Chelsea confirmed themselves as Premier League champions for a fourth time on Sunday, with three league matches still to play.
Jose Mourinho’s men have been by far and away the best team in the country this season, and have been deservedly crowned champions with a bit to spare.
Mourinho now has three titles to his name as Chelsea boss, but ever the perfectionist, the special one will already be planning ahead for next season.
He has already said he sees himself equalling Sir Alex Ferguson’s record of 13 league titles (he has eight to his name already) and no doubt he will want to mount a serious challenge for the Champions League next term, after a disappointing exit at the hands of Paris St Germain in the last 16.
Here we have identified a line up Mourinho may well consider his dream team to meet those targets next season.
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Click on Jose Mourinho to reveal his possible dream starting XI for next season
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Thibaut Courtois
Is there a side in world football that is stronger than Chelsea with regards to the goalkeepers at their disposal? Surely not.
Petr Cech is said to be keen to move to a club that will guarantee him first team football next season, and although Mourinho is keen to keep the 32-year-old, Thibaut Courtois has enjoyed an outstanding debut season in England – and he is only going to get better.
At just 23, Courtois has already won league titles in Belgium, Spain, and now England.
Branislav Ivanovic
The Serb has been the best full back in the country this season, and has continued his habit of scoring goals when it matters.
This season Ivanovic has managed a semi final winner against Liverpool, and three goals in quick succession in the Premier League at a crucial time in the title race.
There have been suggestions Paris St Germain are looking to sign him in the summer, so Chelsea will be desperate to see him lining up at Stamford Bridge at the start of next season.
John Terry
Now 34-years-of-age, John Terry has once again been the best centre back in the country this season.
The former England captain has equalled Roy Keane’s record of captaining a club to four Premier League titles, and has been rewarded with another year long contract.
Terry has shown no sign of declining just yet, and will be at the heart of Chelsea’s defence once again next season.
Raphael Varane
The France international has struggled to hold down a regular first team place at Real Madrid, with Carlo Ancelotti often preferring the partnership of Sergio Ramos and Pepe.
Varane is a player who Mourinho knows well, having been given his first team debut by the Portuguese coach during his spell in charge at the Bernabeu.
Mourinho remains a keen admirer, and reportedly has him down his number one target for the summer, with Gary Cahill having struggled at times alongside Terry this season.
Cesar Azpilicueta
The Spaniard known as ‘Dave’ amongst the Stamford Bridge faithful, has been the model of consistency for the past two seasons.
Although he has not repeated the form that saw him voted the club’s player of last season, Azpilicueta looks set to end the season as a Premier League champion, and having held down his first team place, despite the arrival of Felipe Luis for big money last summer.
Despite arriving as a right back originally in the summer of 2012, Azpilicueta has made the lft back spot very much his own during his three years at Stamford Bridge.
Paul Pogba
Rumours were going around last summer that Chelsea were in for Paul Pogba, with some even suggesting the Juventus star had met with Jose Mourinho in London.
Rumours surrounding the France international’s future are set to kick off once again this summer, and Chelsea will no doubt force themselves to the front of the queue if Juventus indicate they are willing to sell – no matter what the price.
The idea of Pogba joining a Chelsea side that is already comfortably the best in the country is a worrying prospect for the rest of the Premier League.
Nemanja Matic
The Serb has been an inspired signing by Jose Mourinho, with his form this season leaving so many to ask the question as to why the Blues let him leave in the first place back in 2011.
Matic has comfortably been the best defensive midfielder in the country this season, and is vital to the way in which Mourinho likes his team to play.
He will surely be the first name on the team sheet going into next season.
Eden Hazard
Chelsea have a few players at their disposal who fall into the bracket of world class, but perhaps none more so than Eden Hazard.
The Belgian carried Chelsea often last season, and this term he has thrived alongside summer signings Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa.
The recently crowned PFA player of the year has been attracting attention from Real Madrid in recent weeks, but Mourinho remains confident he can hold onto his main man.
Cesc Fabregas
Another inspired signing by Mourinho, the former Barcelona and Arsenal man has over 20 assists in all competitions this term, with his early season form proving key to Chelsea establishing a lead at the top.
There is some debate over where his best position is, but with Oscar struggling to be consistent during the latter part of a campaign for the second year running, Fabregas would surely be best suited to that number 10 role next season ahead of the Brazilian.
Edinson Cavani
The Uruguayan was said to be Mourinho’s number one target when he returned to Chelsea in the summer of 2013, but PSG won the race for his signature.
Two years on, it seems as though Cavani could be on the move once again.
Mourinho is keen to add another world class forward to his ranks, with Diego Costa and Loic Remy often struggling for fitness this season, and Didier Drogba having reached the age of 37.
If Cavani would be happy at being deployed wide from time to time, a move to London and to the English champions may well be his most appealing option this summer.
Diego Costa
Chelsea fans took Diego Costa to their hearts within the opening match of the Premier League season, with the Spain international taking to English football immediately.
His discipline on the pitch may be a slight cause for concern – he picked up a three match ban for stamping in January – but that plays it’s part in a style of play that has seen him fire more than 20 goals in all competitions this season to help Chelsea secure a fourth Premier League title.
Chelsea will no just hope they can keep him fit to lead the line again next season.
