Chelsea fans in the Transfer Tavern are looking forward to celebrations this afternoon, as the Blues prepare to lift the Premier League title after the clash with already-relegated Sunderland.
With the title already secured, and the FA Cup final against Arsenal to think about, fans in the bar are making their case for Antonio Conte to make changes to his starting line-up for this weekend’s game- and they’re earning more and more support for their beliefs.
Our landlord agrees that making some changes to the squad will keep the team on their toes ahead of the crucial clash with Arsenal at Wembley later this month and it will help Conte assess the fringe players in his squad ahead of a crucial summer window.
These players are playing for the opportunity to feature in the FA Cup final and also fighting for their futures at Stamford Bridge, so this is the perfect opening for them to make an impression on the Italian boss.
Michy Batshuayi
Young Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi has endured a difficult debut season in the Premier League but he’s enjoyed fine form in recent weeks, scoring the title-winning goal off the bench against West Brom and then finding the net again in the dramatic 4-3 win over Watford in midweek.
His start against Watford was his first of the season and the Belgian deserves a chance to show his credentials ahead of next season, where the Blues will likely rejuvenate their forward options following the likely departure of Diego Costa.
Rubens Loftus-Cheek
21-year-old Rubens Loftus-Cheek has been on the fringe of the first-team for numerous season but has, for some reason, failed to stake a claim for regular opportunities at Stamford Bridge and a crucial summer lies ahead for the midfielder.
Six Premier League appearances have come for Loftus-Cheek this season, all of which have come off the bench, and Loftus-Cheek deserves the chance to make an impression in the first-team prior to the summer window- otherwise he could end up finding himself out of West London.
