Projected Chelsea Squad - Cole Palmer celebrates goal alongside Nicolas Jackson and Malo Gusto
Projected Chelsea Squad - Cole Palmer celebrates goal alongside Nicolas Jackson and Malo Gusto
The pre-season tour of Asia and Australia has come to an end with some deals getting done and the last World Cup breaks finishing. With all of that behind us, there is a good chance to look ahead at the projected Chelsea squad we could see take to the field in Premier League competition in the coming year based on a mix of who played the important friendlies and who was on the B-team.
Goalkeepers
With Filip Jorgensen heading to Strasbourg on loan the goalkeeping group seems set. The three who got minutes during the pre-season tour were Rob Sanchez, Mike Penders, and Teddy Sharman-Lowe with the third occupying a homegrown spot.
Goalkeepers: Rob Sanchez, Mike Penders, Teddy Sharman-Lowe
Defenders
The team shifted between a back three and back four at times during the pre-season tour with Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato, Josh Acheampong, Marco Plaestra, and Tosin Adarabioyo the senior players who featured in the back line. With the departure of Trevoh Chalobah, it does leave some room for Tosin to stick around as a reserve option. Aaron Anselmino suffered an injury, as did Mamadou Sarr with neither getting as much time to carve out a squad spot as they’d have wanted.
Pep Chevarria has just today been confirmed as a new signing and will offer some added left-back depth. He will be joined by World Cup returnees Reece James, Maxence Lacroix, and Malo Gusto as the likely remaining depth for the defensive spots.
Defenders: Levi Colwill, Wes Fofana, Jorrel Hato, Josh Acheampong, Marco Palestra, Tosin Adarabioyo, Reece James, Pep Chevarria, Maxence Lacroix, Malo Gusto
Midfielders
During pre-season we got a glimpse at some of the pairings as Moises Caicedo played alongside Romeo Lavia, with Dario Essugo and Madhi Nicoll-Jazuli as the main rotation option. This is the area that is lilely undergoing the most change as the tour didn’t have new signings Jordan Henderson and Valentin Barco, or returning World Cup runner up Enzo Fernandez.
Despite his talent, Madhi is likely too young to go into the season with any place in the senior setup which leaves the other names to battle it out for minutes.
Midfielders: Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo, Jordan Henderson, Valentin Barco, Enzo Fernandez
Attackers
One of the areas of the squad that still needs to be trimmed and has a lot of options is the attacking group. It is an area in flux as the players required for the 4-2-3-1 are totally different to the 3-4-2-1 with the inside forward spots being crowded as opposed to the winger group who might be repurposed as wing-backs if needed.
Pedro Neto played some part after his return from Portugal international duty, but he has been subject to some reported interest from big clubs. He may be the one sacrificed to make some room in the winger room.
Liam Delap is another who played some minutes but he was firmly with the secondary unit by the end of the tour with Danny Welbeck, Joao Pedro, and Nicolas Jackson proving to be better, more versatile options despite two penalty goals for the former Ipswich man. Reports indicate the Blues are willing to part ways with Delap and he could be the attacker booted for Welbeck as the other options can play other positions too.
Behind them, Jamie Gittens, Estevao, Geovany Quenda, Cole Palmer, and new signing Morgan Rogers are likely to feature as either wing-backs/wingers, or inside forwards.
Attackers: Danny Welbeck, Joao Pedro, Nicolas Jackson, Jamie Gittens, Estevao, Geovany Quenda, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers
Current Projected Chelsea Squad
Rob Sanchez
Mike Penders
Teddy Sharman-Lowe
Maxence Lacroix
Malo Gusto
Jorrel Hato
Levi Colwill
Wes Fofana
Josh Acheampong
Tosin Adarabioyo
Pep Chevarria
Reece James
Marco Palestra
Moises Caicedo
Enzo Fernandez
Romeo Lavia
Dario Essugo
Jordan Henderson
Valentin Barco
Danny Welbeck
Morgan Rogers
Cole Palmer
Joao Pedro
Geovany Quenda
Estevao
Jamie Gittens
Nicolas Jackson
Featured Image Credit
IMAGO / Paul Marriott