Chelsea will undoubtedly need a bigger squad next season when they once again tackle the trials and tribulations of Champions League football.
While big-money additions may be needed in certain areas, Antonio Conte wants to use his large pool of players currently away on loan to bulk out his squad next season.
With the likes of Nathan Ake, Victor Moses and Nathaniel Chalobah all being kept in the first-team squad this season and impressing, Conte is looking to hand an opportunity to both Tammy Abraham and Andreas Christensen.
Abraham has netted 21 goals for Bristol City this season as they escaped relegation from the Championship and Chelsea, who have little depth in attack, would like the England U21 international in and around the first-team next season.
With Dominic Solanke leaving in the summer and Michy Batshuayi’s future very much up in the air, there is an opportunity for Abraham to stake his claim to become Chelsea’s second-choice striker if he impresses in pre-season.
As for Christensen, Chelsea will be looking for centre-back depth in the summer with John Terry leaving and the Denmark international is a sensible replacement.
Set to return after a two-season loan with Borussia Monchengladbach, the plan was always to bring him back into the first-team set-up after getting two years of regular football under his belt.
The Bundesliga side are interested in signing him permanently in the summer, as are Southampton, and the 21-year-old doesn’t want to sit on the bench at Chelsea.
One big factor in this decision is both Abraham and Christensen qualify as ‘home-grown’ players for Chelsea and will help the Blues meet their respective quotas in the Premier League and Champions League next season.
Goal are also reporting that Chelsea could opt to retain several players in the first-team squad next season that are currently out on loan to supplement the squad following the January departures of Oscar, Branislav Ivanovic and John Obi Mikel.
Youngsters Izzy Brown, Matt Miazga, Jeremie Boga and Lewis Baker are all also being considered by the Chelsea staff for a role in the first-team next season.
They will have to go through summer meetings to decide their futures as is the norm, but two or three of them may get a chance to prove their worth in pre-season.
The likes of Kasey Palmer, Fikayo Tomori and Jay Dasilva and a number of other teenage loanees are expected to be sent back out on loan next season to further their development.
Lucas Piazon and Tomas Kalas are both being lined up for permanent exits, while Loic Remy will also be up for sale following a disappointing loan spell with Crystal Palace. Abdul Baba Rahman may also leave in the summer as clubs queue for his signature.
