Chelsea are some way off mounting a genuine title challenge, here are five young talents who can help bring the Premier League trophy back to the Stamford Bridge.
5. Luke Shaw
At just 17, Southampton full-back Luke Shaw is destined to become one of the Premier Leagues greats over the coming years and Chelsea should be ensuring that those days are at Stamford Bridge.
Shaw has been a revelation with his performances for Southampton having been entrusted to begin the Premier League season in the first-team by former manager. And he is reported to have been the subject of a £10million bid from Chelsea in the January transfer window.
Although Ashley Cole has signed a new one-year deal to stay at Chelsea for another season, Shaw is the club’s future left-back and can help form part of a new era when the current Stamford Bridge number three retires of leaves. He should also replace him in the England team eventually too.
4. Andre Schurrie
As far as young strikers on the market go, German international Andre Schurrie is one of the best around and better still hasn’t been snapped up by one of Europe’s biggest clubs yet.
The Bayer Leverkusen forward, who can play as an out-and-out striker or in one of the wider roles, was understood to have been a £23million target last summer but should complete that move at the end of the current season.
Times are changing and we should see a younger Chelsea side next season and with Schurrie, who combines hard work with natural skill in a typical German way, part of the attack things can improve dramatically from next season onwards.
3. Neilton
If you can’t sign the real Neymar, then it seems a sensible decision to go for a player who is already being branded the new Neymar!
Neilton is 19-year-old – two years younger than Neymar himself – and has been linked with a £5million switch to Chelsea from Santos to joining a growing Brazilian contingent at Stamford Bridge that includes David Luiz, Ramires and Oscar as well as Lucas Piazon who is currently on loan in La Liga.
Neilton would be a very cheap purchase in the present transfer climate because of a £5million buy-out clause, but could be a fine addition to the ranks and would aid Chelsea’s quest to get back to the top of the Premier League.
2. Isco
The Spanish midfielder was a target for Chelsea in the January transfer window, but a deal never materialised with Isco instead signing a new deal with Malaga in which his release clause figure was increased to £31million.
Isco is set to become the latest creative Spanish midfielder in the Premier League in the summer, however, with Chelsea to bring him in as a replacement for Frank Lampard.
Chelsea need to kick off a new era after the struggles of last season and Isco could be the man to compliment international team-mate Juan Mata and help Chelsea back to the top of the Premier League. He could be followed to Stamford Bridge by his current Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini.
1. Romelu Lukaku
As far as young talent goes, Chelsea already have one of the best on their hands in the shape of Romelu Lukaku. The striker should be back in a Chelsea shirt next season and would be as good as having a new signing on board.
The Belgian international has impressed on loan at West Brom this season with 12 goals for the Hawthorns club and some breathtaking displays to prove he already is a Premier League star.
There has been talk that Lukaku will spend a second season with West Brom, but he is exactly the right man to be at Chelsea firing the club to the Premier League. A young Didier Drogba in the making, Lukaku deserves the chance to fulfil the £17million price tag that Chelsea paid Anderlecht to sign him and would be like having a new signing.