After an expensive transfer window last summer, Chelsea are not planning a new team structure this time.
Instead, they want to put all their eggs in one basket by securing a blockbuster deal for one of the most productive strikes in Europe, Erling Haaland.
You can see why Thomas Tuchel has identified Borussia Dortmund striker Haaland as his main target. They may have lifted the Champions League trophy but no player scored more than seven league goals in 2020/21, and it was Jorginho for goodness sake.
If the Blues make the Haaland deal, they will be left with a host of delicious attacking options. Giving all of his forwards significant playing time can prove challenging, but 90 minutes has mapped out some of the ways in which Tuchel could get the best out of Haaland.
Ziyech hopes to play more regularly next season / Marc Atkins / Getty Images
It’s hard to see what Hakim Ziyech’s future is like for Chelsea to be honest. There are rumors that he has a tumultuous relationship with Thomas Tuchel for one and he also managed only 23 gigs last season.
Because they paid so much for him, it is still unlikely that the former Ajax man will be moved on yet. He should at least enjoy the opportunity to play with Haaland.
Ziyech has a magic wand on his left foot and unlike Timo Werner last semester, Chelsea’s potential newcomer knows how to finish a cross.
Pairing him with the pacifier, the trickier Callum Hudson-Odoi can be a good idea. Not because the child can swing a dangerous ball in itself.
Havertz and Werner will be looking for regular links next semester / Matthew Ashton – AMA / Getty Images
Bundesliga viewers will spin after this potential threesome. In this configuration, Timo Werner could use the left half that gave him so many goals for RB Leipzig. He would also provide an exciting foil for Haaland.
Meanwhile, Kai Havertz would have two tireless runners for his penetrating balls. Nice.
Havertz can even move to a position ten with Werner and Haaland forming an iconic big man, little man strikes partnership.
Pulisic aims for an injury-free campaign / Clive Rose / Getty Images
Another one for all German football. Christian Pulisic has shown glimpses of incredible quality during his Stamford Bridge career so far, but injuries and uneven form have dampened his overall influence.
Maybe with a player of Haaland’s incredible quality to bounce off, he can return to his Borussia Dortmund form.
On the opposite flank, Werner would offer direct driving behind which would complement Pulisic’s sharp dribbling and pot shots nicely.
Mount is one of the first names in the team magazine for Chelsea / Pool / Getty Images
If this was Chelsea’s top three for last season’s Champions League final, they would have won much more comfortably. You know, because Werner missed all those chances.
Haaland would not have to worry about getting good service with this terrible duo of gamers behind him. Havertz should be more than capable of pushing up and ironing the box as well.
This front line was well suited for the 3-4-3 that Tuchel used so well after taking over from Frank Lampard. The relentless running forward from Reece James on the one hand and Ben Chilwell on the other make this a scary proposition for the rest of the Premier League.
It is without mentioning the wealth of talent that Tuchel could also call from the bench.
