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Chelsea Football Club finished the 2019-20 Premier League season in fourth place with 66 points. The club finished 33 points behind champions Liverpool and were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich in the Round of 16.
In ordinary circumstances, the 2019-20 season would be labelled as a failure by Chelsea standards. However, given that they faced a two-window transfer ban in 2019 during which they sold their best player Eden Hazard, Chelsea had exceeded expectations under manager Frank Lampard.
Lampard inherited a squad that lacked marquee players, and had to rely on youth team products who had spent the majority of their fledgeling careers on loan abroad or in the Championship.
Chelsea youth products Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, and Reece James took the step up last year and passed with flying colours. Their stellar individual performances along with the incredible form of Christian Pulisic, Matteo Kovacic and recently departed winger, Willian, guided Chelsea to a fourth-place finish.
The Blues this season, however, have spent in excess of £200 million in the summer transfer window, bringing in Timo Werner for £47.7m, Hakim Ziyech for £35.6m, Thiago Silva and Malang Sarr for free and Ben Chilwell for £50m.
Lampard's side are also set to announce the record-breaking capture of Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz imminently and could well add to their squad further in the coming weeks.
The purchase of these quality players will create a healthy competition for places amongst individuals. Players like Jorginho, Callum Hudson-Odoi, N'Golo Kante and Mason Mount will not be guaranteed a starting place and will instead have to fight for their place in the squad.
Chelsea now have a surplus of quality players in positions all across the park. Hence it will be intriguing to see what their strongest starting line up might look like.
Goalkeeper: Kepa Arrizabalaga
The former Athletic Bilbao man was made the most expensive goalkeeper in the world when Chelsea signed him in August 2018 for £71.6 million. Kepa Arrizabalaga was signed to replace Thibaut Courtois, who left for Real Madrid.
Arrizabalaga has, however, been a massive flop at Chelsea. In the 2019-20 season, the 25-year-old boasted the worst save percentage for any goalkeeper in the Premier League with 56.5%.
However, given the massive investment Chelsea have made in other areas of the field this season, signing a new goalkeeper may not be on the cards. The Blues have been linked with the likes of Jan Oblak and Edouard Mendy and it remains to be seen if they add to their goalkeeping department this summer.
The latter could be a realistic bet, given that he currently plays for Rennes and wouldn't cost over the odds. As things stand, Arrizabalaga is set to continue between the sticks and will to turn his Chelsea career around.
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Defence
Right-back: Reece James, Right-Back
This may come as a shock to most viewers since most football fans would pick Cesar Azpilicueta at right-back. The Spaniard has been a rock in Chelsea's defence for the best part of eight years.
The 31-year-old, as solid as he is, lacks the pace and attacking attributes required from a modern-day full-back. A move to centre-half would suit Azpilicueta as he approaches the latter years of his career.
Reece James was one of the shining lights for Chelsea last season and possesses all the qualities required to be a success in the Premier League. His physicality, pace, and crossing ability goes to prove that he deserves a starting position.
The young Englishman has a fruitful loan spell with Wigan in the 2018-19 season and returned to Chelsea last year. While he didn't manage to nail down the right-back spot, he delivered a series of eye-catching displays and made an impression at Stamford Bridge.
Centre-back: Thiago Silva
Chelsea pulled off one the transfer coups of the season when they signed Thiago Silva for free from PSG this summer. The Brazilian has a wealth of experience with the top teams in the game. His strong showing in the Champions League with PSG last season proves that he still has a lot to give.
Silva can also act as a mentor to the younger defenders present at the club. He can be a John Terry-esque figure in the dressing room, assisting in the development of players like, Kurt Zouma, Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Fikayo Tomori.
Centre-back: Antonio Rudiger
Antonio Rudiger had a mixed 2019-20 season for Chelsea in the Premier League. He is the best centre-back at Chelsea and has all the requisites to be one of the top defenders in the world.
He is pace would make up for Thiago Silva's lack of it and has also proven himself to be a good distributor of the ball. Rudiger has been inconsistent in his time at Chelsea, but alongside the Brazilian, the German international could form a formidable defensive pairing this season.
Left-back: Ben Chilwell
A club does not spend £50million on a left-back to make him sit on the bench, making Ben Chilwell the easiest pick for the starting XI. The former Leicester City man has been arguably one of the best left-backs in the Premier League over the last two seasons.
He does have competition for the left-back slot in the form of Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri. The Spaniard, however, lacks the pace and defensive capabilities that Chilwell possesses, while the latter looks likely to leave the club this summer.
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Midfield
Central midfield: N'Golo Kante
The French World Cup winner is still one of the best players in the world in his position. Under Maurizio Sarri and Frank Lampard, Kante has been deployed in an attacking role, where he has not been able to showcase his best attributes.
The former Leicester City man is the ideal man to add some much-needed stability and defensive solidity to what promises to be an attacking lineup for the Blues.
Kante has shown in his years in the Premier League that he is one of the best ball-winners around, while his stamina and tireless running in the centre of the park are also important qualities he brings to the side.
A return to defensive midfield is a must for Kante, who at 29, still has plenty left in him.
Central midfield: Mateo Kovacic
Kovacic was named Chelsea's Player of the Season for 2019-20. Chelsea's decision to convert his loan to a permanent move last summer proved to be one of their smartest decisions.
The Croatian can play as a defensive midfielder or as a #8 in a three-man midfield, making him an automatic pick in the centre of the park. Kovacic, with his dynamism, has proved that he is the ideal man to play alongside N'Golo Kante. Jorginho is still amongst the squad, but the Italian lacks the physicality and pace required for the English game.
His energy, tenacity, and skill on the ball make him one of the first names on the Chelsea team sheet.
#3 Kai Havertz, Attacking midfield
Kai Havertz was one of the most sought after talents in football this summer. The Bayer Leverkusen star had been linked with moves to Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Chelsea.
Dubbed as the next big thing in world football, Havertz has drawn comparisons with Mesut Ozil and Michael Ballack for his style of play. The German international looks set to sign for the Blues for a record-breaking fee believed to be in the region of £71 million in the coming days.
Havertz is Chelsea's marquee signing this season and will have large expectations on his shoulders. The youngster has the unique ability to score goals as well as create them and will look to make an immediate impact at Stamford Bridge.
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Attack
Left-winger: Christian Pulisic
Christian Pulisic was one of the signings of the 2019-20 season. After initially enduring a tough start to life in the Premier League coupled with a long injury lay off, the 21-year-old put in some stellar performances and finished with nine league goals to his name.
The American's showings went onto prove to the Chelsea faithful and onlookers that he is the man to replace Eden Hazard. His pace and trickery give defenders nightmares, hence the expectations for Pulisic will be high this season.
Right-winger: Hakim Ziyech
Hakim Ziyech, the left-footed Moroccan, signed for Chelsea this summer from Ajax in a deal worth €40 million. Ziyech is predominantly an attacking midfielder but can also play as a winger.
The 27-year-old has come off a successful four seasons at Ajax, where he contributed 39 goals in 120 league appearances. His set-piece prowess, dribbling ability and long-range shooting make him a starter for Chelsea.
Striker: Timo Werner
Timo Werner enjoyed his best goal-scoring season last year for RB Leipzig, having finished as runner-up to Robert Lewandowski in the goal-scoring charts with 28 goals.
The 24-year-old is one of the top young strikers in Europe, which is why Chelsea paid £47.7 million for his signature. He will face tough competition from youth product Tammy Abraham, and in-form veteran Olivier Giroud, but the starting place will most likely be his.
Also Read: Top 10 teams with most goals in the 2019-20 season
