Chelsea Summer Transfer Window 2024 Analysis: Strategies, needs, areas for improvement, and financial capabilities
Chelsea have had two poor seasons in a row under the new ownership of Todd Boehly and Co. They have spent over £1 billion on transfers but finished 12th in the Premier League in the 2022-23 season and managed sixth place last season. They did reach the Carabao Cup final last campaign but lost to Liverpool in extra time.
The Blues appointed Mauricio Pochettino as manager ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. They had a poor start but eventually appeared to improve over the course of the season. Despite some inconsistent performances, they finished sixth and qualified for the UEFA Europa Conference League.
However, at the end of the season, Chelsea and Pochettino mutually parted ways. The club then went on to appoint Enzo Maresca, who led Leicester City to the EFL Championship victory last season. They will now be looking to make their plans for the ongoing summer transfer window ahead of the upcoming 2024-25 season.
Chelsea’s transfer strategy
The West London side’s recent transfer strategy has been a topic of discussion among fans and pundits. Under Todd Boehly and Co., the club are only looking to sign players who are aged under 25.
They want to build a long-term project with young talented players rather than just focusing on the present. This has seen an influx of loads of teenagers and youngsters in the last two years. The likes of Romeo Lavia, Willian Estevao, and Nicolas Jackson have all arrived in the last year who fit the criteria of being under 25.
This strategy has garnered criticism from some fans and pundits though due to a lack of experience in the squad. Reports suggested that Mauricio Pochettino also wanted more experienced players in the squad and this was part of his disagreements with the club hierarchy.
Squad needs and areas of improvement
Goalkeeping
Chelsea currently have Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic as their main two goalkeepers. While Sanchez started as the first-choice last season, Petrovic replaced him after an injury and kept his position as the first-choice.
The Blues are expected to continue with the duo next season. They will also have Kepa Arrizabalaga returning from his loan at Real Madrid but he is expected to leave the club.
Defense
The West London side parted ways with the experienced Thiago Silva and signed Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer. Despite their immense depth though, Mauricio Pochettino struggled to find his first-choice defensive combination last season.
Much of it also had to do with injuries as the likes of Reece James and Wesley Fofana remained out for extended periods. It will be interesting to see how Enzo Maresca navigates between his defenders. Chelsea don’t appear to need any more defenders in their ranks and are instead looking to sell Trevoh Chalobah.
Midfield
The Blues have signed a host of young midfielders in recent years but still struggled massively to control games last season at times. A double pivot of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez with Conor Gallagher further forward didn’t work well.
Gallagher was arguably their best midfielder but Maresca’s style of play requires much more technical players. He could put Gallager and Caicedo along with Noni Madueke in midfield to help control the tempo.
Chelsea also need depth in midfield. Now, this could be filled with numerous youngsters they have but an experienced midfielder would be preferable.
Attack
One area the west London side have struggled in is the striker position. They signed Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal last year and while he scored 14 goals in 35 league games, he missed some huge chances.
Chelsea are likely to part ways with Armando Broja and Romelu Lukaku. Hence, they need another striker to compete with Jackson. Moreover, with Mykhaylo Mudryk’s inconsistent form and Raheem Sterling’s future in the air, they also need a top-quality left winger.
Transfers completed so far
As of June 30, Chelsea have completed the signing of three players this summer. They signed defender Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer after his departure from Fulham and midfielder Omai Kellyman from Aston Villa.
The Blues have also signed highly-rated Brazilian forward Estevao Willian, who will join the club in 2025 when he turns 18.
The West London side has also seen veteran defender Thiago Silva leave as a free agent while left-back Ian Maatsen moved to Aston Villa.
Potential Signings
Chelsea have been linked with a host of players in the summer as they look to strengthen their squad for the 2024-25 season. While they lost the race for Michael Olise to Bayern Munich, they still have a number of key targets.
In attack, the Blues have been linked with a number of strikers like Ivan Toney, Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres and Santiago Gimenez. After the disappointment with Olise, they are also looking to bring in wingers and have been linked with Athletic Club’s Nico Williams.
In midfield, they are set to sign midfielder Kiernan Drewsbury-Hall, who played under Maresca at Leicester City.
Chelsea are well-stocked in defense despite the departure of Thiago Silva. Trevoh Chalobah has also been linked with an exit, which could tempt them into signing a defender.
Financial Capabilities
Chelsea have spent over £1 billion in transfer fees in the last two years and the new owners have certainly shown a keen interest in spending money. They have signed a number of young players for huge fees, offering them lengthy contracts.
The Blues are running a tightrope on the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules though. They were close to a breach this summer but appeared to have done enough until June 30 to avoid punishment.
They did business with other PSR-affected clubs like Aston Villa while also selling some assets outside of the squad.
Chelsea will certainly not be able to spend the over £400 million they spent on new players last summer. However, their limited budget would be inflated on potential sales of the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Trevoh Chalobah.
Also Read: Premier League Transfer Window Predictions 2024: Big Players Who Could Move This Summer