Is the current Chelsea squad big enough to go again?

Chelsea celebrate winning the 2014/15 Premier League

The season gone by was undoubtedly a very successful one for Chelsea Football Club. Top of the league since day one (although Manchester City caught them on all fronts except alphabetical order at the turn of the year), they rarely put a foot wrong.

Deservedly so, the Barclay Premier League trophy, and the Capital One Cup, has their name on it. Chelsea also managed to make major changes to their squad in the two transfer windows, and kept their net spending in check.

However, there were a couple of disappointments - a capitulation at home against unfancied Bradford City in the FA Cup, and an away-goals exit from the Champions League at the hands of PSG. Thus, by the end of February, Chelsea were in the running for only two trophies among the available four - the league title, and the League Cup.

This meant, for three months, they had to play only once a week.

Reinforcements needed?

Despite the obvious quality in every position, there seems to be a problem of quantity right now. Having used the same players throughout the season, with no FA Cup or Champions League since February, Chelsea looked tired and jaded towards the end.

Gone was the free-flowing easy on the eye style which marked the start of the campaign. Since the 5-3 reverse at Spurs, Mourinho got back to what he does best – shutting out the opposition and grinding out results. After all the promise when the season began, there were some games where his team were indeed ‘boring’ and tired looking.

This raises the question - were some players over-utilized? If they were, shouldn’t Mourinho expand the squad to cover for them, while also abiding by FFP?

The challenge next season is to retain the league title, the League Cup, go deep into the Champions League, and the FA Cup. The squad needs to be big enough to keep running till the end, playing twice a week every week from February.

The manager’s plan for the summer

Jose Mourinho isn’t planning to do much business at the moment.

Here’s what Mourinho has said recently.

“Will I have a busy summer? I expect to be busy going from my towel in the sand to the water and swim a little bit, that’s how I expect to be busy. Last season I was for sure more keen in selling players, in this moment the base is to keep my squad.

“I always believe if you are not better than you were the season before, normally you don't retain the title, so if we want to win the title next year, and obviously we want to do that, we have to be better. I have to be better, these players have to be better and maybe our squad needs some fresh blood to put the current squad under a bit of pressure.”

This suggests that he is only going to sign a couple of players, assuming that players he wants to keep, like Petr Cech, stay.

Here are a few players whom Chelsea could look at signing.

Goalkeeper

Tim Krul

Newcastle just managed to escape relegation this season. Questions were raised over some players’ desire. Almost the whole squad seems to be on the market now, including World Cup hero Tim Krul. Despite the chaos around him, Krul still managed some impressive statistics – 96% claim rate and 1.9 saves per game.

Krul is a safe pair of hands. He might be tempted to trade the madness of Newcastle with a place on the Stamford Bridge bench, amidst more calm surroundings.

Defence

Toby Alderweireld

Alderweireld is the kind of player Mourinho would love to have. He sums up the word ‘versatility’. Ronald Koeman has used him at centre back, defensive midfield, and right back. The Belgian made 26 appearances last season, averaged 8 defensive actions per game, and won half of his duels.

To cap it off, he made zero defensive errors all season. Even while going forward, Toby recorded good percentages: 80 and 58 respectively in pass accuracy and shot accuracy.

As a result, Atletico Madrid face a battle on their hands to keep hold of their loan star. Suitors in the form of Liverpool, and Southampton of course, would have to pay a reported €15m. But, with the Blues having done plenty of business with Atletico in the past few years, they could beat the competition and get him if they decide to.

Jason Shackell

It is difficult to get good statistics being a defender in a relegated team, but Shackell cannot take any blame. While Danny Ings was the most talked about Burnley player, Shackell was one of those players who summed up Burnley’s fighting spirit.

He started and completed all but one of Burnley’s 38 games, and averaged a massive 14 defensive actions per game. He made just 2 defensive errors all season and won 66% of duels.

A shock inclusion to this list I understand, but the more you think of it, the more sense it makes. The player would like to stay in the Premier League, and will be available for cheap (not affecting much with respect to FFP). He’s proven to be a dependable defender – be it playing at centre back or left back.

At the wrong side of 30, it would be ideal for him to hang around for a couple of years as a bit part player and also win some trophies along the way, rather than going through the rigors of the Championship again. By then, the likes of Ake, Christensen and Todd Kane will have gained enough experience on loan to be considered to the first team.

Midfield

James Milner

The most Mourinho player if there ever was one, it’s a bit of a surprise that Milner has never played under the Portuguese. To start with, even Milner has got the ‘boring’ tag with him. He is out of contract in the summer and isn’t signing City’s offer. Milner will have plenty of names to call it his next club.

Milner and Mourinho – a team we all want to see!

Milner is a jack of all trades. Emergency centre forward, left wing, right wing, central and holding mid, even right back – name the position and Milner has played it at City. Not the most skilful player you’ll ever see, Milner makes up for it with plenty of good defensive work.

What would he bring to Chelsea? Firstly, he’s home-grown. Then, he’s a definite starter for games where the manager plans to grind out the result (crucial away games for example). He’s got a decade’s worth of Premier League experience. Lastly, he’s available for free!

It would be a big miss for football not to see this ‘decent, boring English player’ playing for a ‘boring’ team. Sign him up Jose!

Sadio Mane

The scorer of the fastest Premier League hat-trick – 2 minutes 56 seconds is all it took. Perhaps, Chelsea fans still remember his gorgeous finish against them at St Marys. Mane can play either as a striker, or behind.

Still only 23, Mane would be a useful addition for Chelsea, giving the likes of Oscar and Cuadrado a fight for their place. However, it would take a big offer to tempt Southampton into selling him.

Striker

Christian Benteke

Why? Benteke completes the skill set. Costa is the bully, works for the team and presses hard. Remy is the more composed but clinical poacher with pace to burn. What is needed is a replacement for Drogba. Benteke is among the best in the Premier League when it comes to winning headers and holding the ball up.

On the downside though, Benteke is too injury prone. At any other club, he would be a definite starter, not at Chelsea. Would he find a bit part role, as a deputy to Costa, acceptable?

Christian Benteke could push Diego Costa to the limit

Tim Sherwood has got him firing, Benteke would like to continue at Villa based on that. He’s also been challenged to score 30 goals and maybe earn a move to Real Madrid next year.

Apart from Benteke, players like Charlie Austin and Danny Ings were shining lights in relegation campaigns. They’d relish being on the opposite end of the table, even if it is at the cost of fewer appearances.

Summary: Where to strengthen?

Considering the club’s intentions to abide by FFP, and not make wholesale changes, these are some of the players I’d like Chelsea to sign.

The current squad isn’t big enough to compete for 4 trophies next season. Assuming no sales, and very few loaned out players actually return to the first team squad, these signings would improve the squad.