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Chelsea have got off to a magnificent start to the season under Maurizio Sarri as they remain the only unbeaten side across all competitions in Europe. While they are yet to lose a match, there are chinks in the armor for everyone to notice.
Quite evidently, Chelsea are a team which is below Manchester City at the moment. The Defending champions have been nothing short of exceptional this season as they are on course to do even better than their record-breaking season last year.
One of the steps for Chelsea to match the gap is learning Sarri's methods; however, that might not be enough. If the Blues wish to challenge for the Premier League title, they will have to invest in the squad to improve its quality. There are three areas in particular where Chelsea desperately need an upgrade.
#3 Right-Back
The Role of the full-back in modern-day football is well documented. Both the right and left full-backs are not only required to do their jobs defensively but also are vital cogs in a team's attacking plan.
For the possession-based system that Sarri aims to install at Chelsea, the fullbacks are extremely important in ensuring its successful implementation. However, this is an area Chelsea are definitely lacking in.
While Marcos Alonso has his deficiencies, he has been largely impressive this season on the left side, it is the right side which is a cause of concern in Chelsea. There is no doubting that over the last five years Cesar Azpilicueta has been Chelsea's most consistent player on defence.
However, this season the Spaniard has looked completely out of sorts. Seeing his third change in position in the five years, the Chelsea Vice-Captain has failed to have any impact under Sarri.
Although right-back is his original position, the effect of not having played there for five years is showing. Having played as a defensive left-back under Mourinho and centre-back under Antonio Conte, it seems the offensive attributes of the position is something Azpilicueta has lost from his game. At the moment, the Spanish International is uncharacteristically struggling with his defensive duties too.
If there is one player in this Chelsea team who deserves time to adapt, it is certainly Azpilicueta. However, the need for a viable alternative option who provides healthy competition cannot be ignored. This is something Davide Zappacosta is clearly not providing and hence Chelsea will have to invest in a new right-back.
#2 Right Wing
On the left wing, Chelsea has one of the best players in the world in Eden Hazard. However, they are not as lucky on the right wing. The spot is still wide open as both Willian and Pedro continue to fight for it.
At the end of this season, Willian will complete six years at Chelsea. Despite spending that amount of time at the club, the Brazilian has scored only 27 goals in the Premier League. Whether it be goals, assists or playing the right pass in the final third, his end product is simply not good enough.
On the other hand, Pedro has begun this season in impressive fashion having already scored four goals despite injury issues. However, the last three years have shown us that age is not on his side and his prime is definitely past him.
While the former Barcelona forward can be a useful asset for Maurizio Sarri, Chelsea cannot rely on him. It is quite clear that Chelsea needs to sign a new wide attacker and also give Callum Hudson-Odoi a fair chance. It is quite surprising how Chelsea have not bought a single winger since the signing of Pedro in 2015.
#1 Striker
The difference a quality centre-forward can make to a football team is well-known. The likes of Didier Drogba and Diego Costa made their mark in big games at big moments and Chelsea fans know the need for a competent striker in a team. However, Chelsea is currently struggling to find one and that is without a doubt the biggest missing piece in Maurizio Sarri's team.
It was only a year ago that Chelsea bought Alvaro Morata for a then club record fee. However, things have hardly gone as planned for the club or the player. Since his arrival in London last summer, Morata has only scored 21 goals for the club so far.
Despite scoring five goals in his last seven games for Chelsea, it is still not enough to convince Chelsea fans that an upgrade is not needed. Not just Morata's lack of goals but his overall play is something that is not acceptable from a centre-forward of a club like Chelsea.
In Olivier Giroud, Chelsea has an extremely viable secondary option. The Frenchman is someone who always does a job for the team. Even if he does not score, Giroud helps the team with some brilliant link-up play, creating space for the other attackers to flourish and working hard on the pitch.
While Giroud is someone who always helps the team, his goal-scoring record prevents him from becoming a regular first-choice for the team. The World Cup-winning striker has only one goal in 12 appearances this season.
It is ultimately a game of goals and its the striker's responsibility to produce them. Chelsea desperately needs someone who can produce at least 25 goals per season.
Even if Chelsea play the most attractive football or have the best players in other positions, it will not matter unless there is someone who is consistently finding the back of the net.
