If Chelsea Could Only Sign One More Player This Summer, Who Should It Be?

As the summer transfer window rages on, so do Chelsea. The Blues have made four signings since the window opened, bringing in Willy Caballero, Antonio Rudiger, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alvaro Morata, spending over £130 million in the process.

According to Simon Johnson from the Evening Standard, more business is on the way, with the Blues still targeting "three to four more transfers" to add to those names before the window closes in August.

But what if Chelsea could only make one more addition before then? Who would Antonio Conte have to choose above all others to suit the needs of his squad? Who would Chelsea fans most like to see arrive at Stamford Bridge?

Well, we put that exact question to them.

What do the polls say?

Want to know what the people are thinking? Well, poll them and you soon find out. That's what we did this week, asking Chelsea fans who the club has to sign above all other players with what remains of the summer.

We wanted to keep things realistic—we know you'd all want Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo—hence the choice of players. All those listed are players Chelsea are being linked with, so they were the natural choice.

Juventus' Alex Sandro came out as the popular choice, stealing more than half of the 9,039 votes. It's clear to see why after the Brazilian's starring role as Juve reached the Champions League final last season.

He is a fine prospect on the left, strengthening Conte's options at wing-back, which is an area that has to be targeted for reinforcements.

Whether it's just to annoy rivals Arsenal or not, Blues supporters clearly see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as a player suitable of strengthening the current squad. But spare a thought for Fernando Llorente and Antonio Candreva, should they move to Stamford Bridge: Very few fans want them, judging by our poll!

What are the fans saying?

As well as polling them, we asked Chelsea supporters on Twitter to gives us their views on their preferred choice of player. Here's what some of them had to say:

"

Seriously, Llorente would be madness, we already have Michy.

— Yannas (@ionicmystifier) July 24, 2017"

What do influencers think?

David Chidgey, Chelsea Fancast and Chelsea Supporters' Trust

Twitter: @StamfordChidge

Player: Ryan Bertrand

"It's a tossup between Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ryan Bertrand for me—so Bertrand it is!

"He would be a good back-up or replacement for Alonso. He was a lion against Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League final, and we never should have sold him in the first place."

Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

Andy Saunders, The Chels podcast

Twitter: @MrASaunders

Player: Alexis Sanchez

"Without doubt the club has to move for Alexis Sanchez. He's dynamite, a born winner. Sanchez is aggressive, operates right across a front three. He scores goals, makes assists. He's an all-round modern attacking player who would add something special to this side."

Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Chelsea HQ

Twitter: @Chelsea_HQ

Player: Ryan Bertrand

"Personally, I think left wing-back is more important right now than the right, since Cesar Azpilicueta could cover there if needed. So I'd go for Ryan Bertrand now that a move for Alex Sandro seems that it's unlikely to happen.

"Bertrand would be a bargain in today's market at £25-30 million, even if we did sell him for considerably less. He's at a good age and has the Chelsea connection."

Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Carefree Youth

Twitter: @CarefreeYouth

Player: Alex Sandro

"We definitely need a wing-back of some sort. I'd target the left wing-back more so than the right, too. I don't trust Kenedy in that role and think he will be shipped out on loan again due to him taking up a non-homegrown role if he's picked the Champions League squad. There's also a question over his future over what happened in China.

"I'd rather get a quality player in that role that will make us better and command a starting position, so I'd have to say Alex Sandro."

What is our view?

Matt King/Getty Images

Chelsea have bought well this summer, but Conte still has gaps in his squad that need filling if he and this side are to avoid the problems of 2015/16. Back then, the Blues were fresh from storming their way to the Premier League title, but within months, the walls of Stamford Bridge had come crumbling down all around them. By December, Jose Mourinho was sacked and Chelsea were flirting with a relegation battle.

The problems were many, and chief among them was a failure to revitalise the squad. Chelsea are halfway there now in terms of regenerating, but there's much more to do. Another striker is required, as it's not enough to rely on just Alvaro Morata and Michy Batshuayi, especially with the Champions League to consider.

There's need for at least one more defender, a central midfielder, an inside forward and another wing-back.

But limit Chelsea to just one more singing this summer and Oxlade-Chamberlain has to be the man they go for. He fits the bill in every sense.

Not only is the Arsenal man young—he'll be 24 in August—meaning he is in the age bracket Chelsea are targeting, but his adaptability gives value for money and, most importantly, options for Conte. Oxlade-Chamberlain can compete at right wing-back with Victor Moses and also further forward in one of the wide attacking roles to support the striker.

Yifan Ding/Getty Images

Discounting any rising youth stars, Chelsea have Willian, Eden Hazard and Pedro for those positions—the latter pair are both injured, too. That's not enough now, and it's not enough for a nine-month campaign across four competitions.

Oxlade-Chamberlain ticks plenty of boxes. We shouldn't forget that he's English, either. There is a dearth of indigenous talent at Stamford Bridge right now, which has to be addressed. Not only does it help with the homegrown quota, it helps breed an English core that served Chelsea so well during the early years of Roman Abramovich's ownership.

Across Europe, most successful clubs pack their teams with players from their home country, and it should be no different in the Premier League. Chelsea need to restore that with the right sort of player, of which Oxlade-Chamberlain most certainly is.