2023/24 Chelsea Preview

Fresh forward line

Goals were a problem for Chelsea last season, with the Blues netting just 38 in the Premier League and failing to score in either domestic cup as they exited both at the third-round stage. But the early summer arrival of four attacking players shows Chelsea are keen to quickly address the issue.

Two are for the future, with 18-year-old wingers Diego Moreira and Angelo Gabriel offering potential but not likely to make an immediate impact.

However, the others are very much for the present, with Nicolas Jackson arriving from Villarreal to lead the line and French superstar Christopher Nkunku expected to slot in behind him in Pochettino’s preferred 4-2-3-1.

Both have the pace and energy to meet Pochettino’s high-pressing demands and, more importantly, both promise goals.

Nkunku – a £52m signing from RB Leipzig – netted 16 in the Bundesliga last season and 20 in 2021-22, as well as laying on 17 assists over those two campaigns to make him the hottest prospect in the German top-flight.

Jackson is an emerging talent at just 22-years-old but he scored nine goals in his final eight games for Villarreal and looks the perfect profile for Pochettino. Fast, physical and composed, the Senegalese international should quickly establish himself as the first-choice number nine.

With Armando Broja returning from injury and Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke expected to kick on in their second season at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea possess a thrilling range of goal threat.

A reshaped midfield

The most eye-catching transfer of the 2023 winter transfer window was Chelsea’s £106m capture of Enzo Fernandez, but the Argentine World Cup-winning playmaker requires a hard-running partner to help control the midfield.

Fernandez replaced the outgoing Jorginho in January and since then multiple midfield men have also departed Stamford Bridge.

Stalwarts Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante have moved on following glorious careers in west London, Denis Zakaria returned to Juventus after a bit-part role on loan and Tiemoue Bakayoko has exited after a tricky six year spell with Chelsea.

Two attacking midfielders have also left, with academy products Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek heading to Manchester United and Milan respectively for a combined £70m.

And while Chelsea have excelled in getting good money for players who may not fit into Pochettino’s plans, it has left the midfield looking light.

Carney Chukwuemeka, Lewis Hall and Andrey Santos are all exciting teenage prospects but none are quite ready to demand a first-team spot. Conor Gallagher has a claim but is being linked with a move away, so Chelsea need an established elite talent to patrol the midfield alongside Fernandez.

Brighton’s Moises Caicedo is the perfect fit but Chelsea will be keeping an eye on the likes of Southampton’s Romeo Lavia and Gabri Veiga of Celta Vigo in case their efforts to prise Caicedo away come to nought.

A dream pairing of Fernandez and Caicedo in front of the back four would secure the Blues’ midfield for years to come but with quality alternatives available and Chelsea’s wallet open, the Blues look set to go into 2023-24 build on a powerful midfield base.

Defensive depth

Chelsea have also seen experienced departures in the backline, with defenders Cesar Azpilicueta and Kalidou Koulibaly and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy all exiting Stamford Bridge, but the rearguard area remains well stocked.

Goalkeeping depth will be added if an opportunity arises – and a stopgap replacement for Wesley Fofana may be needed following the centre-back’s anterior cruciate ligament injury – but the defence is packed with quality.

Pochettino is spoiled for choice at fullback, with Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella and the incoming Malo Gusto offering international class and a range of options on both flanks.

And at centre-back, the Blues have Thiago Silva, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah and the returning Levi Colwill.

Silva may find himself in more of a leadership role given the soon-to-be 39-year-old may struggle with Pochettino’s preferred high line, but the Brazilian’s experience within the defensive unit will remain invaluable. He is the perfect mentor for Badiashile, Chalobah and returning youngster Colwill, who proved himself on loan at Brighton last season and looks a star in the making. Given Colwill’s Premier League performances last term and the key role he played in England’s European Under-21 Championships this summer, the hugely talented youngster could grab a place in the starting XI sooner than many expect.

With a back four that looks strong regardless of which players are selected – and with further additions likely – Pochettino has the raw materials with which to forge a watertight defensive shield.

The outlook

Chelsea may take time to settle as the squad adapts to a new manager and new system, but supporters need not fear a repeat of last term’s disappointments.

Last season was somewhat freakish as multiple factors combined to work against the club. Following the summer 2022 takeover by BlueCo, a host of players had to arrive in rushed fashion and the complications of maintaining a bloated squad combined with the managerial reins twice changing hands produced too much instability to cope with.

But this summer’s streamlining of the squad will fix many of the Blues’ off-field issues and the arrival of Pochettino promises to transform their fortunes on the pitch.

Pochettino has worked wonders in both his previous spells in England, taking unfancied Southampton to a lofty eighth-place finish and leading Tottenham not just on two unexpected Premier League title challenges but to a Champions League final – all done on a shoestring budget.

He now has a well-balanced squad of elite players to work with and can expect a few more arrivals before the season begins, with the likely arrival of a player in the Caicedo mould putting the Chelsea starting XI up there among the best in the Premier League.

With no European distractions, plenty of time on the training pitches and some of the best players in the Premier League to work with, Pochettino could be on the cusp of providing something very special for the Chelsea faithful. See how Chelsea are faring in our football betting odds.

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