It’s a familiar feeling for Chelsea fans: No manager, no stability and no idea which players will arrive in the summer transfer window.
It’s set to be another transitional period after they sacked Graham Potter on Sunday – and Luis Enrique could be the man to guide them out of it. The 52-year-old is a contender to replace Potter, after the club’s American owners finally lost faith in the English manager.
Former Barcelona boss Enrique, who is a free agent after leaving Spain following their shock last-16 exit on penalties against Morocco at the Qatar World Cup, could be tempted by a return to management with the Blues.
Despite spending a whopping £323million in the January transfer window, signing the likes of Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk, further acquisitions will certainly be made over the summer.
And Enrique, if he is to take over, could have a very different side to play with next season. So below, Sportsmail looks at how Chelsea could line up for the 2023-24 campaign.
Luis Enrique (pictured) is one of the contenders to replace Graham Potter as Chelsea manager
Potter was sacked by Chelsea on Sunday with the London club sat 11th in the Premier League
RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku is set to join this summer – and below, Sportsmail looks at how the Blues might line up under Enrique if the Spaniard does move to Stamford Bridge
First up, the defence. Kalidou Koulibaly has struggled to impress and so a Spanish national team centre half in Pau Torres, of Villarreal, could make his way to west London.
In November, 90min reported that the Blues have been keeping tabs on the composed, elegant defender and could bring him in as a long-term option alongside Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Thiago Silva and Trevoh Chalobah.
Torres could sit next to Fofana in a mobile, dynamic central defence, with current full-backs Ben Chilwell and Reece James alongside them in Enrique’s typical 4-3-3 formation.
Enrique would have a decision to make regarding his goalkeeper, though, with both Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga receiving criticism this season. But given Kepa has regained his place in Spain’s starting team, it is surely his place to lose.
Having smashed the British transfer record to sign Enzo Fernandez, the 22-year-old will surely start in midfield next season.
Who sits alongside him is more unclear, but the Blues will hope N’Golo Kante can slot back into the side after returning from injury.
Given Enrique’s…