Premiership Preview: Chelsea

Lukaku - Just what Chelsea need (John Thys/AFP/Getty Images)

With a new manager at the helm and success being demanded almost instantly, expect Chelsea to buy big this summer. Having already flexed his financial muscle last January with the signings of Torres and David Luiz, Roman Abramovich will need to inject some youthful exuberance to his aging squad, but will have to remove some dead weight to free up space and funds.

Goalkeeper

Although not at his best last season, Petr Cech is still better than most and so the only worry for Chelsea is if he picked up a long-term injury. There are doubts as to whether the reserve keepers Ross Turnbull or Henrique Hilário could provide adequate cover.

Defenders

Probably Chelsea’s strongest area, With David Luiz’s skill and pace and John Terry’s all round defensive ability their centre backs are solid, with Alex as a worthy back up and Ivanovic who can perform equally as well as right back. Ashley Cole’s position is as solid as ever with Ryan Bertrand as a promising understudy. Chelsea may look to move fringe players - like Zhirkov and Ferreira - on and so a back up to Jose Bosingwa maybe in order.

Midfielders

With new manager Villas-Boas favouring a 4-3-3 formation, Chelsea’s midfield three shouldn’t change too much. John Obi Mikel suffered a dip in form last season and the young Ramires looked to be adjusting to the rigors of the Premiership. Expect to see Essien play more defensively this season allowing Lampard to get forward along side another skillful playmaker. The club has already had a bid turned down for Tottenham’s Luca Modric and could return with an improved offer. João Moutinho, nicknamed the Portuguese Xavi, has also been linked with a move to the Kings Road to work along side his former boss as well as the highly rated Palermo playmaker Javier Pastore. Whoever Chelsea goes for in this position, expect the price tag to be high, Andy Carroll high.

Strikers

An area that desperately needs a restructure, both Drogba and Anelka struggled to make any serious impact and at 33 and 32 respectively must be thinking their days are numbered. Villas-Boas did suggest that he was looking to offer Drogba an extension to his contract, but surely players like Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda will be moved on. Torres will need an arm around his shoulder if he is to recapture the form that made him so devastating for Liverpool. It is widely expected that Falcao will also arrive from the new boss’ former club and long term target Romelu Lukaku is also rumoured to be close to agreeing a deal at the club.

Owain