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There can be no denying that since Todd Boehly took over Chelsea two years ago the club has operated with a revolving door policy in the transfer market. The Blues have spent over £1bn on players since the American took over, and to make matters worse, the squad has got worse rather than better. Last season, they finished way down in seventh in the Premier League table, consigning the West London outfit to the UEFA Europa Conference League, a far cry from the Champions League they were winning just three years ago.
This summer, the club has been spending once again. forking out over £100m on unheralded players, with former Leicester City man Keinan Dewsbury-Hall the pick of the bunch. However, the bookies are seemingly predicting an upturn in form next season. On the eve of the new campaign, sports betting online at Bovada has made Chelsea a +1600 contender for the title next term. To put that into perspective, only reigning champions Manchester City, Arsenal and Jurgen Klopp-less Liverpool are ahead of them in the betting charts.
So, if the Clues are to live up to the billing and secure a spot in the top four next term, who will be the men crucial to the campaign? Let’s find out.
Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer’s arrival at Chelsea was met with high expectations. The young attacker had shown flashes of brilliance throughout his few-and-far-between chances with Manchester City, as well as excelling with England’s youth teams. However, no one could have expected just how brilliant he would become in such a short space of time.
After arriving from the champions last summer for £40m, Palmer was somewhat of an unproven commodity. However, he immediately set about proving just how good he was. The 22-year-old quickly became Chelsea’s key man, with the team set up to get the ball to their attacking ace as often as possible.
The result? 22 goals and 11 assists in 34 Premier League games last term. And if his performances at UEFA Euro 2024 are anything to go by, he is set to continue in a similar vein this season.
Palmer assisted Ollie Watkins’ last-gasp winner for England against the Netherlands in the semifinals of the European Championships, before netting a brilliant equalizer in the final against Spain. If he can hit the ground running this season, Chelsea may well have a chance at ending their recent mediocre spell.
Christopher Nkunku
Christopher Nkunku’s reputation precedes him. Known for his creativity and technical prowess, the mercurial Frenchman shone for RB Leipzig, bagging 70 goals initially as an attacking midfielder before morphing into a central striker. Chelsea triggered a release clause in his contract 18 months ago to bring him to Stamford Bridge, although they had to wait till last summer for the deal to become official.
Once in London, disaster struck almost immediately. The man tasked with scoring the goals required to fire Chelsea back to the Premier League’s summit was crocked with an injury in preseason that forced him to sit on the sidelines until December, He scored on his return against Wolves but by the time February rolled around, he was injured again. As such, the former PSG youngster made just 11 appearances in the league last term, scoring three times.
After missing the Euros this summer with France, Nkunku has had summer to prepare for the upcoming campaign. He was reportedly well rested ahead of preseason and he has managed to get plenty of minutes under his belt throughout Chelsea’s warm-up games. Now, attention is on the real stuff, and if Nkunku can remain fit and healthy, there is no reason why he can’t start finding the back of the net regularly and cement his status as a key player at Stamford Bridge.
Enzo Fernández
Chelsea forked out well over £100m to bring in Argentinian World Cup winner Enzo Fernández 18 months ago. And while he has impressed, he has hardly looked like a player worthy of that kind of price tag. This season, the pressure is on.
Known for his tenacity and work rate, the former Benfica man brings a sense of urgency and dynamism to the team. His ability to cover ground, break up opposition plays, and initiate counter-attacks will be invaluable for Chelsea’s midfield balance. With vice-captain Conor Gallagher on his way to Atletico Madrid, even more pressure will be heaped on the former River Plate youngster.
Fernández’s previous performances have highlighted his ability to perform under pressure and his knack for making crucial interceptions. His partnership with Palmer could be key to Chelsea’s dominance. The main challenge for Fernández will be to maintain his high-energy performances across a grueling Premier League season. If he can manage that, Fernández will undoubtedly be one of Chelsea’s standout players.
Reece James
Another man who has suffered from injury woes in recent years is club captain Reece James. The right-back is arguably England’s finest – and that is some compliment because the Three Lions have players such as Kyle Walker and Trent Alexander-Arnold competing against him. He has already established himself as one of Chelsea’s most reliable defenders, now he just needs to remain fit.
First and foremost, James is known for his defensive solidity, but it’s his attacking prowess and playmaking skills that truly set him apart. As such, he is expected to play a crucial role in getting the ball to both Fernandez and Palmer as often as possible. He is already the first name on Chelsea’s team sheet, and if he stays fit he could be set to have a memorable year.