Winning the Champions League in Porto last month felt like a poignant moment for this Chelsea team and could act as a stepping stone for future success under Thomas Tuchel.
With players such as Mason Mount (22), Kai Havertz (22), Christian Pulisic (22), Ben Chilwell (24) and Reece James (21) all under 25, Chelsea have a strong young core that is primed for success. A few key additions in certain areas could make Chelsea the main challengers to Manchester City’s Premier League crown, so here are 3 players we think the Blues should sign this summer.
1. ERLING HAALAND
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Club: Borussia Dortmund
Value: £117 million
Despite all of Chelsea’s success under Tuchel, they still struggled to score under the German, managing only 1.3 goals per game in 30 matches. Chelsea have been searching for a striker ever since Diego Costa left the club in 2017 and since then the likes of Morata, Higuain, Abraham, Giroud and Timo Werner have failed to establish themselves as the number one option.
Chelsea must sign an established centre forward this summer if they are serious about challenging for the league title, and there is no better option in the world at the moment than Erling Haaland.
The Borussia Dortmund striker is the hottest property in football after Kylian Mbappe, with 41 goals in 41 appearances for the German side last season. Haaland is a physical specimen handcrafted by the gods with an athlete’s body and a 6’4 frame that helps him reach speeds up to 35km/h during games. Haaland would feast on central defenders in the Premier League with players such as Mount, Havertz and Ziyech supplying him and would make Chelsea legitimate title favourites alongside Manchester City.
2. ACHRAF HAKIMI
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Club: Inter Milan
Value: £54 million
With Reece James more naturally suited to a right-centre back role and Cesar Azpilicueta approaching the fag end of his career, one of the positions Chelsea must address this summer is right-wing back.
Achraf Hakimi would be the perfect signing for Chelsea in this position, adding another dimension to their offence and creating attacking gravity on the right-hand side. The 22-year-old dominated the Serie A last season, with 7 goals and 8 assists in 37 games for Inter Milan. The Moroccan international played a big part in Inter’s Serie A victory and his electric pace and directness in attack would help solve Chelsea’s goal-scoring woes.
Chelsea have reportedly submitted a bid worth £50 million for Hakimi which has been rejected by Inter and are expected to enter a bidding war with PSG for the Moroccan’s signature.
3. AURELIEN TCHOUAMENI
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Club: AS Monaco
Value: £27 million
While central midfield is not a position of priority for Chelsea at the moment, both Jorginho and N’Golo Kante are verging towards the wrong side of 30 and the Blues need a long-term replacement in this position. One of the most promising talents emerging in Europe in this position and someone Chelsea could target this summer is Aurelien Tchouameni.
Tchouameni has been incredibly impressive for Monaco in Ligue 1 this season, making 36 starts at the age of 20 for the third-best team in France. The Frenchman is a pure box to box midfielder and is one of the best tacklers in the world, averaging 4.17 tackles per 90 minutes in the league last season. Tchouameni also ranked 4th in Ligue 1 for interceptions and would fit perfectly in Tuchel’s 3-4-3 system, having played in midfield in a 3-4-2-1 under Niko Kovac at Monaco.
Signing the Monaco midfielder at this stage would be incredibly smart business by Chelsea, allowing him to adapt to the Premier League without instantly being put into the starting XI.
Chelsea have failed to make a realistic title challenge since 2017 under Antonio Conte, but with 2-3 decisive additions this summer, the Blues could be considered favourites to win the league next season ahead of the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool.
*All values according to Transfermarkt.com
[Image Credit: Erling Haaland]
Shivaan Shah