Two Ins And Two Outs That Should Happen At Chelsea This Summer
Chelsea look like firm favourites to win the Premier League title in their first season under new manager Antonio Conte. After a poor campaign last time around, the Blues have had a stellar season under the former Juventus manager and sit on top of the Premier League table.
Chelsea have managed to collect 81 points from 34 games this season and are 4 points ahead of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur. And with just 4 matches left to be played, combined with a much easier run in at the end as compared to Spurs, the West Londoners are surely the front-runners for the title.
Having almost sealed the Premier League title and qualified for the UEFA Champions League, Conte and his men cannot afford to rest on their laurels and should be looking to challenge on both domestic and European fronts in the coming season. While they have had a settled squad this season, the fact that they weren’t involved in the European competitions helped them a great deal.
However, Chelsea will need to strengthen the squad over the summer if they are to sustain their dominance. While there will be players coming in, there could be potential exits from as well, as Conte looks to build a squad in his own image. Here are two transfer ins and outs that may take place at Chelsea in the upcoming transfer window:
Outs:
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Loan)
The academy graduate has been earmarked as one of the best to have come through in recent years but has found opportunities hard to come by under Conte.
With N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic performing exceptionally well in the middle of the park and Cesc Fabregas being the ideal backup, Loftus-Cheek has had to make do with limited game time. The 21-year old has just made 11 appearances across all competitions this season and has chipped in with 2 assists.
The 21-year old is a huge talent, without a doubt, but with Conte looking to add more numbers to his midfield, game time will be scarce next season as well. At this point in his career, he needs to be playing regularly to continue his development and Chelsea should look to farm him out on loan to a Premier League side for the upcoming season.
Michy Batshuayi
The Belgian international has had a frustrating first season in West London after moving from French side Olympique Marseille last summer.
Batshuayi has had to spend most of his time with Chelsea by warming the benches and is yet to start a single Premier League game. He has shown that he has the ability to make an impact, having netted 5 goals and 3 assists from 24 games across all competitions. But, it seems like Conte doesn’t really trust the 23-year old and as a result has been reluctant in using him in the league.
Considering his age and his potential, there will be plenty of suitors for his services and if Conte isn’t going to use him, the club would be better off selling him in the summer.
Ins:
Sead Kolasinac
The Schalke left-back has been a subject of much speculation over the past few months, with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal all interested in the player’s services.
Kolasinac is out of contract with his club at the end of the season, making him a very attractive prospect and as a result, has been pursued by many clubs. The 23-year old has made 34 appearances for the Gelsenkirchen-based outfit this term, scoring 3 and setting up 9 strikes. Having spent a good part of last two years on the treatment tables, he has come into his own this season.
Chelsea have an excellent defence, but a lack of back-up for Marcos Alonso could expose them next season, especially with the number of extra games that they will be playing. Kolasinac fits the bill perfectly for Conte’s side and will be a perfect addition to strengthen the left wing-back position.
Tiemoue Bakayoko
The 23-year old midfield powerhouse of AS Monaco has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea over the past few months and could end up at the Bridge in the summer.
Bakayoko has had an excellent season with the Principality-based outfit and has been one of their major driving forces behind an amazing campaign that sees them on the top of the Ligue1 table and in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. The 22-year old has played a whopping 46 games this season and has chipped in with 3 goals and an assist, but it has been his enthralling performances in the middle of the park that have set him apart.
A willing runner and an equally strong tackler of the ball, Bakayoko is cut from the same cloth as Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante and will be a great option to have in their ranks as they look to dominate the domestic scenes and challenge on the continental stage next season.
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