Since winning the Champions League back in 2021, a lot has changed for Chelsea. Todd Boehly is the new chairman, three managers have been fired, and the club has ultimately struggled to stay inside the top 4, having finished 12th and 6th in recent seasons. Not to mention, only Ben Chilwell and Reece James remain from the 2021 Champions League winning XI, symbolizing how much has changed in just over three years.

Now, it’s a new era for Chelsea. With Enzo Meraesca at the helm, the aim for the 2024/25 Premier League campaign is to make a huge push for the top 4 and finally return to Champions League football. Is this possible? Yes — especially now that Chelsea’s bloated £1bn squad finally looks like it’s starting to click, which was apparent towards the backend of last season when the club went on a great run of form under Mauricio Pochettino.

Premier League 2024/25: Chelsea Top 4 Odds 

According to the sportsbook insider site, Gamble USA, most sportsbooks have Chelsea listed with 9/4 odds to make the top 4. Unlike Manchester City and Arsenal, Chelsea aren’t an outright favorite to land a Champions League position, but the odds still reflect that most sportsbooks believe there’s a strong possibility they will. However, Chelsea are in the race against Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester United, and Tottenham, who are also tipped by bookies to push for a top 4 place during the 2024/25 season.

What Chelsea Need to Finish in the Top 4

If Chelsea are to finish inside the top 4, several things need to happen.

Firstly, Chelsea are in urgent need of an out-and-out striker, which the club has desperately missed over recent years. If Chelsea can get their hands on a top number 9 before the transfer window closes or even later on in January, then it’ll swing the top 4 odds in their favor.

Without signing a striker, though, they’ll be left to rely on Nicolas Jackson, who many believe isn’t the level that Chelsea need to reestablish themselves as a top 4 team. There’s also Christopher Nkunku and returning signing João Félix, who (despite being excellent players) are not out-and-out strikers. This is why Chelsea are currently pushing to sign Victor Osimhen, as the Napoli striker could be the missing part of the puzzle and turn them into a legitimate Premier League threat once again.

Another major plus for Chelsea will be if Cole Palmer can maintain his red-hot form from the 2023-24 season, where he truly put his name on the map. Palmer is also coming off an impressive Euro 2024, after making some exciting cameo appearances off the bench and even grabbing a goal in the final against Spain. Undoubtedly, if Palmer manages to improve on his form from last season and progress even further, Chelsea will be right up there during the business end of the campaign.

Just like in previous seasons, though, there are some factors that might hold Chelsea back during the 2024-25 season. As mentioned earlier, Chelsea’s squad is still extremely bloated and consists largely of young and unproven players. On top of this, new manager Enzo Maresca is lacking in “big club” experience, which could leave him vulnerable if Chelsea don’t get off to a good start. Mauricio Pochettino, Graham Potter, and Thomas Tuchel have all been sacked before him, so Maresca will have to start picking up results fast if he wants to avoid being added to Todd Boehly’s long list of sackings.

Who Are Chelsea’s New Signings? 

Todd Boehly has faced intense criticism since taking over at Chelsea, but nobody can deny that he isn’t afraid to spend big. Already, the squad he’s amassed is worth over £1bn, with many of the star players being signed to huge bumper contracts. And even though Chelsea’s spending has slowed down over recent months so that they can avoid FFP charges, the club has made (and is still making) some exciting moves in the transfer market. For the 2024/25 campaign alone, the Blues have signed:

• João Félix
• Tosin Adarabioyo
• Omari Kellyman
• Marc Guiu
• Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
• Renato Veiga

There’s also an extremely strong chance that Victor Osimhen, Ivan Toney, and Jadon Sancho, will be added to Chelsea’s list of summer signings, making the current squad one of the most valuable in European football history. However, signing players is the easy part — it’s getting the most out of them on the pitch that matters. Naturally, because Chelsea have so many players, Enzo Maresca will have to become a master at squad rotation and man management in a short space of time if he wants this season to be a success.

What’s clear is that Chelsea are sticking with their new transfer policy of signing players on extended deals in order to spread transfer fee costs while also maintaining player market value. For example, Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez are currently signed to nine-year deals, while the returning João Félix has just penned a 7-year contract. It’s certainly a controversial way of doing transfers, but time will tell whether it’s a business masterstroke by club owner Todd Boehly.

Will Chelsea Play Europa League Football This Season? 

Despite finishing 6th place under Pochettino, Chelsea will be playing Europa League football this season. Specifically, they’re playing in the Europa Conference League, which is only possible thanks to Chelsea’s excellent run of form towards the backend of last season. It will provide the Blues with an excellent opportunity to grab a trophy this season while earning automatic qualification for next season’s Europa League, too. This would also be Enzo Maresca’s first major trophy as a manager, so he’ll be desperate to go far in the competition.

Summary 

All signs point to Chelsea being in and around the top 4 come the end of the 2024/25 season. Enzo Maresca is looking to get off to a flying start, a large bulk of the squad now appears to be settled, and some big summer signings have just come through the door, including fan-favorite João Félix. So, if everything can click into place and the likes of Aston Villa and Newcastle have poor seasons, there’s nothing to stop Chelsea from landing third or fourth position in the Premier League table.

The summer transfer window is always exciting for us Blues fans, right? It’s like the football version of Christmas, with all the anticipation and surprises. And this year, Chelsea has been right in the thick of it. Let’s dive into all the latest comings and goings at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea New Signings

• Tosin Adarabioyo: This solid central defender just hopped over from Fulham for free. He’s got a sweet four-year deal and cut his teeth at Manchester City.
• Estevao Willian: This Brazilian wonderkid is already turning heads as one of South America’s brightest stars.
• Omari Kellyman: the talented midfielder is all ours now, thanks to a six-year deal snatched from Aston Villa.
• Marc Guiu: Marc is Chelsea’s new Spanish striker straight from Barcelona! Scored a winner in his first pro minute and has locked in a five-year contract.
• Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: Reuniting with his old Leicester boss Enzo Maresca, he’s on board with a five-year contract. With almost 200 games for the Foxes and their Player of the Year title, he’s no rookie.

Chelsea New Contracts

• Tyrique George just inked a deal to stay with Chelsea until 2027 (plus, there’s a bonus year if we want it!). This guy lit up the pitch for Chelsea’s Academy teams last season and even chilled on the first team’s bench a few times.
• Kaiden Wilson is sticking around for another two years, with a chance at a third. He’s been bleeding Chelsea blue since he was 13 and helped snag the Under-18 Premier League South title.
• Big news for Richard Olise! He’s secured another year of defending with Chelsea and maybe one more if things go well. He rocked it in ten matches for the Under-21s last season.

Chelsea Departures

• Thiago Silva is heading back to his roots! After a trophy-packed four years with Chelsea, he’s rejoining Fluminense in Brazil. We’ll miss our Champions League hero!
• Dion Rankine is off to Wigan Athletic after an eight-year adventure at Chelsea. He gave it his all, whether he was zipping down the wing or defending as a wing-back.
• Charlie Webster is teaming up again with Mark Robinson, his old Under-21 coach, over at Burton Albion. He’s come a long way from joining the Blues as a little Under-10 to sitting on the bench with the big guys.
• Hats off to Jamie Cumming, who’s just sealed a permanent move to Oxford United. He helped them climb up to the Championship last season while on loan.
• Ian Maatsen waved goodbye and said hello to Aston Villa. Remember his debut against Grimsby Town? That was the first of 16 memorable appearances for Chelsea.
• Omari Hutchinson made a splash with Chelsea after coming over from Arsenal in 2022. Following a stellar loan at Ipswich Town and their jump to the Premier League, he’s making that move a full-time gig.
• Lewis Hall, a true blue Academy grad, made his senior debut in 2022 and has now signed on with Newcastle permanently after a loan spell up North.
• Hakim Ziyech is taking his magic to Galatasaray. In his time here, he bagged a Champions League title, Super Cup, and Club World Cup, not to mention his 14 goals in 107 games.
• Chinonso Chibueze is set to show Stoke City what he’s got after growing up in the Chelsea ranks since the Under-10 days.
• And a special shoutout to Josh Brooking and Noah Hay as they wrap up their time with the Chelsea Academy. Thanks for the memories, lads!

Chelsea Loans

• Teddy Sharman-Lowe is sticking with Chelsea for another year! But first, he’s off to guard the net at Doncaster Rovers on loan for the 2024/25 season.
• Ted Curd is taking his goalkeeping talents to Hampton & Richmond Borough. He’s all set to rack up some serious experience in men’s football.
• Dylan Williams is hitting the road to Burton Albion on loan. If all goes well, there’s a chance he could make that spot his permanent home turf.

FAQs

How do transfers work?

Transfers involve negotiations between buying and selling clubs over a player’s transfer fee, personal terms with the player, and passing a medical examination. Once all parties agree, the transfer is completed, and the player is registered with the new club.

Can players refuse to transfer?

Yes, players can refuse to transfer if they do not agree to the personal terms offered by the buying club or if they simply wish to stay with their current club.

How do Chelsea Summer transfers affect your betting decisions?

Chelsea’s summer transfers can significantly impact betting decisions. New signings can strengthen the team, potentially improving their odds of winning matches and titles. Conversely, losing key players might weaken the squad. Bettors should assess the overall impact of the transfers on the team’s performance before placing bets. Interested fans can bet on Chelsea matches here.

Wrapping Up

So, there you have it – all the ins, outs, and contract updates at Chelsea so far this summer. The mix of established stars, promising youngsters, and savvy signings has got us buzzing – how about you?

Well, for starters, it means that Chelsea has finally decided to raid a club that doesn’t have the words “Brighton & Hove Albion” in its name, which we suppose is a plus. However, the Dewsbury-Hall deal could have positive implications for the Chelsea squad in the upcoming season. This Championship player could be setting the Premier League alight, and he barely hammered into the FFP rules that Chelsea are pushed to abide by nowadays (even if Manchester City aren’t).

How Dewsbury-Hall performed last season

We know that many Chelsea fans don’t pay attention to the Championship. Sometimes, it is difficult enough to keep tabs on our team when we’re constantly failing. However, if you did glance at the Championship news, chances are that you would have seen everybody and their dog chatting about how well Dewsbury-Hall was performing for Leicester, who clinched the title on the last day of the season.

The 25-year-old midfielder (yes, midfielder), smashed in 12 goals and 14 assists. He was part of Leicester’s transition to a more attacking style of play. He did play more defensively the previous season, but it was the bringing in of more attack-minded players that helped to unlock Dewsbury-Hall’s potential. Well, some of his potential. Chelsea will unlock that full potential.

It unlocks midfield options

Chelsea wasn’t exactly the hardest hit with injuries last season, but there were a couple of scares. Thankfully, we’ve now got Dewsbury-Hall.

Dewsbury-Hall is a player who has shown he can handle anywhere in midfield. So, if we have a midfielder out for the count, Dewsbury-Hall can be slotted right in there and perform reasonably well. However, we do hope that he will be used in the position he is best known for performing well at – as the number 8.  It is here that we reckon we’ll benefit from one of the most popular sports betting features – in-play betting. We know that if he is playing number 8, he’ll smash in a few assists if the play lines up well.

He can even play as number 10

Owing to his talents – and what we’ve seen of him from the games he has played for Leicester – Dewsbury-Hall is going to play best in position 8. He is a box-to-box midfielder at heart, and he’ll be playing both on the defence and attack, which is absolutely what this team needs right now. We need more versatile players. However, he is also capable of playing as a number 10. There’s a good chance that he’ll be pushed more toward the attacking side of things than the defending side, since Caicedo, Gallagher and Fernández can handle that.

We reckon that there’ll be times when he will be called into action as a number 10, possibly if the squad is scrambling to get a goal in the dying minutes of the game (although, we hope he will be called into action before that).

In our opinion, he is more likely to perform a role as a double-pivot. He’ll transition into a second number 10 when Chelsea is on the attack. Well, sort of. The tactics will need to be played about with a bit, but we reckon that you’ll see Dewsbury-Hall doing a lot of attacking. He’ll be trying to push himself into the box quite a bit, particularly from the CM position.

He’ll provide service to the strikers

The Championship is a completely different kettle of fish from the Premier League, so we aren’t quite sure how Dewsbury-Hall will fare here. However, based on what we’ve seen him do in the Championship, we reckon that he’s going to do a bang-up job providing a ton of service to the strikers.

Dewsbury-Hall has proved that he loves to get the ball toward the strikers as quickly as possible, often down the side of the pitch. We wouldn’t be surprised if by the end of the year, Dewsbury-Hall ends up becoming one of our top assist players.

More pace

The new managerial style is probably going to become more possession-based. Sort of like what Graham Potter tried, but it’ll work (we hope). However, there’ll still be a lot of room for speed in the new Chelsea squad, and Dewsbury-Hall will probably be the one showing that speed.

We wouldn’t be surprised if Dewsbury-Hall not only creates a lot of assists but bangs in fewer power hits too. When playing for Leicester, he was a huge fan of managing to carve out space in the centre of the pitch. He probably will struggle against the fastest midfielders and defenders in the league, but we reckon that Dewsbury-Hall will end up creating way more space than you think, and he’ll have some banging solo goals.

Left foot…FINALLY!

Chelsea is seriously lacking players who can score with their left foot, so finally, it is nice to say we’ve got a player who can do that. Many of his goals last season came from the left foot.

He’s not going to impact Financial Fair Play all that much

After spending the last couple of years lining Brighton’s pockets with loads of cash, which ended up costing us nearly £50m per win, and some of it not benefiting Chelsea as a whole, there have been mutterings that Chelsea needs to do something to not fall foul of Financial Fair Play rules, so it is nice to know that we managed to pick up Dewsbury-Hall on the cheap. A snip at just £30 million, although on a six-year contract.

If we can shift a bit of the dead weight in the Chelsea squad during the next couple of months, there’s a good chance that we won’t have any issues with FFP, and that could help the squad going forward. Although, we do still have the problem of having a ton of players on contracts that are far lengthier than many of them deserve. But that’s a story for another day. All you need to know right now is that you’ve got the lowdown on how Dewsbury-Hall will impact our squad in the 24/25 season.

England go into Euro 2024 with an excellent chance of winning their first major trophy since 1966. There are two Chelsea players involved in Gareth Southgate’s squad this summer in Germany.

It is not just with England that Chelsea are well represented at the European Championships. Here are two Blues who will be in action for other nations and will have eyes on the trophy themselves.

Marc Cucurella (Spain)

Chelsea full-back Marc Cucurella has been a regular in Spain’s starting XI in 2024. He will be hoping his performances for club and country this year have been enough to be in Luis de la Fuente’s team for Euro 2024.

Spain begin their campaign with a tough test against Croatia, and they are 20/23 in the Paddy Power football odds for that match. Should Cucurella be named in the starting XI, his job will be to stop the likes of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, and Andrej Kramaric from finding the scoresheet.

In the bet on Euro 2024 outright market, Spain are fifth best in the betting at 8/1. They reached the semi-finals at the last edition of the European Championship, losing on penalties to the eventual winners, Italy. They were also victorious in the UEFA Nations League in 2023, defeating Croatia in the final.

Firts day at the office 💙 pic.twitter.com/TUxMZSvunx

— Marc Cucurella (@cucurella3) August 5, 2022

Cucurella was a key member of Mauricio Pochettino’s side, which finished the 2023/24 Premier League season strongly. He made a slow start to his career at Stamford Bridge, but he is now showing why the club paid £55 million to secure his services from Brighton.

Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)

Striker Romelu Lukaku was at AS Roma on loan last season, where he played most of the campaign for former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho. The Blues player scored 21 goals in all competitions.

Romelu Lukaku has FOUR goals in 37 minutes 🤯 pic.twitter.com/mbcl11CcIl

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 19, 2023

Lukaku remains a key member of the Belgium team. He has now played 115 times for his country, scoring 85 goals. The 31-year-old has been part of the golden Belgian generation who have underperformed in big tournaments.

There is less pressure on Belgium heading into Euro 2024 as they are not being discussed as one of the favourites. The Red Devils are now managed by Domenico Tedesco, after Roberto Martinez left his role in charge of the nation in 2023.

Lukaku’s future beyond this summer at Chelsea is likely to be discussed with new head coach Enzo Maresca after the European Championship. The Italian is sure to be keeping a close eye on the striker’s performances in Germany, as will several major clubs across Europe, including his former clubs Roma and Inter Milan.

With the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Leandro Trossard, Youri Tielemans, and Orel Mangala all supporting him in the Belgium team, Lukaku should be one of the leading scorers in the tournament. However, they will need to prove themselves in the knockout stages when they face one of the bigger nations in the competition.

The final of Euro 2024 takes place on Sunday, 14th of July in Berlin. It will conclude the 17th edition of the international tournament.

Chelsea had the second-lowest average age in the 2023/24 Premier League season. Only relegated Burnley had a younger average squad (24 years and 257 days) compared to the Blues (24 years and 280 days.

The value of youth appeared somewhat lost on Chelsea at times this season though. Chelsea were eventually outfought in the EFL Cup final by a battle-hardened Liverpool after extra time. In addition, several missed chances in their FA Cup semi-final against Man City were eventually punished, as Mauricio Pochettino’s side lost 1-0.

At times, it appeared as though the Blues’ £400 million transfer spend in the summer of 2023 might backfire in the Premier League too. Chelsea won just four of their opening 13 matches, dropping points against West Ham, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, and Brentford.

Pochettino’s young outfit has shown more resilience and cutting-edge late in the season, however. Chelsea are unbeaten in 14 of their last 15 league matches and have won their previous four in a row.

Several young players have stepped up in a largely challenging campaign too, including Conor Gallagher and Cole Palmer.

However, Pochettino might want to see the following players contribute further to the first team in the 2024/25 campaign to improve Chelsea’s scores and odds in the Premier League.

Noni Madueke

Noni Madueke was one of the young players to arrive on a seven-and-a-half-year contract at Stamford Bridge in January 2023. There were high hopes for the winger, who made 34 goal contributions in 80 games for PSV Eindhoven.

Initially, Madueke struggled for form in the second half of the 2022/23 campaign, scoring just one goal in 16 appearances.

However, the £28.5 million arrival showed greater consistency this season. Madueke made seven goal contributions in the Premier League. In his last eight league matches, Madueke has scored three goals and made two assists.

Overall, Madueke has shown Pochettino why he should be starting next season. Moreover, the 22-year-old had injury struggles midway through the season. As a result, a full pre-season and greater confidence following decent late-season form will give Madueke momentum to break into the Blues first-team.

Lesley Ugochukwu

Midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu was another big-money signing last summer. The 20-year-old arrived in West London, also on a seven-year contract, for nearly £25 million from Rennes.

Despite his young age, Ugochukwu joined Chelsea with plenty of top-level experience. During the 2022/23 campaign, the midfielder played 26 Ligue 1 games for Rennes. Moreover, the French player came with European experience, having featured in seven Europa League games.

Pochettino started to ease Ugochukwu into the defensive midfield role from the bench and in the EFL Cup. Here, the midfielder showed his quality by winning tackles and headers and distributing the ball sensibly. In particular, Ugochukwu produced a solid display in Chelsea’s 2-0 EFL Cup win over Blackburn.

However, just as the French player was building form and looking like a solid addition, he suffered a hamstring injury and missed five months of the season.

Ugochukwu returned off the bench for the Blues 2-1 win at Brighton on Wednesday and there will be intrigue as to how he progresses after his first taste of English football this season.

Carney Chukwuemeka

Carney Chukwuemeka has endured two difficult seasons since joining Chelsea on a six-year contract from Aston Villa. Since arriving in summer 2022, Chukwuemeka has played just 23 matches for the Blues.

Throughout the 2022/23 season, Chukwuemeka was in and out of the Chelsea first-team and suffered a hamstring injury mid-way through the season.

After Pochettino’s arrival last summer, it appeared as though Chukwuemeka would be a valuable squad player. He came off the bench in Chelsea’s 2023/24 opener against Liverpool before starting and scoring against Chelsea in the following match at West Ham.

But the midfielder suffered a serious knee injury at the London Stadium. As a result, he missed most of the season.

Chukwuemeka has the potential to challenge Gallagher for the further forward midfield role in Pochettino’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. As a result, Pochettino will hope to integrate the England youth player properly throughout pre-season in the hope he gets an injury-free 2024/25.

Ian Maatsen

22-year-old defender Ian Maatsen was a fringe player at Chelsea in the first half of the season. In January, the Dutch player joined Borussia Dortmund on a six-month loan.

Since his loan move, Maatsen has impressed in the left-back role, making two assists and two goals. The defender has also played in 20 of the 22 matches which he has been available for – highlighting his consistency.

Maatsen is scheduled to return to Chelsea at the end of the season, although his contract expires at Stamford Bridge this summer.

Following several strong performances in Dortmund, and helping BVB to reach the Champions League final, Pochettino may be tempted to offer Maatsen a long-term contract.

Online gambling has changed the way that people engage with casino games and betting. The benefits of online gambling are many too, from the convenience it has to offer increased safety measures and more. In just a few clicks, a football fan can access their favourite casino games, regardless of where in the world they are. This helps to eliminate the need to travel to a physical casino.

The fact that casino platforms are so accessible makes them ideal for those who have busy schedules or even limited access to land-based casinos.  Safety is another huge advantage of online gambling. Reliable gambling platforms work to prioritise the safety of their players by employing advanced encryption technology along with secure payment gateways. As a result of the gaming boom, more and more providers are now investing in a hybrid structure, so with the benefits listed above, it’s not hard to see why this is becoming the popular option.

Source: Pexels

The Rise of Hybrid Casinos

Hybrid casinos are on the rise now more than ever. At a hybrid casino like Habibibet.org, you can play online games for Arabs while being able to bet on football. So why is this so convenient? One reason is that you can use your winnings from a casino game to bet on the latest football matches. You can also rest assured knowing that any money you win from a match, can then be used to play slots. It’s really convenient and a great way to ensure that you can always access the entertainment you want with the money you have.

Online casinos and sportsbooks often have to follow the same rules regarding data protection too, so it makes sense for companies to invest in both alternatives. A lot of companies are also creating apps so that people can log in and deposit through their phones rather than having to load up a desktop website. For football fans, this is a game-changer, as people often find themselves frantically trying to log on to a betting site before a match is about to begin. Apps offer a new level of convenience and they make it easier than ever to pursue and play a range of games while providing access to the latest football odds.

Source: Pexels

Hybrid Casinos Offer the Best of Both Worlds

When you play games at a hybrid casino, you will notice that you can access the latest football odds with just a few clicks. Hybrid casinos also offer people the chance to access free spins, no deposit bonuses, as well as cashback on bets.

It may be that when you deposit a certain amount, you get a set amount of money as a free bet. Even though games can be played and sports can be bet on, the bonuses differ. A free bet cannot be used on a casino game and vice-versa. To combat confusion, sites often offer promotions such as free bets, or free spins, so clear distinctions can be made even if the site offers multiple gaming options.

Mauricio Pochettino has had a rollercoaster first season as Chelsea boss. The Argentinian coach was tasked with overseeing the Blues’ re-build, focused on bringing in bright stars leading to a £400 million outlay last summer.

Despite the lavish spending, it hasn’t been plain sailing for Pochettino or Chelsea in the 2023/24 season. The West Londoners have shown glimpses of quality and togetherness through EFL Cup final and FA Cup semi-final runs and a late push for European qualification in the Premier League.

However, losses to the likes of West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Brentford, Everton, and Wolves have hindered what could have been a great campaign.

Pochettino’s side has also put together a strong winning run late in the season, leaving them with plenty of reasons to be confident heading into next season. Those who know how to bet on soccer are aware that the end of season form should be studied so there could be plenty of tips for Chelsea to make at least the top 4 next season. Chelsea has won four consecutive matches and looks well placed to hold sixth position and qualify for the Europa Conference League next season.

But, to elevate the Blues back to the top four, Poch must address these key areas ahead of 2024/25.

Defensive Improvements

Chelsea has the second-worst Premier League defensive record of teams placed 10th or above. In 37 matches, the Blues have conceded 62 goals this season.

Arguably, Pochettino has been unlucky with injuries. Key defenders Reece James and Ben Chillwell missed large spells of the season through injury. In addition, centre-back Wesley Fofana has not featured at all this season.

As a result, Chelsea largely relied on unproven partnerships. Pochettino placed his faith in Axel Disasi, Benoît Badiashile and 39-year-old Thiago Silva as the central defenders.

Disasi and Badiashile were two summer signings in 2023 and had unproven experience in the Premier League before this season. Silva’s experience meanwhile, while useful, is not a long-term solution to contend with the Blues’ defensive issues.

Silva announced that he will depart Chelsea at the end of this season, leaving Disasi and Badiashile as the likely centre-back duo for next season. Moreover, Fofana is expected to return in pre-season and could boost Pohcettino’s central defensive options with genuine Premier League experience.

However, to fill the void and complement the existing centre-backs, Chelsea will potentially need to dip into the transfer market. Ultimately, the Blues need a proven central defender, who is a capable leader in defence to replace Silva.

Raphael Varane, who becomes a free agent at the end of this season is one player who has been linked with Chelsea. Yet Pochettino may be hindered by financial constraints, considering the club spent over £400 million on transfers last summer.

Heart of the Midfield

Another area Pohcettino might look to improve is his central midfield position. The Blues have a wealth of young attacking players with potential. However, this depth isn’t complemented by a robust midfield.

In addition, Chelsea have conceded the seventh most goals from open play this season (42), with a further four goals coming from counter-attacks. As a result, the West London outfit could improve these stats with an experienced ball-winning defensive midfielder.

The deeper-lying pair of Enzo Fernandez and Moisés Caicedo have had solid, if uninspiring, seasons at Stamford Bridge. But the pair have lacked genuine competition to excel in their performance. Other than this duo, Pohcettino’s only other viable options in central midfield are Trevoh Chalobah, Lesley Ugochukwu or Cesare Casadei, who have made a combined 12 Premier League starts in the 2023/24 season.

To improve the deeper midfield areas, Pochettino could either focus on improving Chalobah or Ugochukwu, who have both had injury-disrupted seasons. Alternatively, the Argentinian coach might have to look at bringing in a quality challenger for Fernandez and Caicedo.

Partner for Cole Palmer

Cole Palmer has been Chelsea’s standout player in the 2023/24 campaign. The former Man City forward leads the Blues’ charts for goals (22) and assists (10), contributing to nearly a third of Chelsea’s 75 Premier League goals scored.

Palmer has led the line superbly for Chelsea and has shown the ability to finish and create from deeper areas. However, the pressure on the Blues’ key attacker has rarely been eased by his teammates.

Nicolas Jackson has endured a patchy first season in English football. The Senegalese summer signing has shown flashes of brilliance and notched a respectable 14 goals in his maiden Premier League campaign.

However, Jackson has somewhat underachieved considering he has the fifth-highest individual expected goals (19.51) in the Premier League this season. The 22-year-old has also outperformed Palmer in the individual XG charts, suggesting that he has been wasteful with chances.

However, if Pochettino can build Jackson’s confidence to finish effectively and ruthlessly, Chelsea’s frontline could be a serious force next season.

Moreover, Pochettino is also likely to have a fit Christopher Nkunku ready for next season. The former RB Leipzig attacker has made just two starts this season due to injury, but he has scored three goals for the Blues.

We’ve all been there before. You just finished watching a match, either in-person, from a pub, or on your couch at home, and you’re wondering how you can keep that match day fun going. Luckily, there are plenty of options out there, ranging from iGaming to sports betting and online forums. Here’s a quick breakdown of a few different ways you can keep that energy and level of entertainment going after the final whistle blows on the pitch.

Unwinding with iGaming

iGaming has absolutely boomed in recent years, and it’s no secret why. You can bring the atmosphere of the casino right into your own home thanks to live dealer games, virtual slots, lotteries, and more. An online casino is your one-stop shop for everything related to gambling and making a wager. Just like how on the field your team’s luck can change in a second, so can yours at an online casino. The excitement of a win and the tantalizing seconds as the dealer draws cards in Blackjack rival that feeling of watching your team score against their biggest enemies.

There’s also virtual sports betting, allowing you to continue watching your favourite sport go on even if there aren’t any matches being played. Virtual sports utilize algorithms and complex technology to create live simulations of virtual teams that duke them out on the pitch. You can pick one, place bets and watch them go up against other virtual teams in the league. It’s not as exciting as a live match, but it’s certainly a way to extend that game-day fun we all know and love.

Engaging with Online Communities

Online communities are another great way to keep that same energy from the match going. Sports betting forums are a great way to watch people analyze matches, players, coaching strategies, and talk about famous rivalries like West Ham and Chelsea FC. These people live and breathe football, making it a great place to provide your own two cents and maybe learn something new about Chelsea or any other football club. It might also open the door to sports betting for you and give you a new way to have fun after the match is over. You can opt to only bet on your favourite club or even bet on every sport in existence. These forums are a great way to connect with the community, learn something new, and have fun all at the same time.

Interactive Sports Content

On the other end of the spectrum, we have interactive sports content which takes the shape of live streams and sports-themed games. Live streams give you access to other matches going on that day, letting you continue with the energy you’ve developed watching one match and push it to the next one. There are tens of platforms out there offering football live streams, replays of previous matches, and other interactive features that turn your sports-watching game up a level.

Similarly, sports video games are another avenue to fun after a match ends. There’s a reason why FIFA is so popular even in the USA, where the word “football” means an entirely different sport. People love to take control of their favourite teams and players. Did Chelsea not play how you wanted them to? Load up a game and play the match how you felt it should’ve gone.

Fantasy Sports

Fantasy football is another great way to keep the fun going. Like iGaming, fantasy sports have also ballooned in popularity over the last two decades. What was a tedious pen-and-paper system with varying rules between friend groups is now standardized (for the most part) and done all with computers. Technology now allows us to constantly update scores, passes, and every other valuable statistic for fantasy football. No longer do you have to watch every match and note players’ performances. Computers do it all for you, making it more fun to draft your players, construct a team, and watch them go head-to-head with the other players in your league. There are plenty of free fantasy sites out there, with some even letting players make a prize pool and buy-ins to up the ante.

Social Activities and Fun

Virtual watch parties are another great way to socialize and get together with friends, even if you’re far apart or can’t make it to the field that day. It’s almost as if you’re all sitting on the same couch watching the game, but everyone is in the comfort of their own home — or even at work! There are platforms out there that help interested fans host watch parties, with some even having themed activities and games for you and your friends to partake in.

If you can all get together, you might want to go to a sports trivia night at a pub or other event space. Trivia nights are trendy these days, with specific niche trivia nights popping up all over. Look for one that covers football, and you’ll be able to spend a few hours with friends and family, competing for bragging rights and possibly even a prize.

Final Thoughts

In the end, there are a multitude of other ways to keep the energy from a match going long after it’s over. Whether you decide to do a little iGaming, make wagers on other matches, host a trivia night, or any of the other items on this list, you can’t go wrong. These are great ways to have fun, socialize, and make football a more enjoyable experience than it already is.

Debate regarding Chelsea’s elaborate spending in recent windows is for others to indulge in. For those at Stamford Bridge, focus has to remain narrowed on unlocking potential in a squad that has been assembled with one eye on the present, but another drifting towards the future.

Once everything clicks, the Blues will take some stopping – with the promise of more recruitment to come. Inevitably, sales will also form part of the rebuilding project.

There is plenty of talk to suggest that Raheem Sterling will be among those nudged towards revolving doors in west London.

Ambition

Raheem Sterling nets his first Chelsea goal 💙 pic.twitter.com/uB0izzuXIp

— GOAL (@goal) August 27, 2022

As a proven winner, the experienced winger is more determined than most to help turn the tide. He does, however, have domestic and international ambition to consider.

Sterling has slipped down England’s depth chart and may struggle to earn a place in a squad that anyone contemplating a EURO 2024 bet can get at 3/1 to savour continental glory.

The Three Lions are highly fancied in football betting guides and another golden generation of talent are eager to ensure that they do not squander any opportunities to get a success-starved nation back in the winning habit.

Sterling would have had his eyes on becoming a centurion at one stage, with 82 caps to his name, but that dream has been fading for a while.

Favouritism in the eyes of Gareth Southgate has slowly eroded, to the point that several other creative forwards have moved up the attacking pecking order.

Sterling’s form at Chelsea has, if truth be told, been doing little to aid his cause.

Having been a 20-goal-a-season performer at Manchester City, double figures have proved to be out of reach since returning to roots in the English capital.

Disgruntled supporters have been quick to air their frustration.

Mauricio Pochettino has said of the jeers being aimed in Sterling’s direction: “We need to support him, he’s an amazing player. He has more than 10 years of experience in the Premier League. Fans are entitled to show their emotion. For us, we try to emphasise to our fans not to criticise. They want the best for our team and players, but we are in a project.”

Sterling was supposed to be an integral part of that project.

The fact that he has failed to live up to expectations suggests that exit talk is unlikely to fade any time soon.

With big-spending outfits to be found in the United States and Middle East, it could be that Sterling ends up treading a similar career path to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Invested

We go again 🤟🏽 pic.twitter.com/kJncJcaxZk

— Raheem Sterling (@sterling7) August 31, 2023

Chelsea has invested heavily in a bid to ensure that they are well-stocked in every area of the field.

That includes wide areas, and that could lead to Sterling being deemed surplus to requirements – especially with funds needing to be raised from sales at some point to help balance the books.

Pedigree will always be worth plenty in professional football, especially in the fiercely competitive Premier League, but Chelsea – who have been parting with plenty of pounds – must decide whether Sterling still holds any value.