Maatsen. Cucurella failed to impress against Newcastle last time out and was heavily criticised by a lot of Chelsea supporters on social media. The Spaniard needs to step up his game massively in the upcoming season or he risks being sold in January or next summer.

Meanwhile, Hall, who prefers to play in the centre of midfield, has been used in the middle over pre-season thus far. His technical ability and work-rate means he is a very solid option in this area and perhaps his talents are a tad wasted on the left-hand side of a back-four.

Maatsen has played all over the place in pre-season, apart from left-back. On Thursday morning, the Dutchman played, and impressed, on the right wing where he set up Chelsea’s only goal of the game with a fine through ball.

Central midfield

Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher, Cesare Casadei, Andrey Santos, Carney Chukwuemeka

Only one of these midfielders is a guaranteed starter at the moment and that is, of course, Enzo Fernandez. The Argentine massively impressed during the second half of the season where he seamlessly adapted to the Premier League after arriving for over £100million from Benfica in the January transfer window.

The future of Conor Gallagher remains uncertain. West Ham United recently saw an offer for the England international turned down by Chelsea but the Hammers are said to have now withdrawn their interest. Tottenham are also keen.

Cesare Casadei and Andrey Santos are in similar boats. Both have impressed out in the United States but they could be set for loan moves next season. At least one of them is expected to leave, but there is a chance both of them depart on loan. Carney Chukwuemeka, meanwhile, will be hoping for more regular first-team minutes after his debut season for the Blues saw him start just twice in the Premier League.

Attacking midfield/winger

Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke, Angelo Gabriel, Diego Moreira, Christopher Nkunku, Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-Odoi

It’s set to be a huge season for Mykhailo Mudryk. It has been a slow start to life in England for the Ukraine international since moving for big money in January, but big things are expected of the 22-year-old in his first full campaign. Thus far in pre-season, Mudryk has shown signs of his growing confidence and he looks more willing to run at opposition defenders – where he is at his best.

Noni Madueke, too, arrived in January and is set for a crucial campaign at Stamford Bridge. The 21-year-old winger, who is yet to feature in pre-season because of a knock to his hamstring that the club are monitoring, showed glimpses of his undeniable talent towards the end of the 2022/23 season.

Raheem Sterling needs to improve and show why he is seen by many as a world-class attacking player. It hasn’t worked for the 28-year-old since moving to Stamford Bridge from Manchester City last summer. It feels like a ‘make or break’ season for Sterling at Chelsea.

Diego Moreira and Angelo Gabriel both arrived this summer and have impressed when used in pre-season, particularly the latter of the two. However, both of them are just 18-years-old and could be loaned out to get some more senior experience elsewhere.

Christopher Nkunku can play in an array of positions across the front-line. So far under Pochettino, the 25-year-old has been used as a No.9 and as more of a No.10 against Newcastle.

Hakim Ziyech is expected to leave the club. The Moroccan looked set to move to Al-Nassr but the deal collapsed at the final stages. Callum Hudson-Odoi, too, is set to depart Chelsea this summer, with interest from Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Lazio.

Striker

Nicolas Jackson, Romelu Lukaku, Armando Broja, Mason Burstow

Nicolas Jackson has been the shining light of Chelsea’s pre-season in the United States with three games played. The 22-year-old striker has scored twice in the last two matches and looks to be a natural centre-forward; something the club have lacked in recent campaigns.

Romelu Lukaku looks set to leave, but we don’t know where the Belgian will be going just yet. Juventus are interested in the former Manchester United striker after Inter Milan pulled their pursuit of the forward.

Mason Burstow could be loaned out to get some more experience, or he could continue his work with the development squad. Armando Broja is still working on his recovery from a serious knee injury he suffered last season.

Soucre: football.london