Marina Granovskaia must show Todd Boehly's true Chelsea impact in Mo Salah and Paul Pogba chase

It's a new era for Chelsea, and a crucial summer transfer window awaits. June 10th will see the date that moves in the market can truly begin to take place, but the Blues will have to work fast after their takeover was only completed on May 31st.

Ahead of that point, Thomas Tuchel and co were limited in the work they could do to identify and acquire new talents. Sanctions meant that no new contracts could be entered into or transfers completed, and the Blues could not move further than the in-house work they do to prepare.

Tuchel said shortly before the end of the season: "You ask many times if we have a delay in approaching players and making plans, of course, a huge delay. We are affected by it, players are going out. We are rebuilding, not improving the squad. We are rebuilding. This is always challenging, but we are up for the challenge."

Chelsea complete first deals following Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital takeover

"I don't know where we are from day one. What I can promise is that I will be here – if I can promise that – I will be here with full energy and positive energy no matter what. We will still work for Chelsea, and I refuse to think of negative scenarios. We will be competitive, on which level we will see.

"On how the delay and sanctions will affect us, there is a risk. It will be very challenging to make up for the disadvantage, given the situation of the other two teams: City and Liverpool, who are already improving the squad and set one benchmark after the other in all aspects of the game."

It will be no small task for new owner Todd Boehly to try and engineer a statement summer that sees the Blues stay competitive and gain ground on the Premier League's best. A quest made no easier by needing to