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Disclaimer: With Chelsea's transfer ban still in the process of being appealed, there is a degree of uncertainty around the club as to whether it will be lifted or not. In this instance, the article is a hypothetical look at the players Chelsea could sign if it was to be lifted.
Seemingly long gone are the days when Chelsea steamrolled opposition and won silverware without breaking a sweat; now, they find themselves languishing outside of the top four and dropping points to teams that they would have demolished just a couple of seasons prior.
Some fans point the finger at the players out on the pitch, whilst others blame the frequent changing of managers; however, the crisis at Chelsea is all-encompassing: from the board all the way to the players, there are a myriad of problems to be solved.
Whilst on paper, Chelsea may have what appears to be a great team filled to the brim with superstars, out on the field, nothing clicks. There is very little chemistry between the players, which has rendered them a cluster of individuals, rather than a team.
New blood needs to be brought into the Chelsea side this summer, if just to revive the stagnant form they've found themselves in for the past few months. So, without further adieu, here are five players that Chelsea could sign in the summer.
#5 Hirving Lozano (PSV)
Hirving Lozano is a 23-year-old left winger who currently plays for PSV in the Eredivisie. He has also represented Mexico's national team a total of 34 times since making his debut in February 2016.
Lozano only rose to prominence after his move to PSV back in the summer of 2017 for around £7m from CF Pachuca. Before this, he was largely unknown. Now, though, Lozano has showcased not just to the fans in the Eredivisie, but also to those watching him in Champions League games, that he is a force to be reckoned with out on the flanks.
With a sudden turn of pace, Lozano can effortlessly skip past oncoming defenders, and from here, he can either move out further before whipping in a cross, or he can turn inside and head for goal -- either way, he poses a constant threat to the opposition.
His hunger for the ball means that he simply keeps on running, keeping defenders on their feet and tiring them out until they can't keep up with him anymore. That's when he's at his most dangerous.
With 15 goals and 8 assists in just 24 appearances for PSV this season, it may be very difficult for them to keep hold of their star player if he remains consistent.
Lozano is supposedly worth around £35m, which is a price that a club like PSV would be more than happy to accept, most likely. After all, it's a £28m profit on how much they paid for him a couple of years ago.
#4 Mauro Icardi (Inter Milan)
Mauro Icardi is a 26-year-old centre-forward who currently plays for Inter Milan in Serie A. He has also featured for Argentina's national team eight times since making his debut in October 2013.
What makes this transfer so likely is the fact that Icardi is unsettled at Inter Milan right now. His relationship with the club is at an all-time low, and after having only just returned to training after 36 days away, it's clear that he's nearing the end of his time in Milan.
The Sun reported that Inter Milan could be open to selling him off for just £43m, half of what his market value is estimated to be. The club are clearly desperate to get him off the books and focus on other things.
If Chelsea were to land a player like Icardi, it would change their whole attacking outlet. Sarri brought in Gonzalo Higuain in January to add some force to the attack, but he hasn't been anywhere near as good as fans, or Sarri, might have expected. This may be due to age, but Higuain doesn't fit the mould of a star striker -- but Icardi does.
Icardi is quick, strong, and if he breaks through the defence and finds himself on towards goal, there's only likely to be one result: Icardi wheeling away in celebration.
#3 Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina)
Federico Chiesa is a 21-year-old right winger who currently plays for Fiorentina in Serie A. He has also represented Italy's national team on 11 occasions, having made his debut in March 2018.
Chiesa has only ever been with Fiorentina. He progressed from their youth set-up to the U19 squad, before eventually being promoted to the senior side in the summer of 2016. This is likely to mean that there's a sentimental attachment to the club, which will make it twice as hard for Chelsea, or any club for that matter, to pry him away from his boyhood team.
Chiesa is just the sort of player Chelsea need down the right flank; a player with boundless energy, willing to sprint back and forth to ensure that Chelsea's attack is speedy all round. However, the right wing isn't the only string to his bow; he can also play as a right midfielder and left winger, which is useful for when Sarri wishes to switch it up a bit.
The 21-year-old shows no sign of slowing down this season, scoring 6 goals and registering 7 assists in 28 games for Fiorentina. These sort of performances have led to his market value soaring in recent months. He's now supposedly worth around £40m, but as written above, to persuade Chiesa and Fiorentina to part ways may take a lot more cash.
#2 Nicolo Barella (Cagliari)
Nicolo Barella is a 22-year-old central midfielder who currently plays for Cagliari in Serie A. He has also represented Italy's national team four times since his debut in October 2018.
With 26 appearances to his name already this season, Barella has earned his fixture in the first team through his consistency to perform well from game to game. Whilst his stats of one goal and two assists certainly don't look too great on paper, in the game itself, Barella has a large say in regards to what happens on the pitch.
As well as being a central midfielder, Barella has been utilised as a defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder in recent months -- it's clear that Rolando Maran wants to find the best position possible for his star player.
Another major task for Maran and Cagliari is keeping hold of Barella until next season; he's being hunted by so many clubs right now that it seems an almost impossible job. If Chelsea can meet his market value of around £30m, then Cagliari will struggle to turn down such a sum.
#1 Luka Jovic (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Luka Jovic is a 21-year-old centre-forward who currently plays for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. He has also featured for Serbia's national team on four occasions, having made his debut in June 2018 at the World Cup.
Jovic, despite popular belief, is actually on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt from Benfica. The confusion stems from the fact he's been with Frankfurt for two years now, but his parent club will be more than happy to take him back. When he was initially loaned out, he had a market value of around £1.8m; now, his market value has soared to £50m. Benfica will probably be eager to cash in while the iron's hot, instead of using him and letting him turn cold.
In just 24 appearances for Frankfurt this season, Jovic has scored 15 goals and registered a further 6 assists. He is also the youngest player to have scored five goals in one match in the Bundesliga.
As well as being able to play as a centre-forward, Jovic can also be utilised on either wing thanks to his speed and strength on the ball. He also has a degree of trickery when a defender takes him on, which serves him well in the final third, as he doesn't have to rely on teammates for service as often as other strikers might.
