The Chelsea fans here in the Transfer Tavern were bitterly disappointed with their 10th place finish in the Premier League this season, after winning the title just 12 months previous.
Chelsea will welcome Italian coach Antonio Conte as the club’s new manger during the summer and his iron-fist approach is expected to ruffle some feathers next season.
The Italy manager is likely to use his expedition to Euro 2016 as a chance to run the rule over some potential new signings for the Blues next season, with some major changes expected to the Chelsea squad.
Several senior players could depart the club which will mean a fair few will arrive to plug the gaps vacated by the deadwood being moved along.
Our writer Lee Clarke takes a look at FIVE midfielders from Euro 2016 who Conte’s Chelsea should look to sign following the summer tournament……
[ffc-gallery]
PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE FIVE MIDFIELDERS!
[/ffc-gallery]
Paul Pogba
It remains to be seen whether the Juventus midfielder will sign for anyone else this summer but he certainly won’t be short of suitors.
The midfielder is a wanted man and Antonio Conte would no doubt love to be able to build a team around him, when he walks through the door at Stamford Bridge.
Pogba would cost an absolute fortune but if Conte could get him to recreate his form in Serie A over in the Premier League, the club would have a real player on their hands.
The 23-year-old is a solid all-round midfielder and if Chelsea could tempt him to join Stamford Bridge, they would be back in the title picture in no time.
Sergio Busquets
A defensive midfielder is likely to be top of Antonio Conte’s list of targets when he arrives in West London, and this Spain midfielder could do a job.
A product of the glittering Barcelona youth academy, Busquets has played 247 times for the Catalan giants but could look to take on a new challenge during the summer.
The lure of playing Premier League football could be an attractive proposition for the 27-year-old and he is certainly an option for Chelsea to consider.
A really solid performer, Busquets has played close to 100 times for the national team and will look to add to his glut of caps during the Euros this summer.
N’Golo Kante
Whilst signing Pogba might be a bridge too far for Antonio Conte, the Leicester City man certainly wouldn’t be given his £20 million release clause installed into his contract.
The title winning midfielder was a revelation in his first season in the English Premier League and would take no settling in to life at Stamford Bridge.
The little bundle of energy is exactly what the Blues need at present to inject some life back into a team short on confidence, following a miserable season.
Kante would be a snip at £20 million and Italian boss Conte should seriously consider a move for the French star.
Stephan El Shaarawy
The Italian midfielder has made the squad for Italy’s Euro 2016 campaign which shows the trust that Antonio Conte has in the attacking midfielder.
The 23-year-old has lots of unfulfilled potential and a manager that trusts in him like Conte could be just the thing the youngster needs at this stage in his career.
The Italian has spent the second half of this season on loan with Roma where he has netted eight goals in his 16 appearances for the club, following a miserable first half of the season with Monaco.
El Shaarawy would relish the chance to work with Conte at Chelsea and he probably wouldn’t break the bank either.
Toni Kroos
Another high-profile player who could be on their way out of their current club is Real Madrid midfielder Kroos.
The Germany international is one of the best midfielders in the world on his day but it is thought that Zinedine Zidane could offload the player during the summer, as he looks to put his own mark on the squad.
Kroos is still only 26-years-old and he would represent a real coup for Chelsea if they could pull off a summer deal.
Whether a deal could be put in place or not would probably depend on Kroos’ desire to play for Chelsea with the club not in the Champions League next season.
