Striker, winger, midfielder: Why Tuchel's Chelsea could be the most active team before transfer deadline day

After a long and hectic three months full of speculation and an outrageous amount of money being spent, the 2022 Summer transfer window is about to close. This Thursday (September 1), the European teams will no longer be able to do deals after 10PM GMT.

As the countdown towards the madness season ending starts, there is still a lot of activity to be done across the top five leagues in Europe and especially the English Premier League. With a plethora of deals still expected to be done, it should not come as a surprise if Chelsea are the most active club across the continent.

Why are Chelsea lagging in the window?

While in normal situations, a club in need for significant business to be done with just days left for the window would be described as a case of a club not being well run, an exception can be done in Chelsea's case this season. The club came into the window not just on the back of new ownership and old board members leaving, they also came into the window on the back of unprecedented government sanctions which left them powerless in being able to do any deals. The club has also worked with a disjointed structure with no sporting director in place by the new ownership yet.

What business have the club done so far

While there is evidently work still needing to be done, the signings so far have been of top quality to say the least. In Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Marc Cucurella; the club have acquired three top quality players who walk into the starting XI and significantly improve it. According to various media reports, the club are on the brink of completing a deal for Wesley Fofana from Leicester City. The French defender is regarded among the most promising young CBs in world football and his singing is definitely one that will excite fans at Stamford Bridge.

What work Chelsea still have to do ?

Chelsea's aims for the transfer window were severely affected as established first team central defenders Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger left the club. While Koulibaly was signed in July and the long-term saga for Fofana is set to help Chelsea with possibly the best possible options in the market to replace the outgoing defenders, it has taken a significant amount of money from their budget and time in the window.

While their defense is sorted and the addition of Cucurella has also given more depth and quality at wingback, the lack of which cost them last season after injuries to Reece James and Ben Chilwell, it is now their midfield that many will argue needs some repair.

With the likes of N'golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, and Jorginho; the club on paper have one of the best midfields in the English top division. However, the reality is that both Kovacic and Kante are injury prone and missed a significant portion of last season. In fact, the duo have been out of action in the early parts of this season already.

While Jorginho has proved himself to be durable, he has shown the tendency to significantly drop in performance levels after playing too much football which the injuries forced him to do while with the likes of Ruben Loftus Cheek and Conor Gallagher taking their place in the double pivot, the team's quality levels and control in midfield is not the same.

For the last month, the club have been heavily linked with Frankie de Jong but the Barcelona midfielder seems unlikely to move. With no other rumours so far, Tuchel might go into the season with his existing options despite the need for additions.

However, it is in attacking areas where the club have been heavily linked with players and that is hardly a surprise. The lack of goals and poor finishing has been a much talked about issue in West London and they already brought four-time Premier League champions Raheem Sterling from Manchester City to address the issue.

If the transfer mill is something to go by, there is evidently a desire to add more players in the area. The search for a striker seems to be the area Thomas Tuchel is focusing on having lost Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner. A reunion with Pierre-Emerick-Aubameyang is a big possibility. In recent days, the blues have also been linked with Everton Anthony Gordon and Crystal Palace's Wilfred Zaha.

Departures

The last three days of the window could be as hectic on the outgoing front as the incoming front. A number of Chelsea players have been linked with moves away from the club with wingers Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi near to an exit. After a poor start to the season, Conor Gallagher's name has also been suggested for another loan move but with no incoming expected in midfield, that will be a surprise. Christian Pulisic is another player reported to be unhappy with his playing minutes; there have been no credible links to a move away for him so far. It remains to be seen if possible incomings change the situation for him too.

Talented youngsters Ethan Ampadu and Billy Gilmour are likely to be two players to leave the club. While Ampadu is set to join Spezia once again. However, Gilmour's destination remains a mystery. On Monday, the club terminated Ross Barkley's contract and that could be the fate of some more fringe players.

Chaos begins for Chelsea

With so much work on both transfers/loans in and out to be done, the next three days promise to be chaotic ones Chelsea. While a number of exits are on the brink of happens, Fofana might end up being the only arrival or one of many. The reality is Chelsea are left too much work to be done on their squad this summer and this window might prove too short for it.