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How Chelsea could line up next season with Chilwell, Havertz, Silva and a new goalkeeper
Chelsea have adopted an aggressive transfer policy this summer and Frank Lampard's starting XI is expected to look very different next season.
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Chelsea are overhauling their squad ahead of the 2020/21 campaign, with a host of new arrivals expected at Stamford Bridge. The Blues were forced to rely heavily on graduates from the youth academy last term due to a summer transfer ban but the west London club are making up for lost time by targeting several high-profile signings now.
Frank Lampard enjoyed a successful first season in charge of Chelsea, steering his side to a top-four finish in the Premier League and Champions League qualification.
However, the Blues finished 33 points behind Liverpool and experienced FA Cup final heartache at the hands of Arsenal so there is plenty of room for improvement in west London.
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Chelsea have already welcomed Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner to the club, with deals for the pair secured before the transfer window even opened.
The Blues agreed to pay Ajax £33.4million for Ziyech back in February while they wasted no time triggering Werner's £53m release clause at RB Leipzig once it became clear a move to Liverpool was off.
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And now reports indicate a £50m deal for Ben Chilwell is on the verge of being completed this week, with Chelsea having bargaining Leicester down from their original £80m asking price.
The England international is viewed as an upgrade on Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri, with the latter strongly linked with a move to Inter Milan and a reunion with former Blues boss Antonio Conte.
Also on the transfer wishlist is Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz, who impressed with 18 goals and nine assists across all competitions this term.
The German international has already agreed personal terms ahead of a move and Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia is believed to be in negotiations with Leverkusen over a transfer fee.
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But the two clubs are well apart in their valuations of the 21-year-old, with the Blues wanting to do a deal at around £70m while Leverkusen are holding out for £90m.
Chelsea have been linked with a move for West Ham ace Declan Rice, supposedly so Lampard can turn the Hammers midfielder into a centre-back, but the availability of Thiago Silva on a free transfer has seen Chelsea reassess their options.
The 35-year-old Brazilian, who played his final match for Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich, is expected to be offered a short-term contract in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Lampard is also keen to sign a goalkeeper to challenge or replace current No 1 Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was dropped on two separate occasions last season following poor runs of form.
The Spaniard became the world's most expensive stopper when he arrived from Athletic Bilbao for £71m in 2018 but could now be moved on at a loss with one of Andre Onana, Nick Pope, or Mike Maignan most likely to step into the breach.
Mason Mount, Olivier Giroud and Tammy Abraham could be the big losers from the raft of summer arrivals, with all three in danger of losing their starting positions.
And it remains to be seen which centre-back out of Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen or Kurt Zouma will be trusted alongside Silva.
Willian and Pedro have both left Chelsea as free agents, Fikayo Tomori and potential new signing Malang Sarr could be sent out on loan while Tiemoue Bakayoko, Davide Zappacosta, Michy Batshuayi and even vice-captain Jorginho have been linked with moves away to raise funds.
Chelsea expected line-up in 2020/21
(4-2-3-1): Onana; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Silva, Chilwell; Kante, Kovacic; Ziyech, Havertz, Pulisic; Werner
Subs: Caballero; James, Zouma, Loftus-Cheek, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Abraham
Rest of squad: Christensen, Alonso, Gilmour, Jorginho, Barkley, Anjorin, Giroud
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