sport news How Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea squad could look as new boss plans to ... trends now
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
