'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Chelsea
Last Season: 5th
Players In: Kepa Arrizabalaga (Athletic Bilbao, €80 million), Jorginho (Napoli, €57 million), Robert Green (Huddersfield, free transfer), Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid, loan)
Players Out: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid, €35 million), Mario Pasalic (Atlanta, loan), Matej Delac (AC Horsens, free transfer), Lewis Baker (Leeds, loan)
Transfer Rating: 5/10
Preview
Chelsea suffered badly last season, falling from reigning champions to a lowly fifth place finish. The gap of five points to Liverpool and a top-four place doesn't feel like it is achievable for a team that struggled during the transfer window.
The big change this year for Chelsea was the late dismissal of Antonio Conte and subsequent appointment of Maurizio Sarri. The Italian manager comes off the back of a wonderful period with Napoli, almost grasping the Serie A title from Juventus on a couple of occasions.
However, Sarri has never managed outside of Italy before and may endure a baptism of fire in the Premier League. While challenging Juventus for the title is a great achievement, in England, he has five other very strong teams around him with the aim of claiming the top position in May.
The transfer window was a strange one for Chelsea. Key players such as Hazard and Willian were constantly linked with moves away from Stamford Bridge but none materialized. Then, movement on deadline day saw Courtois go to Real Madrid for only €35 million while a young, inexperienced, Kepa arrived for a world-record €80 million.
There is no doubt that the capture of Jorginho and Kovacic represents good business, but it feels like this Chelsea side is still missing the world-class quality to mount a serious title challenge. Morata and Giroud do not inspire confidence as first-choice strikers and the Blues may struggle for goals this season.
Regardless, Chelsea may benefit from the struggles of other top six teams and sneak into the Champions League places this year.
Prediction: 4th
Next up, Liverpool.
