Without any doubts, Chelsea are favourites to win the Premier League title in their first season under new manager Antonio Conte. After experiencing a poor run last season, the Blues have had a strong season under the Italian manager and sit on top of the Premier League table.
Antonio Conte’s side have managed to bag 81 points from 34 games this season and are 4 points ahead of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur. But with just 4 matches left to be played, combined with a much easier run in at the end as compared to Tottenham, the West London club are surely the front-runners for the title.
Having almost sealed the EPL title and qualified for the UEFA Champions League, the former Juventus boss, the Blues boss and his men cannot afford to rest on their current squad and should be looking to challenge on both domestic and European fronts in the coming season. While they have had a good squad this campaign, the fact that the Blues weren’t involved in the European competitions helped them a great deal.
However, Chelsea will need to strengthen the squad over the summer if they are to sustain their dominance. While there will be players coming in, there could be potential exits from as well, as Conte looks to build a squad in his own image. Here are two transfer ins and outs that may take place at Chelsea in the upcoming transfer window:
Outs:
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Loan)
The academy graduate has been tipped as one of the best to have come through in recent years but has found opportunities hard to come by under Antonio Conte.
With N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic performing on their best in the middle of the park and Cesc Fabregas being the ideal backup, Loftus-Cheek has had to make do with limited game time. The 21-year-old has just registered 11 appearances across all competitions this season and has notched up 2 assists.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is a huge talent, without a doubt, but with the Blues boss looking to add more numbers to his midfield, game time will be short for him next season as well. At this point in Loftus-Cheek career, he needs to be playing regularly to continue his development and the Blues should look to farm him out on loan to a Premier League side for the upcoming season.
Michy Batshuayi
Here is another player that needs to find a career far from Stamford Bridge. Michy Batshuayi has had a frustrating first season in West London after moving from side Olympique Marseille last summer.
The Belgian international has had to spend most of his time with the Blues by warming the benches and is yet to play a single Premier League game. Michy has shown that has the ability to make an impact, having bagged 5 goals and created 3 assists in his 24 games across all competitions. But, it seems like Conte doesn’t really trust the 23-year old and as a result has been reluctant in using him in the league.
Considering his age and his potential, there will be plenty of suitors for his services and if Conte isn’t going to use him, the club would be better off selling him in the summer.
Ins:
Tiemoue Bakayoko
Tiemoue Bakayoko has been the breathing life of AS Monaco is the middle. He has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea over the past few months could end up at the Bridge in the summer.
The 23-year-old has had an excellent season with the French side and has been one of their major driving forces behind impressive results that sees them on the top of the Ligue 1 table and in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. The Frenchman played 46 games this season and has scored 3 goals and have one assist, but it has been his best performances in the middle of the park that have set him apart.
A willing runner and an equally strong tackler of the ball, the 23-year-old is cut from the same cloth as Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante and will be a great option to have in their ranks as the Blues look to dominate the domestic scenes and challenge on the continental stage next season.
Sead Kolasinac
The Schalke left-back has been a subject of much speculation over the past few months, with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal playing huge role in clubs interested in his services.
Sead Kolasinac is out of contract with his club at the end of the season, making him a very attractive prospect and a result, has been on the radar of many clubs. Kolasinac has registered 34 appearances for the Gelsenkirchen-based outfit this season, seeing the net 3 times and setting up 9 strikes. Having spent a good part of last two years on the treatment tables, he has come into his won this season.
The Blues have an excellent defence, but a lack of back-up for Marcos Alonso in the defence could expose them next season, especially with the number of extra games that they will be playing. The Bosnia international fits the bill perfectly with for Conte’s side and will be a perfect addition to strengthen the left wing-back position.