Chelsea Influencers Pick Their Ideal Premier League Swap Deal

The 2017 summer transfer window is in full swing, and still Chelsea are yet to make a major signing. Only Willy Caballero has been added to Antonio Conte's squad, with the team weaker on numbers at this stage than it was when the Blues lifted the Premier League trophy in May.

It's been about the players leaving Stamford Bridge this summer.

John Terry has joined Aston Villa, while Nathan Ake and Asmir Begovic have gone south to Bournemouth for a healthy combined fee of £30 million. The loan army has continued to grow, too, as the likes of Tammy Abraham and others have booked temporary moves away.

So, with the Chelsea board stalling on cementing major transfers—we're expecting them to lose out on Romelu Lukaku, too, according to reports from The Telegraph's Matt Law—Bleacher Report has decided to put the responsibility in the hands of fans.

Of course, they don't have access to Blues owner Roman Abramovich's vault, so a little more wheeling and dealing in the market is required, which is why we've asked some Chelsea influencers who they would swap into the Stamford Bridge dressing room.

The premise is a simple one: It has to be realistic, so there can't be any nonsense such as exchanging the relatively inexperienced Charly Musonda for Alexis Sanchez.

Now just to get the Chelsea powerbrokers to listen...

Carefree Youth

Twitter: @CarefreeYouth

Players: Nemanja Matic for Virgil van Dijk

GLYN KIRK/Getty Images

I'd swap Matic out because we have N'Golo Kante in central midfield to do the type of job he's there for. I feel a club like Chelsea, where we find ourselves right now, need to strengthen the back line. We've lost players there this summer, and it needs to be addressed.

Terry and Ake have gone, which leaves us with just Gary Cahill, David Luiz, Cesar Azpilicueta and Kurt Zouma as the defenders. We can draft Andreas Christensen in, but it still means we're low on numbers, especially if Azplilicueta gets moved wide to become the right wing-back.

Van Dijk is the sort of defender Chelsea need to be getting in this summer.

Kelvin Barker, author

Twitter: @ChelseaKelv

Players: Diego Costa for Harry Kane

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I'd swap Costa for Kane and give Tottenham Hotspur the extra money on top they would demand if this move was ever to happen.

Forgetting the serious business of winning things for a moment, I'd just enjoy sitting back and watching it all unfold at White Hart Lane. We'd be bringing a top-class striker to Chelsea, and by giving Spurs Costa, they would be inheriting a top-class problem.

We've seen all the headlines this summer regarding how Costa no longer wants to be a Chelsea player. If Costa doesn't want to play for a winning club, why would he fancy playing for a team that celebrates "putting the pressure on"?

Imagine the carnage he would cause.

Chelsea HQ

Twitter: @Chelsea_HQ

Players: Kurt Zouma for Virgil van Dijk

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It's probably a bit controversial, but I think Zouma for Van Dijk would still be smart.

I'm not convinced Zouma will become a top-quality player, and I also think his knee injury could have a huge impact on his career. He was gradually coming back last season, but we still don't know what condition he is in to compete at the top level.

And for Chelsea, that is the target. The club are back in the Champions League and need players who can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best across Europe. Zouma has a lot to do to prove he can do that.

Van Dijk, on the other hand, for me, is one of the top five defenders in the Premier League, especially when it comes to heading the ball. Van Dijk, Cahill and Luiz in a back three—I'm assuming Azpilicueta will move to wing-back here—would be a perfect mix of leadership, skill and strength.

That's the solid base to build from as the Blues look to defend the Premier League title.

KB Jelly, Carefree Blue podcast

Twitter: @KBJelly

Players: Willian for Alexis Sanchez

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I would swap Willian for Alexis Sanchez.

First, I'm covering for potential time missed at the start of the season for Eden Hazard with this move. Bringing in Sanchez allows Pedro to start the year on the right side, where he rediscovered himself as a Chelsea player last season.

Chelsea would lose little, if any, creativity in the lineup with Sanchez in there in Hazard's absence.

Second, I'd be willing to part with Willian instead of Pedro mostly due to the fact that Pedro seemed to respond much more positively to Conte's new style, and I feel that the Spaniard would add a nice bit of bite off the bench when the squad is fully fit.

Sanchez can play anywhere in Conte's front three, or even be a nice complement to Costa (if he stays) as a second striker should Conte decide to switch to the 3-5-2. He's proven in England, so there wouldn't be the same worry as there would be with, say, Federico Bernardeschi, in regards to whether the player can adjust himself to the playing style in the Premier League.

Sure, Sanchez is going to turn 29 in December, but Chelsea would be acquiring a player already in his prime as one of the best players in the league. Throw Sanchez in the lineup and go ahead and let Jose Mourinho man-mark Hazard with Ander Herrera. That's fine.

But Sanchez will be lurking on the other side. Make teams try to pick their poison. Or they can try to defend both.

Richard Weekes

Twitter: @WeAre_TheShed

Players: The youth

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I know this isn't exactly the answer you were looking for, but if we're going to allow players like John Terry and Nathan Ake to leave, I want to see some youth-team players given a chance to prove themselves.

It's always exciting to be linked with big names, but when is the youth going to get a chance?

So many players who have come through our academy in recent years have been good enough. Now we just need to show a little faith in them to produce.

For instance, given what we need in midfield, Nathaniel Chalobah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek could deal with that responsibility. They're up-and-coming players, talented players, and we need to give them an opportunity to achieve things at Chelsea.