Chelsea transfer news: The Blues could find themselves called into action in the market after injuries to key players leave Mauricio Pochettino short of answer in pre-season
Chelsea's transfer needs are becoming clearer and clearer as the window goes on. One month in and their work to clear out unwanted or unhappy first team players from the squad has been admirable but now the attention turns to how the New Chelsea will look on the field.
Nineteen-year-old Lewis Hall, who played most of his first team minutes last season at left-back or wing-back, has been included in the midfield section as well. His primary role is in midfield, but it adds to the lack of gametime in the squad as a whole. Andrey Santos and Cesare Casadei are just two of nine players involved that spent last season on loan.
The average age for the group is below 22, five years lower than the 29-man squad picked by Thomas Tuchel 12 months ago to tour the States. There were six players aged 30 or older in that set and Thiago Silva, 38, is the only one in this set.
It's a nice change to previous excursions that have lead to previously exiled figures such as Ross Barkley, Kenedy, Michy Batshuayi and Malang Sarr getting minutes in pre-season before being sold, released or loaned out just weeks later in what proves to be a totally pointless exercise.
There is, at least for most of those travelling, some hope of being in Pochettino's plans for next season which not only drives energy and hunger but also competition between those fighting for a spot. However, the young squad does also pose serious questions for the manager.
Chelsea face Liverpool on the opening day of the 2023/24 season and will enter it with a squad lacking experience throughout at the current moment. They are keen to bring in players to bolster the depth but continue to seek out players under the age of 25 where possible.
There may well be a desire to add another name to that group with the potential loan option for Casadei remaining. Romeo Lavia is being considered but is yet another teenager with just one year in the top flight. He is not much different from those currently on show.
James himself isn't out of the clear having spent much of the past two years recovering from or sidelined with damaging knocks to his knee or hamstring. The Blues signed Malo Gusto to act as competition and genuine back-up for James and the French full-back is now likely to get an early chance to prove his worth.
With Cobham starlets Dion Rankine and Dujon Sterling both moving away from the club this summer and Cesar Azpilicueta ending his 11-year stay in west London, James and Gusto are the only players natural to the wide right of defence in a back three or back four. That should be enough cover with a 23-year-old and 20-year-old but the strain put on Pochettino defenders is clear and the important of full-backs cannot be overstated.
If James' issues continue to plague him then Chelsea may well be forced to re-evaluate once again and look for more depth in the position. There is no indication that the club are currently looking at it as a weakness area but should they feel that James is struggling or may be a risk for the season, Tino Livramento is certainly an option worth pursuing.
Elsewhere, it is the injury to Fofana that may be of the most immediate worry. He was signed off the back of a long lay-off and found himself sidelined for stretches of his first season in London too. He missed more than 20 matches with more knee problems that have hit his career consistently to date.
However, with two 22-year-old centre-backs out and Thiago Silva also in the mix, Chelsea could be forced to act unexpectedly. Trevoh Chalobah is around and playing the role of understated understudy with an ease that only the Englishman could.
Too often forgetten, Chalobah will be in line to compete for a key role in the team given the current situation but it may still see Chelsea dip into the market. They have offered Bashir Humphreys and Alfie Gilchrist the chance to prove themselves in pre-season but both players are unproven at the top level.
Like with right-backs, Chelsea are not actively pursuing anyone in this role but it could be an area that is back on the agenda soon. Josko Gvardiol was long admired and even came close to joining last summer, he's yet to move to Manchester City for a massive fee that could move to £100million ($130m) and until then the Croatian could remain very much in the peripheral vision of the Blues.
Pochettino has plenty of previous when it comes to improving players in the frontline and Jackson may well be able to hit it off quickly but even the short-term absence of Broja is a blow. The 21-year-old appears to be a perfect player for Pochettino to work with but his recovery leaves room for more options.
Chelsea have been looking for a striker for a long time and nothing is yet to truly emerge as a concerete path but as the summer goes on it is hard to imagine Broja's position at Cobham not proving problematic for Pochettino heading into the season.
Chelsea's squad is promising and exciting but may well still lack the final few additions to make it ready for the new season. Their injury list, which has been far too long for far too long, at this stage might just kick things into gear when it most matters.
Which of the following prospects would you like to see in the first team, or loaned out for experience? Swipe to have your say...
Wuyemnopty
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Young players will only gain experience in the league "by playing"