The Best Eleven: How Chelsea Could Line Up This Season If Lukaku And Kounde Both Sign

David Tully

3 years ago

Categories: Chelsea News, Galleries, Transfer News

Tags: Chelsea, Jules Kounde, Romelu Lukaku

With the Premier League season fast approaching, we thought it was a good time to assess what Chelsea’s best starting eleven will be going into the new campaign.

The Blues have not made any significant signings so far but reports do suggest that they could make moves for Sevilla’s Jules Kounde and Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku before the window closes.

If they do both sign on the dotted line, we have decided to guess where they could fit into manager Thomas Tuchel’s starting lineup.

Press the next page as we name Chelsea’s best eleven.

GK – Edouard Mendy

The Senegalese international’s reliability between the posts last season played an integral role in helping the Blues win the Champions League.

Petr Cech did a stellar job in picking out Mendy as a bargain signing and the 28-year-old’s authority in goal will be needed as the club look to mount a title challenge.

RWB – Reece James

The rumours are that Tuchel sees the England star as a centre-back in the long term but, after failing in their attempts to sign Achraf Hakimi, it seems likely that the Blues will start the season with James as a wingback.

Captain Cesar Azpilicueta will be considered as another option, in addition to Callum Hudson-Odoi, but James offers more balance in terms of his abilities in both the defensive and final thirds of the pitch.

CB – Jules Kounde

The Frenchman’s mobility, and the fact that he is able to play right-back, means he is a perfect fit to play on the right side of a back three.

Whether Chelsea can get a deal over the line for Kounde, we shall have to wait and see, but it appears a move may rely on Kurt Zouma being used as part of the transfer.

CB – Thiago Silva

The veteran has signed on for another year, and while he is still an extremely good centre-half at 36 years of age, he may well be rotated pretty regularly to avoid him getting injured.

Andreas Christensen has matured into a superb defender over the past year, and he is perfectly positioned to come into the side as Silva’s understudy when required by Tuchel.

CB – Antonio Rudiger

Some journalists are reporting that the Blues are open to selling the German international this summer, due to the fact he has less than a year left on his contract.

However, if Rudiger does stay put, the 28-year-old is the club’s most reliable player on the left-hand side of the back three.

LWB – Ben Chilwell

The 24-year-old’s confidence in playing the wingback role grew as his first season at the club progressed, and he was unlucky not to feature more regularly for England at the European Championships.

At club level, though, Chilwell has firmly established himself in front of both Marcos Alonso and Emerson so he will surely start the new campaign as first choice on the left flank.

CM – N’Golo Kante

The Frenchman was imperious in the Champions League final, demonstrating he is the man for the big occasion. He will be vital if Chelsea are to sustain a title charge this season.

Keeping Kante fit will be the main focus for Tuchel, and deciding when to rotate with the club’s other midfield options will be extremely important.

CM – Jorginho

After his performances for Italy at the European Championships, some are calling for the midfielder to be given the Ballon d’Or. While those suggestions are a bit overblown, there is no doubting he is enjoying his football at the moment.

Jorginho’s ability to control the game in the middle of the park will be crucial, as Tuchel continues to use a two-man midfield in a 3-4-3 system.

RW – Kai Havertz

This was a difficult one as there isn’t a standout candidate for the right-hand side. Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi are all candidates but none of them have seemingly convinced Tuchel.

Havertz does prefer playing through the middle and it could be the case that the German is utilised in a more free-roaming position in order to get the best out of him.

CF – Romelu Lukaku

The speculation is building that Lukaku could well be on his way back to Stamford Bridge. At the time of writing, though, no deal is close to being agreed but it seems the likeliest signing currently.

A move for Erling Haaland has gone quiet, and it is believed that if Chelsea don’t make a move before this weekend, their chances of snapping him up would have gone. The focus, therefore, seems to have turned towards Lukaku.

LW – Mason Mount

Chelsea’s most consistent player last season will undoubtedly be a regular starter under Tuchel this campaign.

Mount will want to continue his development by adding even more goals and assists to his game. With so much competition in the front three, he will certainly not be able to rest on his laurels.