Chelsea: THIS could be the Blues line-up if Luis Enrique joins as manager
It’s a familiar feeling for Chelsea fans: no manager, no stability and no idea which players will arrive in the summer transfer window.
It’s going to be another transition period after they fired Graham Potter on Sunday – and Luis Enrique could be the man to get them out. The 52-year-old is a contender to replace Potter after the club’s American owners finally lost faith in the England manager.
Former Barcelona boss Enrique, who is a free agent after leaving Spain following their shock last-16 exit on penalties against Morocco at the World Cup in Qatar, could be tempted to return to management at the Blues .
Despite a whopping £323m spent on the likes of Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk in the January transfer window, further acquisitions are sure to be made over the course of the summer.
And Enrique, if he takes over, could play a completely different side next season. So below, Sports mail looks at how Chelsea could line up for the 2023/24 season.
Luis Enrique (pictured) is one of the contenders to succeed Graham Potter as Chelsea manager
Potter was sacked by Chelsea on Sunday and the London club was eleventh in the Premier League
RB Leipzig striker Christopher Nkunku will join this summer – and below, Sports mail looks at how The Blues could line up under Enrique if the Spaniard moves to Stamford Bridge
First of all, the defense. Kalidou Koulibaly has struggled to impress and so a center half of the Spanish national team at Pau Torres, in Villarreal, could find its way to West London.
In November, 90min reported that The Blues are eyeing the composed, elegant defender and could bring him in as a long-term option alongside Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Thiago Silva and Trevoh Chalobah.
Torres could sit alongside Fofana in a mobile, dynamic central defence, with current full-backs Ben Chilwell and Reece James alongside them in Enrique’s signature 4-3-3 formation.
However, Enrique would have to make a decision about his goalkeeper as both Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga faced criticism this season.
But as Kepa has regained his place in Spain’s starting team, it is definitely his place to lose.
Having broken the UK transfer record by signing Enzo Fernandez, the 22-year-old will certainly start in midfield next season.
It is unclear who sits next to him, but the Blues hope that N’Golo Kante will return to base after an injury.
Given Enrique’s typical 4-3-3 formation used in his spells in Barcelona and Spain, a third player could join them.
That man could be Golden Boy holder Gavi of Barcelona. Amid the Catalan giants’ financial troubles, the talented teenager was forced to lose his No. 6 shirt and revert to his No. 30 jersey, with the club unable to maintain his first-team status.
Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres (pictured) could reunite with Enrique at Chelsea next season
Golden Boy Gavi (right) can follow Enrique to West London given Barcelona’s financial problems
Brazil striker Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain could be a shocking name to move to Chelsea
Christopher Nkunku will join this summer to add much-needed attack threat
Enrique clearly trusts him, having given the playmaker plenty of playing time in the World Cup despite his young age, and he and Fernandez can play as No. 8 for Kante, with Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic competing.
Chelsea’s biggest problem this season has undoubtedly been the lack of goals. The Blues have conceded just 30 this season, a statistic only surpassed by Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle. However, they have scored just 29, fewer than any side in the top 10 – fewer even than relegation-threatened Leeds and Leicester.
They have struggled without a recognized striker – and while Inter Milan loanee Romelu Lukaku could return to Stamford Bridge, strengthening the attack will certainly be Chelsea’s top priority this summer.
Napoli’s Victor Osimhen is just the dream card Sports mail understands Chelsea want to sell a few players before looking at his price tag. The 24-year-old, who is Serie A’s top scorer this season with 21 goals in 23 games, has refused to rule out a summer departure – although Arsenal and Manchester United have also been linked.
One step already taken is the signing of RB Leipzig striker Christopher Nkunku, who will join Chelsea this summer, although no official announcement has yet been made.
Nkunku has scored 12 goals in 18 Bundesliga appearances this season and would add significantly to Chelsea’s limp attack in recent months. He could play as a withdrawn, central No. 9 in the style of Kai Havertz.
A shocking name to follow Enrique to Stamford Bridge could be Paris Saint-Germain winger Neymar.
Listen to me. He scored 90 goals in 145 appearances in all competitions under Enrique at Barça and PSG could be willing to let him go this summer given his high salary and difficult personality.
Chelsea can certainly pay his wages, and Enrique may well feel he can get the best out of the mercurial Brazilian. Neymar and Nkunku could play alongside England winger Raheem Sterling in a fast, skillful and versatile front three.
Full Chelsea XI – as pictured below (4-3-3): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Pau Torres, Ben Chilwell; Enzo Fernandez, N’Golo Kante, Gavi; Raheem Sterling, Christopher Nkunku, Neymar.
(4-3-3): Kepa; James, Fofana, Torres, Chilwell; Enzo, Kante, Gavi; Sterling, Nkunku, Neymar