There are several positions at Chelsea identified by the fans as severe needs up and down the starting XI. Without ranking them in order they are striker, goalkeeper, centerback, and either of the winger positions depending on who you ask.
We already got word last week from insider Ben Jacobs that Chelsea likely will not be pursuing a premier goalkeeper so we can cross that one off the list. However, that still leaves three other positions where a major upgrade or at least some excellent depth is needed.
According to insider Fabrizio Romano, perhaps the most reliable insider in all of world football, and his column on GiveMeSport, Chelsea will be looking at two positions specifically. Romano says they will be focusing on left wing and striker which should come as no surprise.
The Blues have been looking for another option at striker besides Nicolas Jackson for a year and a half now and the best they have done is youngster Marc Guiu from Barcelona. Guiu has been excellent in the UEFA Conference League, leading all scorers in the league phase, but has not been called on often in domestic competitions.
The young Spaniard likely wouldve been given a chance after Jackson’s injury but in a spat of bad luck he was injured in the same match against West Ham. He is scheduled to return around the same time as Jackson so he likely won’t be given the same opportunities he could’ve once had.
As for left winger, the Blues have played Jadon Sancho and Christopher Nkunku out there with varying results and Mykhailo Mudryk has missed a ton of time due to suspension. Sancho will almost certainly be back next year and the jury is out on Mudryk when he does return from his ban.
The expensive options the Blues have had the most links to at these positions are Rafael Leao of AC Milan and Victor Osimhen of Napoli on loan at Galatasary. Either player would likely cost £100m or more each though there could be some wiggle room with Osimhen due to how unsettled the player is in Naples.
Chelsea would likely have to make some sales to fund the purchases of these players and there are several candidates in the squad who could be made available. Regardless of how these moves get funded it’s good to see Chelsea’s ownership accept that these are major positions of need and have made it known that they will spend to upgrade this summer.