Chelsea will likely continue to spend a lot of money to return to the Champions League and challenge for major trophies.
The Blues have spent around £600 million on new signings in 2023 and have already spent over £50 million in this transfer window.
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Midfielder Kieran Dewsbury-Hall has followed new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca to Stamford Bridge from Leicester for £30 million.
And the West Londoners paid Aston Villa £19 million to bring teenage star Omari Kellyman to the club.
Added to this is the securing of the services of 18-year-old striker Marc Guiu from Barcelona after activating his £5.07 million release clause.
Meanwhile, they managed to sign centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer after he decided to let his contract at rivals Fulham expire.
And there will likely be more signings as Chelsea continue to look to strengthen their attack, with Napoli striker Victor Osimhen also known to be interested.
However, they are also aware that they may have to rely on the services of some of the club’s academy graduates to finance their summer business, with Ian Maatsen already sold to Villa for over £35 million.
Meanwhile, Conor Gallagher and Armando Broja also face an uncertain future.
Here, The Pitch Prospect.com takes a look at how Chelsea could line up under Maresca in his preferred 4-1-2-3 formation next season.
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Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic shared goalkeeping duties last season, with the duo making 21 and 31 appearances respectively.
But while former head coach Mauricio Pochettino preferred Petrovic in the second half of the season, it is claimed that Maresca will rely on Sanchez.
According to the Telegraph, the Spaniard is the club’s first choice despite not playing in the Premier League since December 2023.
As for the right-back position, captain Reece James will move into the team once he has served his three-game suspension at the start of the season.
The England international was shown a red card in Chelsea’s penultimate game of last season away to Brighton, and was banned for four matches after his second dismissal.
On the other side of the defence will likely be Marc Cucurella, who was one of Chelsea’s most consistent players in their late push that secured the team sixth place.
Centre-back Wesley Fofana, who joined from Leicester for up to £75 million in 2022, could slowly be integrated back into the team after missing the entirety of last season with a knee injury.
This would see Levi Colwill play alongside Adarabioyo in central defence, while Benoit Badiashile, Axed Disasi and Trevoh Chalobah would be limited to substitute roles.
Maresca could then decide to use a single defensive midfielder and give Moises Caicedo the role of number 6.
Enzo Fernandez would then be deployed in his preferred box-to-box role and Dewsbury-Hall would be selected as left-back No.8 should Gallagher be sold.
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After a sensational first season in the capital, Cole Palmer would then play on the right wing.
The 22-year-old contributed 25 goals and 15 assists for Chelsea – securing a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the 2024 European Championship.
Mykhailo Mudryk could then start ahead of Raheem Sterling on the left wing, with the Ukrainian showing why he costs £88.5 million.
And Nigerian international Osimhen could be at the top if Chelsea reach an agreement with Napoli.
With only one year left on his contract in Italy, the 25-year-old is expected to be sold by the Serie A giants.
Chelsea are known to be long-time admirers of Osimhen, who has made no secret of his desire to one day play in the Premier League.
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