Well five if we need to replace Begovic (hopefully with Muslera) but that's for another day.
This season we have played a core of 12 outfield players, 8 being set starters with the other 4 fighting for the other 2 places. With CL all but secured for next season we will need a bigger squad to compete, but if we keep that band of 12 together i think we only need four new arrivals.
Let's be honest here, even with midweek games Courtois, Azpi, Luiz, Kante, Hazard and Costa (unless we pull of Morata or Mbappe to compete with him ala Drogba/Crespo 05/06) will be starting every single PL and CL game (and probably FA Cup vs PL opposition) unless they are injured or suspended.
The 4 position's we need to bring reinforcements in are CB, wingback, CM and the attacking positions.
At centre back we are covered by Christensen's loan return, unless Mauricio Lemos becomes available (for him i'd sacrifice Andreas in a heartbeat but i'm pretty sure he will end up at Barca) and i will imagine he will be rotating with Cahill and slowly succeeding him, also he has the technical skills to cover in the middle of the 3 if Luiz is not playing, a luxury we don't really have this season.
Wingback i could see a versatile player who can play on both sides coming in meaning we have competition for both Moses and Alonso and maybe even relegate one to the bench, could potentially see Antonio looking at his ex national squad in that area, maybe De Sciglio.
Central midfield i would love Fabinho but it looks like being Bakayoko.
Attacking position's i would LOVE it if we pull of Mbappe. 3 of him, Costa, Pedro and Hazard interchanging up front would at any one time would be an absolute nightmare for the opposition defenders and when we go 4-2-4 in an attempt to find a late winner we would have all four on. Can't see us getting him but if we do.....................
I would personally loan Zouma and Batshuayi out (maybe even sell the former), not sure the former fit's Antonio's system, we are trying to play from the back and Zouma couldn't be less suited to the system if he tried to be, Cahill may not be great at it but he's like Bonucci compared to Kurt and something has clearly gone of with Batshuayi to make him not trusted, even RLC is getting the nod over him when we are trying to win a game.
That would be a solid squad of 16 outfield starters with Ake, Ruben and Chalobah as the HG squad options. So including the three keepers that's a 22 man squad which should be enough to compete in all comps especially with how good our medical team is.
Four signing's needed this summer
posted on 21/3/17
At centre back we are covered by Christensen's loan return, unless Mauricio Lemos becomes available (for him i'd sacrifice Andreas in a heartbeat but i'm pretty sure he will end up at Barca)
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We couldn't have both? If we bought a CB on top of Christensen, Azpilicueta would be freed up to act as a double sided WB option.
No chance is Christensen getting sold. The club won't want him turning into another De Bryune situation, next season he'll be close to bulletproof.
posted on 21/3/17
Because in my personal opinion Devil Azpi at RCB is the best move Conte has made so far, he is tailor-made for that position. At fullback there was always a question of did he offer enough going forward, a question that would be scrutinised even further if he was a wingback.
Only issue would be with having both is neither will accept lack of game time and one will almost certainly be faced with it.
posted on 21/3/17
I would be quite happy if this is our squad next season.
Keepers: Courtois, Begovic, Eduardo
Centre backs: Ake, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Christianson, Gibson, Luiz and Zouma.
Wing backs: Alonso and Moses
Central midfielders: Bakayoko, Baker, Chalobah, Fabregas and Kante.
Attacking Midfielders: Hazard, Loftus-cheek, Pedro and Willian.
Strikers: Abraham, Batshuayi, Costa and a new striker .
Ake and Azpilicueta can both cover the wing back roles, also Ake can cover central midfield.
posted on 21/3/17
Ake and Azpi isn't good enough back up for our wingbacks, Tottenham have the same problem, lose a lot of the impotus in their game by just shoving two defensive minded full backs into wingback whenever Walker/Rose are injured
posted on 21/3/17
Who is Lemos ? or
posted on 21/3/17
Returning Managers
But if we bought a midfielder who combined the creativity of Fabregas with the steel of Matic (the excess price for such a player raised by saving money on a WB or two) they'd be less impetuous to have as much of an attacking threat from the RWB position besides providing width and a passing option in midfield. In terms of needing the stamina and defensive awareness required for the role, Azpi can do the job no problems.
It would merely free up the option of using them there, giving him a utility player aspect to the team in the mould of a Blind. I'd primarily wanna keep him at CB, probably the most underappreciated player in the team this season
posted on 21/3/17
Biggest cardinal sin is letting Christensen our most talented (young) defender leave permanently after two hugely successful years loan spell (this is his Courtois moment).
He'll be the first academy regular since JT.
Not one single defender I would swap for him.
posted on 21/3/17
I'd like improvements/upgrades on Matic, Cahill, Alonso, Moses (lot of them not CL standard) as a minimum.
posted on 21/3/17
If speculation is anything to go by then Conte/club is trying to address those positions and rightly so.
posted on 22/3/17
I think we'll add 5 players.
GK - Begovic replacement
CB - Christensen returns
WB - Not sure who
CM - Bakayoko or Kessie
ST - Morata or Lukaku