Year: 2018

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 25: Frank Lampard shows appreciation to the fans at half time during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Swansea City at Stamford Bridge on February 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Chelsea: Lampard and Morris to start the indirect path to the Blues

Chelsea looking at stop gaps and strikers they cannot afford

Chelsea: Laurent Blanc is a safety net with a quick expiration date

Three areas on the pitch Chelsea have no room for sloppy transfers

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Chelsea Manager, Antonio Conte arrives at St Luke's & Christ Church ahead of the memorial for Ray Wilkins on May 1, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images)

Chelsea: Quality gap between transfer windows stranded Antonio Conte

REGGIO NELL'EMILIA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: Michy Batshuayi of Borussia Dortmund looks on at the end of the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 match between Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund at the Mapei Stadium - Citta' del Tricolore on February 22, 2018 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)

Chelsea: Michy Batshuayi / Christian Pulisic swap is a no-brainer

COBHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 17: Antonio Conte, Manager of Chelsea and coach Carlo Cudicini in discussion during a Chelsea training session on the eve of their UEFA Champions League match against AS Roma at Chelsea Training Ground on October 17, 2017 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Chelsea penny pinching their way into Antonio Conte year three

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Antonio Conte, Manager of Chelsea lifts the Emirates FA Cup Trophy following his sides victory in The Emirates FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on May 19, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Chelsea and league narratives heading into the summer

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MAY 13: Antonio Conte, Manager of Chelsea looks on during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St. James Park on May 13, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Chelsea Tactics and Transfers: How long can they delay any decisions?

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Antonio Conte, Manager of Chelsea lifts the Emirates FA Cup Trophy following his sides victory in The Emirates FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on May 19, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Dereliction of duty at Chelsea whilst rivals take the cup out of FA Cup

READING, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Lucas Piazon of Fulham celebrates scoring during the Sky Bet Championship match between Reading and Fulham at Madejski Stadium on August 12, 2017 in Reading, England. (Photo by Harry Hubbard/Getty Images)

Fulham’s promotion forces Chelsea into important decisions on loanees

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Antonio Conte, Manager of Chelsea celebrates with the Emirates FA Cup Trophy following his sides victory in The Emirates FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on May 19, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Chelsea go from Jean Michael Seri to Maurizio Sarri to a circus

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Alvaro Morata of Chelsea runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge on February 12, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Chelsea’s cash and Alvaro Morata not enough to tempt Mauro Icardi

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - APRIL 08: Michael Emenalo, Technical director at Chelsea is seen prior to the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Chelsea at Vitality Stadium on April 8, 2017 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Chelsea’s most important summer signing will not be on the pitch

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - APRIL 03: John Terry of Aston Villa celebrates victory after the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Reading at Villa Park on April 3, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Chelsea must find a way to replace John Terry’s locker room leadership

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 01: Cesc Fabregas of Chelsea looks dejected during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on April 1, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Chelsea could spend several years battling for third… among London clubs

BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 13: Antonio Conte, Manager of Chelsea walks across the pitch during a Chelsea training session on the eve of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 match against FC Barcelona at Nou Camp on March 13, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Chelsea: Maurizio Sarri’s squad management practices calcified in Serie B

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 09: Alvaro Morata of Chelsea is challenged by Mathias Jorgensen of Huddersfield Town during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Huddersfield Town at Stamford Bridge on May 9, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Chelsea are more likely to repeat their transfer history than learn from it

NORWICH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: David Luiz of Chelsea is challenged by Alex Pritchard of Norwich City during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Norwich City and Chelsea at Carrow Road on January 6, 2018 in Norwich, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Chelsea’s second farewell to David Luiz will be on worse terms than the first

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 25: Eden Hazard of Chelsea is helped up by Anthony Martial of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on February 25, 2018 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Chelsea and Anthony Martial can rescue each other’s hopes with a transfer

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 13: A general view of a corner flag inside the stadium prior to during The Emirates FA Cup Quarter-Final match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on March 13, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

Chelsea loanee (insert name here) does not want another loan

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Kasey Palmer of Huddersfield Town during the Premier League match between Everton and Huddersfield Town at Goodison Park on December 2, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Chelsea must not let Kasey Palmer become the loan army’s promotion artist

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 03: Alvaro Morata of Chelsea in action during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on January 3, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Chelsea’s unlucky 13: The defeats that defined the 2017/18 campaign

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Antonio Conte, Manager of Chelsea sprays his team with Champagne following his sides victory in The Emirates FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on May 19, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Chelsea: World Cup and manager next season should destroy cliques

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MAY 13: Antonio Conte, Manager of Chelsea looks on during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St. James Park on May 13, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Chelsea, release clauses, and the managerial bottom of the barrel

MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 01: Robert Lewandowski of FC Bayern Muenchen looks on during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Muenchen at the Bernabeu on May 1, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Chelsea should follow the 30/30 rule and pass on Robert Lewandowski

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Chelsea Manager, Antonio Conte arrives at St Luke's & Christ Church ahead of the memorial for Ray Wilkins on May 1, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images)

Chelsea vs. Antonio Conte: Both sides make strong, sympathetic cases

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 01: Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea applauds after the Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on April 1, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Chelsea: Cesar Azpilicueta earned his call-up, deserves more minutes