While 2023 may have been a less eventful year in the history of Chelsea in comparison to 2022, it certainly could not be called quiet. The Blues have seen four different figures in the Stamford Bridge dugout and have a brand new squad as they enter 2024 with Mauricio Pochettino.
Chelsea wasted little time in making an impact 12 months ago as they landed the likes of Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile and others, before splashing out more than £100million on Enzo Fernandez. Of course, that was not to be the only time Chelsea completed a nine-figure transfer.
Midtable mediocrity has been the order of the day however, and the west London side will hope to move beyond that in 2024. There has been no shortage of chaos during the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, but Pochettino could find their first piece of silverware. Chelsea are already in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and must navigate their way past Middlesbrough to reach the final.
Away from the club, the Blues’ owners even completed the purchase of another club in Strasbourg. Could there be more to come on that front? football.london’s writers have predicted what could happen over the course of 2024 for the Blues.
Scott Trotter – Chelsea writer
In my 2023 precictions I managed to get little right outside of that a rollercoaster awaited and that a lot can change very quickly. While I did succeed in some claims, predicting Graham Potter to still be in charge come the close of the year did not turn out to be my finest moment.
For 2024, more transfers are sure to arrive as Chelsea plan for now and the future, while speculation will continue to arrive over homegrown stars. However, Conor Gallagher will continue to prove himself in the Blues midfield, but it could be the year that Trevoh Chalobah leaves the club.
It’s difficult to see the club flying up the table in time for the end of May but with the return of Christopher Nkunku and others, Chelsea should begin to show some progress up the table and an appearance in the Carabao Cup final will arrive. The club have found a way in the competition so far and with the likes of Cole Palmer showing plenty of ability from the spot, a shooutout win over Liverpool awaits.
With trophies always comes chaos, and the club will have to try and find some stability too if they hope to develop sustainably. It would be little surprise to see a mega-money signing but just as important will be seeing Mauricio Pochettino allowed to consolidate his squad so that this young group can grow.
Bobby Vincent – Chelsea writer
Well it’s surely only going to get better. Right?
I mean, it has to. And Chelsea now have Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku. And a few others, too. But even after spending all this money, the squad still needs improving.
Namely a striker and namely Victor Osimhen would be ideal. I could certainly see something like that happening in the summer. The Napoli striker continues to be a hot topic on Chelsea supporters’ lips but a move this month is very unlikely.
Chelsea will not rush their pursuit of a striker and if the right player is not available this month, then they will wait until the end of the season. A centre-back is too on the agenda for the January window, which is not expected to be as busy as 12 months ago or the summer.
In terms of the head coach, Mauricio Pochettino will still be in charge in a year. It’s a bold prediction given Chelsea’s recent history with managers and the fact that Pochettino has come under early pressure from the supporters.
I genuinely believe, though, that there are not too many – if any – better options for the club right now. Pochettino has proven at every club he has been at that he is a fantastic man-manager and there are early indications with the likes of Palmer and Mykhailo Mudryk that his expertise is rubbing off on them.
Tom Coley – Chelsea US writer
Twelve months ago I said that 2023 would not and could not be as bad as 2022 for Chelsea. I was very wrong, very wrong indeed. At least, even in one of the darkest periods in recent memory for the club, Chelsea are heading into the new year on a point of strength with four wins from five, a home record gaining strength and Cole Palmer.
However, when it comes to what follows it is much tougher to predict. This team – this club – is so unstable at present, so inconsistent and unreliable that predictions are a fools game. Nevertheless, here go a few.
Thiago Silva will not be a Chelsea player come the end of the year. He might stay on in a coaching role but I cannot see him playing in the Premier League at 40. Maybe he stays on in a John Terry – hardly even playing – playing role of 2016/17 but if he has aspirations of heading back to Brazil for a final farewell I think it comes this summer.
From the season itself Chelsea are primed to make a Carabao Cup final and winning that is not out of the question. If it’s Liverpool as expected heading to Wembley from the other semi then there’s a blockbuster in store. Chelsea and Liverpool have such history, both recent and historic, that it could be one to remember. What a load of confidence a trophy for this group would do.
The FA Cup as well should be within Chelsea’s sights. No European football means full steam ahead for domestic competitions. I think Chelsea can at least make the semis in that too and give their fans two trips to Wembley this year if not more.
In the league it’d be nice to push onto around eighth and show some fight. Pochettino will have impressed many if he can do that with the rag-tag bunch at his disposal. The Argentine will be in charge come January 2025 and Chelsea will be in the fight for the top four/five at this stage next season.
Conor Gallagher is still a Chelsea player at that point too, maybe even with a new long-term contract firmly under his belt. Really, though, who knows?
