Chelsea boss Graham Potter will be forced to make alterations for the imminent Champions League knockout phase fixture against Borussia Dortmund, with several players unregistered due to the torrential influx of fresh faces under the ownership of Todd Boehly.
£35m January signing Benoit Badiashile was unable to be included, a damaging blow given his impressive start to life in west London, while the high-profile exclusion of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made headlines, with the Gabonese veteran among those making way for further new offensive additions Mykhaylo Mudryk and Joao Felix.
The Blues have been woeful this season, despite spending over £550m, and languish in tenth place in the Premier League after 22 matches, ten points away from top four.
But the Blues won their Champions League group and could look to alight the fire that was waned to a flicker this year with a surging run towards the coveted Champions League trophy, with many of the current squad victors in the 20/21 edition, when Chelsea defeated Manchester City in the final.
The hubbub at Stamford Bridge is louder than most, and with this in mind, just how will Potter field his team against the Yellow Wall? Here’s what Football FanCast predicts…
How will Chelsea line up vs Dortmund?
Potter could issue as many as five changes to the starting 11 that fell to a third successive draw in the Premier League against West Ham United on Saturday afternoon.
Kepa Arrizabalaga will continue to deputise between the sticks, while Kalidou Koulibaly could return to the starting line-up with Badiashile unavailable.
£60m summer signing Marc Cucurella has been at the epicentre of criticism recently, with writer Jai McIntosh saying, “his lack of dynamism and willingness is incredibly frustrating”; Ben Chilwell could start in his stead.
Conor Gallagher and Mason Mount could return to their respective roles in Potter’s team, with Mount occupying a more offensive-centred role, while £29m January signing Noni Madueke’s absence from the European squad could allow Hakim Ziyech to return to his creative role down the right flank.
Up front, the out-of-form Kai Havertz might lose his talismanic spot to Joao Felix, who has looked positively electric since his loan arrival from Atletico Madrid.