Three positions Chelsea must prioritise in the summer transfer window – Opinion | OneFootball

Chelsea started the 2024/25 season with so much promise. However, it has petered out for many reasons, and the Blues face a fight to secure UEFA Champions League football.

Chelsea have been a mess since the Todd Boehly/Clearlake Capital consortium took over the club, ousting the beloved Roman Abramovich.

They gutted the heart and soul of the West London club for a fanciful youth project that has yielded nothing after pouring over £1 billion down the drain.

This summer calls for tact and wiser spending from the Premier League club, with the Premier League and UEFA peering into their books.

They must plug crucial squad holes, add experience, and avoid cluttering the team with more players who do not move the needle while adhering to strict financial rules.

Chelsea’s sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, must focus on players who raise the bar and solve the actual needs of the first team.

A lethal striker to lead the line is a must

Chelsea desperately need an elite centre-forward to take the burden off Nicolas Jackson (nine goals and 18 big chances missed in the Premier League this season). It is a must.

Jackson should be on the bench learning from a top centre-forward who can spearhead the club back to the upper echelon.

Rumours of interest in Ipswich Town centre-forward Liam Delap do not bode well.

As talented as Delap is, Chelsea should aim higher for Victor Osimhen, Viktor Gyokeres or Alexander Isak. These are the calibre of strikers the club needs.

This mistake of targeting potential instead of ready-made players must end now.

A reliable goalkeeper is another top priority

The fact that Chelsea cannot boast of a goalkeeper without brain farts is alarming.

Robert Sanchez is getting more bizarre with his errors, and summer signing Filip Jorgensen is also shaky.

Chelsea must bring in a consistent and dependable shot-stopper. Luckily, Chelsea have three out on loan.

They can choose from the five, which pair to keep, which pair to sell, and who to loan to Strasbourg.

Djordje Petrovic, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Mike Penders will be in the mix.

The Serbian, a standout goalkeeper at Strasbourg, should be given the reins at Stamford Bridge. Penders can replace him in France.

Chelsea should sell Sanchez and Arrizabalaga. Jorgensen can still play back-up. Hopefully, he finds more confidence after an underwhelming debut campaign.

Electricity and end product on the left

Chelsea are after a left winger, with Mykhailo Mudryk temporarily suspended and getting the right profile is key.

The ideal candidate must possess the ability to get past players to deliver goals and assists. Experience is not a priority here, but it would not hurt to have it.

Chelsea seem set to make the same mistakes by targeting Jamie Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho. More potential, sigh.

They should be rummaging the market for world-class options like Real Madrid starlet Rodrygo and Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola.

A club of this stature deserves more than promise. They need players who can light up the left wing from day one.

Defensive recruitment should take a back seat

Chelsea have been guilty of schoolboy defending this season, but only three teams have shipped fewer goals than the Blues.

They could use an experienced centre-back, but chucking £50 million on Dean Huijsen does not improve the backline.

The West Londoners have enough young centre-backs on their books.

Except there is a world beater on the market, this backline can hold its own, especially if the frontline is delivering as it should.

Some might argue that Chelsea need an alternative for Marc Cucurella, but Renato Veiga is a solution.

The Portugal international can play as a centre-half and left-back. Also, Caleb Wiley can return from his successful spell at Watford to help the Blues.

Chelsea cannot afford to waste more funds. They should prioritise the attacking and goalkeeping positions and use their enormous squad depth to plug other holes.