Chelsea: Is this how Thomas Tuchel’s team will set up next season?

Chelsea are Champions of Europe, but they won’t be happy to stop there on their conquest as they eye up another Premier League crown next season.

Thomas Tuchel has quickly transformed the Blues into a side capable of competing for honours across the board and will be mulling over his options to add further bodies to the squad to ensure they keep up their momentum.

The team is brimming with young talent and depth – meaning Tuchel won’t be needing too many additions, but a sprinkling of quality could certainly take them to the next level.

Chelsea have been linked with a big-money move for Dortmund’s Erling Haaland after watching Timo Werner struggle up front during his first season at Stamford Bridge, while Tuchel is also thought to be eyeing up reinforcements for his midfield.

Sportsmail takes a look at how Chelsea could possibly line up next season as they aim to take the 2021-22 campaign by storm.

Thomas Tuchel is eager to take Chelsea to the next level after winning the Champions League

The Blues are on a high but aren’t satisfied to stop at conquering Europe ahead of next season

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GK – Edouard Mendy

A colossus for the Blues last season – and how they’ve craved a goalkeeper with a sturdy set of hands.

Chelsea have been spoiled with Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois in recent years but Kepa Arrizabalaga really missed the mark and Chelsea’s defensive solidity suffered as a result.

The Blues have looked like a different side at the back ever since the Senegalese man arrived from Rennes last year – and he’s also added some more character to the dressing room. What a great piece of business this was from Chelsea.

Edouard Mendy has finally presented Chelsea with a reliable set of hands in goal once more

RCB – Cesar Azpilicueta

Chelsea’s skipper is entering his 10th season at the club and is more important to the team than ever after leading them to a ninth trophy since he arrived from Marseille back in 2012.

Tuchel’s first priority at Chelsea was to form a solid foundation at the back and Azpilicueta’s presence and experience has been a vital part of that.

At 31, he still has plenty of years left in his career and has a chance to further cement his place in Chelsea folklore if he can help the Blues to another Premier League triumph and even more honours next term.

Cesar Azpilicueta is Chelsea’s captain fantastic and can cement his place in the club’s history

CB – Thiago Silva

Some doubted whether Thiago Silva had much left in the tank when he joined Chelsea on a free transfer last season, but he proved he still has much left to offer despite the Brazilian turning 37 in September.

He made 34 appearances in all competitions last term and added some know-how to their back line, even though things got off to a turbulent start under Frank Lampard.

Silva is still getting call ups for his country after playing in the Copa America final against Argentina – suffering a heartbreaking defeat against their rivals – and looks like he has no desire to stop any time soon.

Thiago Silva proved he still has plenty of gas left in the tank despite being about to turn 37

LCB – Antonio Rudiger

One of the most improved players under Tuchel. Rudiger looked frozen out and cast aside under Lampard and came close to leaving the club last year – but he has been revitalised thanks to his fellow German and hasn’t looked back.

He made 19 starts in the Premier League last term – just three of those came under Lampard, and he was given the nod for Tuchel’s first game against Wolves – a 0-0 draw.

Rudiger started the Champions League final against Manchester City and helped keep a clean sheet as the Blues won 1-0 in Portugal. He appears to have formed a great understanding with Silva and Azpilicueta.

Antonio Rudiger completed a dramatic turnaround in fortunes under Thomas Tuchel last term

RWB – Reece James

James proved he is one of the best full-backs in the Premier League last season, but his impressive displays weren’t enough to convince Gareth Southgate he should start for England at Euro 2020, as Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier were preferred.

So the boyhood Chelsea star will be even more hungry to build upon his performances from last season and stake a claim for the right-back slot when the Qatar World Cup in 2022 comes around.

Reece James will hope for another standout season after nailing down the right-back berth

CM – Declan Rice

Chelsea are blessed with talent in the midfield department – their strength in depth is part of what helped them make both the FA Cup and Champions League finals while also finishing in the top four.

But it wouldn’t hurt to add some more steel to the middle of the park and a long-time target Declan Rice could be the man for the job after outlining his credentials in midfield with a brilliant Euro 2020 campaign with England.

Rice, who began his career with the Blues, is reportedly keen on a move back to Stamford Bridge after impressing with West Ham, but it’s thought Chelsea will have to stump up around £100million to snap him up.

He knows the club well and has good relationships with England team-mates Reece James, Ben Chilwell and best pal Mason Mount, which can only enhance the team chemistry in the dressing room.

Chelsea are long-term admirers of Declan Rice, whose stock is high after his superb summer with England at Euro 2020

CM – N’Golo Kante

Kante’s reputation for having three lungs has only improved after his breathtaking display in the Champions League final, and his role as the engine in Chelsea’s team will be crucial going into this campaign.

The Frenchman couldn’t quite replicate that form for his country at the Euros but at club level his consistency is undeniable.

He’s won nearly every trophy possible in England – the Premier League twice, the FA Cup three times, the Europa League and now the Champions League. Tuchel will be delighted to call upon a player like Kante, and knows he has even more options if he wants to switch things up.

Jorginho is a fantastic playmaker and has just come off the back of winning the Euros while Mateo Kovacic always has undoubted ability in his locker.

N’Golo Kante has helped Chelsea win multiple trophies and will be pivotal in the title hunt

LWB – Ben Chilwell

Like James, Chilwell has something to prove after being overlooked at the Euros by Southgate. His team-mate managed to feature in one game at the tournament, but Chilwell failed to play a single minute and was often left out of the matchday squad.

Luke Shaw was the preferred name at left back and even Kieran Trippier had a stint in the role, so Chilwell will only be further motivated to continue to make an impact after a fantastic debut season at Chelsea saw him score three goals and lay on six assists for his team-mates.

When Tuchel arrived, he was competing with Marcos Alonso for the spot but it became clear he was the outstanding option after string of strong displays.

Ben Chilwell has something to prove after being overlooked by Gareth Southgate this summer

CAM – Mason Mount

England and Chelsea’s golden boy has had quite an eventful few years and capped off a memorable season by setting up Kai Havertz’s winner in the Champions League final against Man City.

There were fears for Mount’s place in the team when Tuchel arrived, having been favoured by Frank Lampard after he introduced him to the first team, but he has made it impossible for the German to drop him.

He scored nine goals and provided seven assists last term and should be one of the first names on the team sheet – his task will be to maintain his creativity and provide for a new striker, should one arrive through the door.

Mason Mount is now one of the first names on the team sheet after proving himself for Chelsea

CAM – Kai Havertz

There was plenty of expectation on the former Bayer Leverkusen starlet after signing last summer for a whopping £89m and at times he looked as though he might not be up to the task.

He netted one goal in the league in his first eight months before a strong finish to the season saw him score four times in his last eight games – including the Champions League final winner.

Havertz carried his form into the Euros with Germany by smashing in two more against Portugal and Hungary, and momentum now seems to be on his side and his club will be counting on him to up the ante going into the 2021-22 campaign.

Kai Havertz’s form is steadily improving after netting the winner in the Champions League final

ST – Erling Haaland

The Norwegian sensation has emerged as the top player on Chelsea’s wishlist and it’s clear that the club are in dire need of firepower after watching Werner struggle up front during his first year.

Werner finished as joint-top scorer with 12 goals, but shared that honour with out of favour striker Tammy Abraham, only summing up his lack of sparkle – and he was outscored in the Premier League by midfielder Jorginho.

Signing Haaland – recognised as one of the top forwards in world football – would give Chelsea a huge chance of becoming an elite superpower in the game.

Haaland’s club Borussia Dortmund are digging their heels in and are unwilling to sell after losing Jadon Sancho to Man United, but the Blues are set to lose Abraham this summer and Giroud has already headed off to AC Milan, so Chelsea are open to stumping up big cash to get their man.