Here is the best prospective starting XI for the Chelsea Football Club in 2020/21 after a massive spending spree in the summer window.
Chelsea has started the 2020 summer transfer window in style. The Blues have added a world class, prolific striker/forward in Timo Werner and a magnificent ball magician in Hakim Ziyech. It’s been a fantastic window, but there is hopefully much more to come. A Kai Havertz transfer is in the works, according to reports, which would represent yet another great signing. That gives away one of the positions in the best 2020/21 line-up after a massive spending spree by the Blues this summer. However, here is the best possible, realistic starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Andre Onana
The need for a new keeper is widely accepted by the Chelsea faithful. A Kepa Arrizabalaga sale is just the best for all concerned, but there is debate over who should be the next great Chelsea keeper. The best option, one almost universally acknowledged, is Jan Oblak from Atletico Madrid. He’s looked upon as the best in the world and with his superstar status comes one problem: the cost. The Blues are dishing out hundreds of millions for players all around the pitch and they just can’t afford a record price for a keeper for the second time in three years.
They paid the highest price ever for Arrizabalaga and frankly, it’s not logical for them to do it again. If they do, great, but realistically, it’s not happening. The more likely choice—a sensible and affordable choice—is Andre Onana from Ajax. He has the talent; he has Championship League experience; he’s young; he’s eager and he’s ready to play for a big club like Chelsea.
Right back: Reece James
Chelsea is ready for a change and an upgrade on the offensive end of the right back position. The choice here is the current young, emerging star Reece James. James had his good moments in the last season, but with that came some not so good times. The talent and potential is there.
James adds a new dimension in the attack on the right side as he’s a master of crosses and will seamlessly hook up with Ziyech and the new attacking midfielder on his side.
Centerback: Declan Rice
The central defense is in need of a major infusion of talent. The current group is fine, but does not excel by any means. If Chelsea is looking to advance into the top of the Premier League and beyond, it needs new additions at the back—at least one, maybe two. The first is the oft-cited Declan Rice from West Ham. He’ll be an expensive, but still very cost-effective, addition. Not only can Rice start and lead at central defense, but he can also deputize at times in defensive midfield for N’Golo Kante. He’s a 21-year-old multi-tool player and worth everything the Blues would have to pay to get him.
Centerback: Lewis Dunk
Chelsea needs another stout central defender, as well. The defensive unit lacks real grit and leadership at times and the second addition who will provide that is a long-time Chelsea fan, Brighton’s Lewis Dunk. Dunk and Rice will provide a handful to any attacking line that the Blues will face next season—no doubt. So, if this is a possibility, the Blues need to pull the trigger on a move.
Left back: Sergio Reguilon
The left back is maybe not the best choice for manager Frank Lampard, but it may very well be the best for the club. If Ben Chilwell’s price is not prohibitive, fine; but if it is, move quickly for Sergio Reguilon of Sevilla (on loan from Real Madrid). Reguilon provides the attacking flair that Lampard is looking for on the left. He was certainly spoiled from his days with Ashley Cole, one of the all-time best at left back, but Reguilon will provide the ‘get up and go’ attitude the gaffer is looking for at probably half the price of Chilwell.
Defensive midfielder: N’Golo Kante
There is only one candidate to start at this position and it’s the inimitable Kante, one of the world’s best at this position, if not the. Kante’s health has been a major question as of late, but this presupposes that he will be healthy and ready to go when the 2020/21 season begins next month. Rumors have begun to circulate about the Blues expressing a desire to sell Kante—don’t buy it for a second. Kante is the man for the job next season.
Attacking midfield: Mason Mount
Mason Mount is a talented young player who had been used at both forward and in the midfield on the left side. Next season, Mount will be slotted in at his best position, on the left side of the attacking midfield. Lampard showed a willingness to deploy dual No. 8s at the end of last season, expect the young Englishman to be included. Mount’s work rate will be a key asset in fulfilling the defensive aspect of his midfield position, as well. He will be an asset to the defensive midfielder as well as very active in attack. Mount is a multi-faceted midfielder and he will complement the other two midfield players with ease.
Attacking midfielder: Kai Havertz
This prospective starter comes with a very big “if”, and that is the fact that Chelsea needs to seal the transfer of the multi-faceted wizard on the ball, Havertz, from Bayer Leverkusen. Havertz adds the finishing touches to the Chelsea attack—no pun intended. He’ll be the key linchpin between midfield and the forwards, something largely lacking last season. In addition, Havertz—like fellow maestro Ziyech—is also a finisher adding further goal-scoring acumen to the attack.
Right winger: Hakim Ziyech
He was acquired to add flair to the Chelsea attack. He is a magician on the ball, our magician. The choice at right forward is Ziyech and frankly, it isn’t close. Ziyech was the first acquisition in Chelsea’s reconstruction under Lampard; he adds amazing crossing ability and tremendous on the ball proficiency. In addition, he has a good finishing ability. Ziyech does it all and for that reason, he was a masterful transfer acquisition.
Striker: Timo Werner
One of the final positions in this dramatically updated—and without question, improved—Chelsea starting line-up is an amazingly prolific scorer from the Bundesliga. Werner, absent the truly other-worldly Robert Lewandowski, was the top striker in that league. He notched 28 goals and eight assists in 34 Bundesliga appearances last season; those numbers speak for themselves. He’s the superlative finisher that the club has looked for, although Tammy Abraham has great potential to provide that talent to the club in the future, as well. But right now, Werner is the finished product. In addition, the Blues have the always reliable Olivier Giroud to fill in as needed with quality and goals.
Left winger: Christian Pulisic
No one has claimed this position other than Captain America himself, Christian Pulisic. Pulisic started slowly for the Blues last season and then was felled by injury prior to the suspension of the league. After returning, however, he demonstrated a new and more direct style that maximized his pace and attacking flair. Rather than looking for the pass first, he looked to attack the goal and shoot. It paid off for the club and for Pulisic as the American solidified his place in the starting XI. Hopefully he can put his muscle injuries behind him and if he does, expect double-digit goal production from the budding superstar next season.
That’s a prospective starting XI for the Blues in 20/21. It’s an imposing attacking group and one that also has a back line that would almost certainly lessen goals against. There can be a debate about which is more important from now until the cows come home, attack or defense, but one thing is certain: you can’t win without scoring more goals than the other side.
This line-up would strengthen the front, the back and the keeper spots. It’s all better going forward and there is strength in depth, as well. Hopefully all of these pieces are assembled in a month’s time and then, it’s on to a lot more wins moving forward.