Senior Chelsea players are beset with uncertainty, increasingly becoming concerned over the lack of progress on transfers this summer. Primarily, the club are yet to act on the future of coach Antonio Conte, despite holding talks with possible replacements, while they have been without a technical director since Michael Emenalo left last November.
Meanwhile, some of their rivals have already started strengthening ahead of the next Premier League campaign, despite the inconvenience of the World Cup.
A repeat of 12 months ago will not only damage Chelsea’s hopes of competing for the title, but also in the club’s bid to keep players like Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois. Both Belgians, currently at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and with two years and one year left on their contract respectively, have urged Chelsea to show ambition during the close season.