The First 10 Things You Need to Do in a Chelsea Save on FM21
By Tom Gott
Chelsea are always a popular team on Football Manager, but FM21has brought us a different side to the Blues.
As a result of the summer spending spree, the squad is overflowing with some of the best talents in football, and with the right management, Chelsea could compete for silverware for the next decade with ease.
If you're going to take charge of the Blues, here are ten things you need to get out of the way first.
1. Figure Out Your Long-Term Centre-Back
Thiago Silva might be Chelsea's answer at the back for now, but next season, that's probably not going to be the case.
The ageing Brazilian only has a year or two left in the tank, and when he goes, you need to be prepared.
Are you going to commit to Fikayo Tomori? Maybe academy starlets Marc Guehi, Dynel Simeu or Xavier Mbuyamba? Or are you dipping your toe into the murky waters of the transfer market to land yourself someone like Dayot Upamecano?
2. Shift the Deadwood
Please, pleeeeease sell Danny Drinkwater immediately.
We need to get the wages down, so try to make sure Marcos Alonso follows him out the door too. A loan wouldn't be the worst option, just make sure you're not paying his salary.
You might even want to think about a centre-back or two. Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger are probably both sellable.
3. Sell the Not-So-Deadwood
As a 33-year-old striker on an expiring contract, it's time to try and get some money back for Olivier Giroud while you still can.
He's not the long-term option and he's probably not playing ahead of Timo Werner and Tammy Abraham, but he deserves better than wasting away on the bench.
We all want to see him break Thierry Henry's goalscoring record for France, so do the guy a favour and let him go.
4. Keep the Youth Coming
The squad is already full of top youngsters, but we're not done yet.
Tino Anjorin, Jude Soonsup-Bell, Lewis Bate, Valentino Livramento, Myles Peart-Harris, Bryan Fiabema and Charlie Webster are all knocking on the door, so try to give them some minutes in cup competitions. Make sure they know they're the future.
You've even got loanees like Ethan Ampadu, Ian Maatsen and Trevoh Chalobah to consider, and you've got to find a pathway for Billy Gilmour. Busy shift.
5. Find a Way to Play All the Stars
Unless you're bold enough to play a 2-1-7 formation, you're going to have to figure out a system that keeps everyone happy.
Timo Werner and Tammy Abraham will want minutes in attack, but behind them, you've got Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Mason Mount all vying for what's probably two or three attacking spots in the team.
You're going to need to be a friendly boss, because somebody's missing out.
6. Address the Midfield Conundrum
What's that? You think you can just drop Mount and Havertz deeper and solve all your problems? Think again.
Jorginho, N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic are all paid like starters (and are all good enough to take up the role), but you can't play all three. You're going to have to have a re-think.
Maybe that means selling one or two? You know Kante can earn you some good money, but is it worth leaving your side more open at the back?
7. Get Petr Cech Back in the First Team
Take a quick glance over at your reserves and you'll find a certain staff member by the name of Petr Cech chilling in the playing squad. He's back!
Sure, he's not the best goalkeeper at the club anymore, but you just have to promote him to the senior side. We all know you're going to make sure he plays enough to earn a Premier League winner's medal.
How can something be so unnecessary and yet so necessary at the same time?
8. But Actually Think About Your Back-Up GK
Promoting Cech is all well and good, but he's going to retire (again) soon enough, so you need to be ready.
Willy Caballero has done the back-up job perfectly for a few years, but even he's approaching the end of his time at the club. With Cech around, you can probably sell him immediately.
Now, there's one other guy who might have something to say about the situation...
9. Try to Find a Buyer for Kepa
The good thing about FM21 is that Kepa Arrizabalaga is still actually good. He's probably good enough to start for you, but that's Edouard Mendy's spot for the foreseeable future.
We can't be paying a six-figure salary to our backup goalkeeper, and he's not going to be happy sitting on the bench anyway. We've got to get him out now before the problem's start mounting up.
Whatever type of deal you can get, take it. Even a loan with no obligation would help keep his stock high until the transfer budgets get back to normal next summer.
10. Maximise Reece James
As one of the best wonderkids on the game, you need to nurture Reece James with everything you've got.
Give him a good mentor to keep him on track and design a system which makes the most of his excellent crossing. We want him to be England's starter, after all.
If you can keep him happy, you've got yourself an elite right-back for the next decade.