Roman Abramovich leaves next Chelsea owner facing transfer call Thomas Tuchel needs answering

Whoever ends up taking Chelsea Football Club off the hands of Roman Abramovich – at no little expense we should add – will face a multitude of key decisions. Some may prove popular with supporters. Others may not. The hope is, however, that the club continues to operate at the highest level, that the on-pitch success enjoyed over the past 19 years continues.

Crucial in ensuring that happens is Thomas Tuchel. He is the biggest asset Chelsea possess at this moment, something that has been highlighted time and time again over the past month. Tuchel has faced the most difficult of questions and had to handle the most unexpected of circumstances amid the fallout of Russia's invasion of Ukraine Throughout it all, the German has acted with dignity and class, while also ensuring results haven't suffered.

Tuchel will need to be reassured in the months ahead that the Chelsea he has grown to love and appreciate will not change. And that his squad will remain among the best in European football so that the Blues can continue to compete for both the Premier League and the Champions League. In order to do that, there will be difficult choices to make along the way.

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Andreas Christensen appears Barcelona-bound, but what about club captain Cesar Azpilicueta? And can Chelsea convince Antonio Rudiger, who like the aforementioned duo is out of contract in the summer, to remain at Stamford Bridge during what will be an inevitable period of uncertainty?

Beyond that, comes arguably two bigger calls over the futures of both Jorginho and N'Golo Kante, the latter of whom celebrates his 31st birthday today. The deals of the two midfielders expire at the end