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It has been a mixed bag so far for Chelsea under head coach, Maurizio Sarri.
After title-winning manager Antonio Conte was unceremoniously sacked, it had become evident that change was needed. To be fair to Sarri, he has not attempted wholesale changes yet. What has gone on so far has been more of gradual evolution rather than revolution.
The addition of Jorginho, the moving of N'Golo Kante into a more attacking role and switch back to a 4-3-3 formation have been some of the changes the former Napoli man has brought. Results have been a mixed bag so far thanks to an over-reliance on Eden Hazard and weakness in defence.
Claiming the 4th spot or winning the Europa League are the Blues' most realistic aims this season. This is meant to secure UEFA Champions League football for next season.
It has become evident that the playing squad is in need of a serious overhaul. This is as a result of the club's baffling transfer business over the last couple of seasons.
If they are to realistically challenge next season, some of the team's current stalwarts will need to make way. Cesc Fabregas is already gone and more will need to follow suit.
Here is a look at 5 players the club should say good-bye to ahead of next season:
#5 Danny Drinkwater
Only Mariana Granovskia can explain what Chelsea was thinking when they decided to spend £35m on the Englishman last season.
In what might go down as the worst transfer in a spectacularly terrible transfer campaign, Drinkwater spent a lot of time injured or on the bench. In a move that has surprised exactly 0 people, the player has played no part in Sarri's Premier League plans.
He has become the club's forgotten man, the Winston Bogarde for the new age. Unfortunately for him, he plays in the one position the club actually has lots of options. Kante, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic and Reuben Loftus-Cheek are some of the players he is competing against.
Like most modern coaches, Sarri has played with a 3-man midfield with the trio in the middle playing varying roles. Jorginho has been the deep-lying midfielder, the regista who controls the game. Kante has been the box-to-box player while Kovacic, Ross Barkley, and Loftus-Cheek has shared the more advanced midfield role.
It is unclear to see how the workman-like Drinkwater can upstage any of these players and perform either role better. Nothing is certain in football but it will take some doing if the Premier League winner with Leicester City is still at Stamford Bridge next season.
#4 Gary Cahill
Gary Cahill has been a dedicated and loyal servant to the Blues cause since he joined in 2012.
His John Terry-ish style of defending - powerful, rugged, strong in the air and in the tackle has made him a mainstay for the best part of 6 years. However, he has lost pace and at fault for a number of goals in Conte's last season as head coach.
All good things must come to an end at a certain point. Although he is the club captain, Cahill has played little part in the Blues' season so far. This is a situation that is unlikely to change.
Also Read: Potential replacements for Gary Cahill at Chelsea
While a move to Fulham has been mooted, it does not look like happening in this window. As a result, the ex-England international will have to be content with a place on the bench for the remaining part of the season.
He has been one of the best value-for-money signings in the club's history. However, the time has come for the relationship to end and the future secured.
#3 Olivier Giroud
Few transfers by the Blues' have made sense since Mike Emenalo quit as sporting director in November 2017.
Yet even in this sea of mediocrity, the Olivier Giroud signing stands out as a spectacularly bad one. A striker who was finding it difficult to get goals at Arsenal was deemed to be good enough for the Blues.
Since his arrival in January last year, it has been a tale of struggle for the Frenchman. While players like Hazard have enjoyed playing with him due to his talent as a target man, his goal tally in a blue shirt has been horrible to watch.
10 goals in 44 matches tell the story of a backup striker who does not have what it takes to be a leading man. Alongside Alvaro Morata, Giroud's goal shyness has badly let the team down this season.
Next summer will be a good time for Chelsea to admit that the £18m signing has not worked and move him on.
#2 David Luiz
A player who has divided opinions throughout his career, David Luiz looks like he has finally run his race at Stamford Bridge. He has been a visible player for the team since he joined from Benfica in 2011 for £25.5m.
His attacking verve and commitment have made him a firm favourite with the Stamford Bridge faithful who constantly sing his praises. However, for Chelsea's coaches, it has been challenging working with the Brazilian international.
While he has all the attributes of a good defender; height, power, intelligence, aerial ability and so on, his propensity to switch off and make elementary mistakes has frustrated many a Blues coach.
This saw him being sold to PSG for a princely 50m in 2014. However, two years later, he returned to the club for £34m. He was great in Conte's title-winning side as well as in the UEFA Champions League triumph under Roberto Di Matteo in 2012.
He has entered into the last six months of his contract and while he has been good in patches under Sarri, it is clear that the old mistakes are still very present in his game. The club has a policy of not offering long-term extensions to over-30 players. As such, this is expected to/should be his last season in Chelsea blue.
#1 Willian
At this point in time, the best way to describe Willian's Chelsea career is probably the phrase "qualified success". The Brazilian winger has impressed in fits and starts since he joined from Anzhi Makhachkala in 2013 for £30m
His best spell for the club came during the 2015-2016 season; Jose Mourinho's last hurrah as Chelsea boss. Willian was the one shining light in a season where everything went dark for the club, this won him the club's Player of the Year award.
While he has played important roles in two Premier League title wins under Mourinho and Conte, consistency has never been his forte. Willian's dithering on the ball and his poor decision making have broken down more attacks than can be counted.
Also Read: Potential Willian replacements Chelsea might be considering
Over-reliance on beating his man for pace and not making the right decisions have seen his contributions drop as the season's pass. The Selecao international has been in decline for a couple of seasons now. He has struggled in Maurizio Sarri's system where the emphasis is on playing the ball forward with quick passing and intelligent movement.
While Hazard's future is still uncertain, the addition of Christain Pulisic and the presence of Callum Hudson-Odoi means the club can feel confident about a future without the Brazilian.
