Chelsea fans in the Transfer Tavern are glad they have to World Cup to watch in order to distract them from the mess at Stamford Bridge.

After fantastically winning the title in 2017, Antonio Conte’s side struggled immensely last season, managing just a fifth-placed finish. Missing out on Champions League football will come as a huge blow which will no doubt affect their summer transfer plans. Despite lifting the FA Cup, Conte’s future remains uncertain.

Roman Abramovich is believed to want former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri to replace him, but the Italian side are demanding a huge fee for his services despite bringing in Carlo Ancelotti as his replacement. The Chelsea owner needs to sort out the managerial situation as soon as possible with the transfer window closing earlier than usual. There is plenty of work to be done if Chelsea are to be in title contention next year.

Should Sarri be appointed, he should look to the Serie A for some new recruits. A potential signing could be Roma right-back – Alessandro Florenzi. Valued at £27m by Transfermarkt, the Italian has established himself as one of the best full-backs in the division and has grown to be a key player for Roma. However, he has just one-year remaining on his deal and could be set to leave.

He made 42 appearances in all competitions last season as Roma reached the semi-final of the Champions League. He scored one goal and registered five assists for his team-mates. Florenzi is extremely versatile and has regularly featured in central midfield for the Italians.

At 27-years-old, he is approaching the prime of his career. Chelsea would be wise to make one of the signings of the summer.

Chelsea fans, thoughts?