To say that Chelsea have made some poor judgement in some of their recent transfer windows might be one of the biggest understatements to make, as the Blues have had their fair share of players that simply haven’t lived up to the expectations set for them when they first signed along the dotted line at Stamford Bridge.
The club’s owner certainly hasn’t been shy of splashing the cash, and more times than not in the 2023/24 season, those new arrivals haven’t quite hit the ground running as quickly as Mauricio Pochettino would have originally liked. However, on the flip side, there have been some signings which have caught the eye for all the right reasons, with Malo Gusto and Cole Palmer being perfect examples of this statement, as they’ve both been rare bright sparks in a frustrating league campaign for the Chelsea supporters to witness.
Thiago Silva is the only first-team player whose contract is set to expire at the end of the 2023/24 season, and it remains to be seen as to whether his current deal with the club will be extended anytime soon. The likes of Malang Sarr and Conor Gallagher have one year remaining on their current contracts with Chelsea, and it’ll be interesting to see if Gallagher in particular will stick around, having previously been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Below, we’ll take you through three players that Chelsea should look at signing in the summer transfer window, as Mauricio Pochettino looks to add to his senior squad.
Michael Olise – Crystal Palace
This man needs no introduction, having already made a positive impact with Crystal Palace in the Premier League, having moved from Reading back in 2021. Olise has wasted no time at all in settling into life at Selhurst Park in the top-flight, and has chipped in with six goals and three assists from his 11 appearances to date this term, in what has been an injury-hit campaign so far.
Olise had two goals and 11 assists to his name last season, and you have to ask the question as to how high up the Premier League table Crystal Palace would be this year if the French youth international had been injury-free for the majority of this year’s league campaign. Chelsea’s interest in signing the winger has been well-documented in the last couple of transfer windows, with the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United also rumoured to be looking into a potential deal with the Eagles.
Olise would be a serious threat going forwards for Chelsea, and having him and Cole Palmer on either wing would be a frightening prospect for any full-back in the Premier League. Even though Crystal Palace’s asking price could be hefty, the Blues should be doing all they can to secure a deal to sign the 22-year-old. Olise is priced at 13/2 on Sky Bet to move to Chelsea in the summer transfer window. Alternatively, you can convert those odds into decimal or American odds if you wish to do so using an odds converter.
Joao Neves – Benfica
Neves has been impressive for Portuguese giants Benfica, having made 45 appearances in all competitions this season for them, which catches the eye as he’s only 19-years-old, and is clearly trusted to feature heavily for them this season. The defensive midfielder has age on his side in terms of development in senior football, and could be the ideal long-term replacement for Conor Gallagher if he was to depart the club in the next couple of years.
Portuguese media outlets have reported that Chelsea are rivalling the likes of Manchester United in trying to land Neves’ signature this summer, although it remains to be seen as to what Benfica’s valuation of their prize asset currently is.
Rayan Ait-Nouri – Wolves
Ait Nouri has been with Wolves since 2021, and has progressed well through their ranks to become a regular in the starting XI this season. The left-back has shown his qualities in the Premier League, and could prove to be an upgrade on the likes of Marc Cucurella and Ben Chilwell.
He’s got age on his side at the age of 22, and given that he’s shown an eye for goal in the last couple of seasons in particular, Ait Nouri would certainly be worth a punt for Chelsea this summer.
