If you look at the odds for a Premier League win this season, it’s all about Liverpool, Man City, and Arsenal — and which one of them will emerge victorious come May.
But there’s another name in town that’s also creating a buzz — one that has enjoyed success, and plenty of it, both long-term and short-term — and that is Chelsea.
Enzo Maresca and his team enjoyed their first top-four finish in a couple of seasons last time out and are firmly tipped to repeat the feat this time around, according to Irish bookmakers on Scs, where both BoyleSports and QuinnBet pricing them at 8/13 to finish up there.
That could be in large part down to the summer they’ve had at Chelsea. After earning a top-four spot last season — and taking home the Conference League trophy to boot — Chelsea added to their success in the USA with a strong pre-season and a Club World Cup victory.
The win means they get to wear the gold badge on their shirts for the next four years and carry the weight of expectation that comes with further success. But with some shrewd additions already made, they look more than capable of living up to it.
One such addition who has already shone in Chelsea blue is João Pedro, who linked up fantastically well with Cole Palmer in the latter stages of the Club World Cup.
Estêvão may not have stood out for Chelsea out there, but he did show what he’s capable of in the competition for Palmeiras — and now he comes to Stamford Bridge bringing fresh energy to the squad. As do other new signings such as Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap, and Jorrel Hato.
For Chelsea, the main aim now seems to be offloading players rather than bringing them in, as Maresca has already made it clear that the likes of Raheem Sterling, Nicolas Jackson, and Christopher Nkunku will likely be joining those who have already left the club this summer.
Not that Chelsea need the money, mind — not after their reported £90 million windfall from the Club World Cup.
What they need is team stability. In years gone by — especially under Mauricio Pochettino, when they had a bloated squad — Chelsea suffered due to constant changes that meant they could go weeks without naming a settled side.
Now, it seems Maresca wants a more streamlined squad — one packed full of quality throughout. He’s getting that, and the team is full of young, emerging talent — talent that looks capable of continuing Chelsea’s fine run of trophy wins.
In the last five years, they’ve won the Champions League, the Super Cup, the Club World Cup (twice), and the Conference League — as well as finishing in the Premier League top four on three occasions.
They have players such as Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernández, who are emerging as world-class talents in their respective positions. They’re probably just a goalkeeper and a new centre-back away from having a team truly capable of winning the league — though they still look strong contenders for a top-four finish as things stand.
They also have a great chance to start the campaign strongly, following the fixture release. They don’t leave London until mid-September and face four straight London derbies as part of that.
Taking on a Crystal Palace side that could yet be without star player Eberechi Eze, before facing West Ham, then Fulham, and Brentford, Chelsea could be four-for-four before they meet Manchester United in game week five.
That start — coupled with the signings they’ve made, the players they already have, and the success they’ve built on — means Chelsea could be a surprise team in this year’s title race. But even if not, they should comfortably find themselves inside the top four — if not top — come the end of the season.
Chelsea is looking very good to compete for the premier league title next season on condition that they can at least bring in a world class goalkeeper otherwise Sanchez will be their undoing.