5 Players Chelsea could sign ahead of the 2023-24 Premier League Season
Chelsea is regarded among the Big Six of the Premier League by the football fraternity owing to their glorious history in the English top-flight league and in European competitions as well. The London Blues are known for showcasing their power in the transfer market thus we witness a star-studded batch joining the Chelsea roster in each and every window.
The 2022-23 English top-division campaign was a forgettable experience for Chelsea fans across the globe as the Blues managed to fetch only 44 points from 38 EPL fixtures. It resulted in the Stamford Bridge starlets attaining a 12th-place finish in the final standings which stood as their worst league performance since the 1993-94 season.
Despite having a steady start to the previous season and losing only two out of their first 13 games, a drastic twist in the tale occurred as they were able to register only five triumphs the rest of the season.
The instability of the coaching staff was also one of the prime reasons behind the Blues’ disastrous outcome as we spotted four managers taking charge in a single season. The responsibility of the Blues has now been assigned to Argentine head coach Mauricio Pochettino who was one of the key forces behind the rise of Tottenham Hotspur in the previous decade.
Hence, Parimatch News brings you the list of five players whom Pochettino should bring to Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2023-24 PL season.
#5 Moises Caicedo
Chelsea’s midfield department looks relatively weak this season, especially after the departure of N’Golo Kante who emerged as their most reliable defensive midfielder over the years. Hence the arrival of a charismatic yet intelligent central midfielder like Moises Caicedo will be a great move for the Blues in order to strengthen the core unit.
Being recalled by Brighton in the midway of his season-long loan spell with the Belgian outfit Beerschot was the major turning point of his career as he has never looked back since then. The Ecuadorian midfielder took no time to earn first-choice status in the team and went on to appear 37 times for Brighton in his most recent EPL campaign.
Caicedo has been heavily linked with the London Blues and other elite clubs from January 2023 and Chelsea will have to come up with a lucrative deal for the 21-year-old sensation as he has recently extended his stay with the Seagulls until 2027.
#4 Ibrahim Sangare
Another stalwart midfielder whom the Blues can target this summer transfer window on a primary basis if the Moises Caicedo deal collapses. Sangare is famous for his heroics in the defensive midfield position for PSV Eindhoven and Ivory Coast national side and will be a like-to-like replacement for N’Golo Kante.
The 25-year-old made 45 appearances for PSV in the 2022-23 Dutch football season where Boeren clinched their second consecutive KNVB Cup title. He also netted eight goals across all competitions in the previous campaign which adds a goal-scoring dimension to his exquisite gameplay.
According to multiple reports, Sangare’s exit from the Dutch top-division outfit is bound to happen in this summer transfer window. Another London-based club West Ham United is currently leading the race for the Ivorian midfielder’s signature, however, Chelsea is capable enough to hijack the deal by all means.
#3 Robert Sanchez
Robert Sanchez leading the race to replace Edouard Mendy at Stamford Bridge
Edouard Mendy used to be the first-choice Chelsea keeper before the commencement of the previous season but is now set to depart for Saudi Arabia. Amidst the departure of the Senegalese international, the Blues’ hunt for a new guardian to challenge Kepa Arrizabalaga may end with Robert Sanchez.
The 25-year-old shot-stopper has garnered the attention of many European giants after donning the role of first-choice Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper for the past three years. It has also helped him to barge into the national setup as he has been a regular member of the Spanish team in all major international competitions since Euro 2020.
Chelsea has also shown interest in Andre Onana but the chance of this transfer is quite low as other clubs are also in serious pursuit of the Inter goalkeeper. Hence, Sanchez can be a safer option ahead of Onana while the vast EPL experience will also give him an extra edge.
#2 Declan Rice
For the past few years whenever a transfer window opens in the Premier League, this name is automatically brought into the limelight by managers, coaches, and fans. After showcasing his loyalty and gratitude towards his beloved club West Ham United, Rice has finally decided to head towards the new chapter of his career at the new destination.
The 24-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League right now and has also sustained it in international football as well. He was assigned with the captaincy responsibilities of the Hammers at the age of just 23 while Chelsea is not only in need of a midfielder but also a proven leader to stage a massive turnaround.
It will be a homecoming for the former Ireland international if he once again decides to don the all-blue colours after having spent eight years of his youth career at Stamford Bridge. Declan Rice already has many high-profile offers lined up but the London Blues are also determined to acquire the services of the hottest English commodity.
#1 Dusan Vlahovic
The Serbian Hitman is in search of bigger challenges
Followed by a disastrous 2022-23 campaign, the Blues are now suffering from the Saudi crisis as Romelu Lukaku is the latest player to be linked with the Middle Eastern league. They ranked joint-fifth among the Premier League clubs who netted the lowest goals in the previous season and their incapability of scoring clutch goals also cost them big chunks.
The Serbian striking sensation Dusan Vlahovic is the man who can fit into the club’s system and bring the goal-scoring wave to Stamford Bridge. After gracing the Serie-A stage in 2018, Vlahovic has bagged a tally of 61 goals from 140 league appearances representing two different clubs Fiorentina and Juventus over the past six seasons.
The 23-year-old forward has also expressed his intention to the Juventus board and the Turin-based club is also willing to accept the suitable offer. Juve has reportedly valued the Serbian hitman for €70 million and has already shortlisted Lukaku as the potential replacement upon successful transfer.