16 August 2023 , 07:34
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Chelsea are close to landing two more new arrivals with fees agreed for Romeo Lavia and Michael Olise - which will add another £90m to their summer spending.
The Blues have forked out huge sums during the Todd Boehly era and Mauricio Pochettino has been able to bolster his options since being appointed in the summer. Already the Argentine had a squad of stars to pick from, albeit some have been moved on.
Pochettino inherited a team that, only two years ago, won the Champions League with several homegrown talents at the forefront of that. Boehly has sanctioned several British transfer record moves to add even more quality, the majority of which is yet to be realised.
We haven't seen the best from the likes of Raheem Sterling and Enzo Fernandez yet, although the latter was a standout in their Premier League opener against Liverpool, conducting things impressively from the centre of midfield.
Both men are set to be regulars under Pochettino with Lavia aiding Fernandez in the middle of the pitch whilst Olise will offer a huge threat out wide having shone since moving up from the Championship to join Crystal Palace several years ago.
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If the Chelsea boss wants to utilise both men, as well as his new £115m signing Moises Caicedo, whose move was announced earlier this week, then he may have to revert to a back four, allowing him to play with three midfielders and two wingers supporting his No 9.
On Sunday he played Reece James and Ben Chilwell as wing-backs, but to avoid selection headaches could opt to play them as conventional full-backs. However Chelsea have at least five centre-halves on their books who will, justifiably, believe they have a right to a starting berth.
Chelsea have a host of options, but their boss will need to settle on some combinationsIn a young side Thiago Silva, who is closing in on 40, is seen as a must, given his experience and the guidance he can provide. Levi Colwill and Axel Disasi, who scored on his debut on Sunday, played in a back three. Pochettino also has Wesley Fofana, who has proved himself at Leicester, as an option once he's fit whilst January signing Benoît Badiashile has got limited chances.
In front of them Lavia and Caicedo are likely to provide a solid foundation, but both players have shown themselves more than able of creating in the attacking third. Fernandez could enjoy more of a forward role and he underlined how impressively he can link play against the Reds.
The likes of Conor Gallagher, who played on Sunday, will keep them honest with Carney Chukwuemeka also a versatile option. Pochettino's squad gives him options throughout the pitch and he could play with two centre forwards in what would be deemed an old school move.
Nicolas Jackson led the line against Liverpool with Christopher Nkunku out injured. He's expected to be sidelined for several months but would be the more favourable option to lead the line if Chelsea went with just one No 9.
Either side of him Sterling and Olise could slot in, although, again, Pochettino has options. Mykhaylo Mudryk arrived for huge money and much is still expected of him. His talent is clear and the Blues boss could well get the best out of him, which would give him more competition on the wings.