Frank Lampard will be looking to restructure his Chelsea team in the summer with several players already linked to moves to Stamford Bridge.
It was a luxury that the Englishman could not afford last summer when he became boss of the Blues for the first time due to the start of the club’s transfer ban.
The West London club had also lost star player Eden Hazard in a £ 89m transfer to Real Madrid, which was another blow.
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Hakim Ziyech to join Chelsea this summer
On appeal, this transfer ban was reduced to a single window and Chelsea were able to sign players in January, but they resisted the temptation to dive into the market.
That will change this summer, however, with an already confirmed signature.
The Blues have made a deal with Ajax to bring Hakim Ziyech to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, the deal only being made 12 days after the January window closed.
It would be surprising if Chelsea only made one addition this summer, especially given their inactivity on the market in the past year and their inconsistent form.
They are still fourth in the Premier League and FA Cup quarter-finals after beating Liverpool but struggled to get results at Stamford Bridge.
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The rear left is an area that Lampard would seek to strengthen despite the good performances of Marcos Alonso in recent weeks, who have seen him score three goals in the last two games of the Blues in the Premier League.
Alex Telles has been linked to a move to Stamford Bridge after refusing a new Porto contract offer.
The Portuguese publication A Bola claims that the club will collect Telles this summer to prevent it from going on a free transfer at the end of its contract in 2021.
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Alex Telles could join Chelsea this summer
Leicester defender Ben Chillwell is another name presented as a possible replacement, but the Porto man would be a more affordable alternative.
It has also been claimed that Lampard is ready to eliminate up to eight players from his current team as he seeks to give the team their own character.
One of them is probably goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was recently removed from starting lineup in favor of veteran Willy Caballero.
Reports suggest the Blues will make a bold offer to try to lure Jan Oblak away from Atletico Madrid by offering Kepa over £ 25m.
Here’s how Chelsea could line up next season with Telles, Ziyech and Oblak in their starting lines.
4-3-3
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How Chelsea could line up next season in a 4-3-3 formation
This formation would allow Lampard to play Christian Pulisic and Ziyech on the opposite flanks with Tammy Abraham playing in the middle.
It would also mean Mason Mount would play a slightly deeper role in a three midfielder alongside N’Golo Kante and Jorginho, but not a position he doesn’t know.
Such would then play in a back four alongside Antonio Rudiger, Fikayo Tomori and Reece James with Oblak in goal.
4-2-3-1
How Chelsea could line up in 4-2-3-1 formation next season
Lampard will have many options for players to fill the attack role on the left with Callum Hudson-Odoi pushing to set the regular starting point.
In this formation, three from Hudson-Odoi, Mount and Ziyech would play behind Abraham with Kante and Jorginho as deeper midfielders to break the game.
