Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has predicted where he thinks Chelsea will finish in the Premier League next season.
The Blues endured an up and down campaign under Mauricio Pochettino, and after a disappointing first half of the season they improved hugely in the new year, finishing with five wins in a row to secure a top six finish and a return to European football.
Since then Pochettino has departed the club, and the Blues have appointed Enzo Maresca as their new head coach on a five year contract.
Merson predicts where Chelsea will finish next season
The pressure will be on Maresca from day one and he will be tasked with getting Chelsea back into the Champions League and bringing silverware to Stamford Bridge.
The 44-year-old guided Leicester City to the Championship title last season, but the step up to the Premier League is huge, and even more so for a manager with just one full season of senior management experience under his belt.
It appears the race for the top four is very open next season, and whilst Manchester City and Arsenal are clearly the two best teams in the league the Blues will fancy their chances.
Liverpool will be in transition under Arne Slot, it remains to be seen how Aston Villa cope with the demands of the Champions League and there’s very little between the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham.
Merson has given his prediction for next season and feels the Blues will return to the top four but added it will be difficult.
“I think top four, Chelsea are going to be there, Man Utd can only get better , top four is hard now,” he told Sky Sports.
Chelsea will need to strengthen their squad to give Maresca the best chance of getting into the top four, and they have already agreed a deal to sign defender Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer from Fulham, whilst there have also been strong links with a move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko who has a release clause of £55m.
Chelsea be
Chelsea be
holding gallah
gallah Important players