Kevin De Bruyne: Picking a Chelsea Team to Include Him in 2012-13 Season

With Kevin De Bruyne officially a member of Chelsea, it is time to start thinking about next year.

Assuming Andre Villas-Boas is still with the club in August, there is a potential for a young, fast Chelsea team competing for the English Premier League title. Some players will be gone, and others will be coming in.

Either way, I have put together a potential lineup for next year. It may be a little ambitious, but Roman Abramovich is funding the transfer window. With that in mind, some crazy moves could be made.

Here's what I think could potentially happen. Feel free to let me know what you think.

GK Petr Cech

No reason to make a change in goal for Chelsea.

Petr Cech hasn't been extremely consistent this year, but he's still one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League.

There will come a time when Cech will need to be replaced. However, that won't be for a few years, so Chelsea fans don't need to worry about it. For now.

RB Gregory Van Der Wiel

Chelsea were in talks to bring in Gregory Van Der Wiel in January, but the deal didn't go through.

That doesn't necessarily mean he will come in the summer, but it is a definite possibility. Chelsea need help at right-back and Van Der Wiel is a young, athletic option.

Whether they bring in Van Der Wiel or not, you can be sure that Chelsea will have a new right-back next year because Jose Bosingwa simply isn't getting the job done.

CB John Terry

Mr. Chelsea is not going anywhere.

John Terry is a Chelsea legend, and he will most likely finish his career at the club. Assuming he figures out his racial discrimination issue (an embarrassment), Terry will be captaining Chelsea for yet another season.

Terry has slowed down a bit. His tackles aren't as effective as they used to be. However, he is still one of the smartest on-field tacticians in the world, and Chelsea's defense would be lost without him.

He may be past his prime, but Terry still has plenty to bring to the table.

CB Gary Cahill

After a transfer saga that lasted a little too long for my taste, Gary Cahill is finally a member of Chelsea.

He's a good, young defender and a great fit for the centre-back position. He has played well alongside Terry for England, and we can only hope that translates to the club level.

Cahill is good on the ball and he can mark players when the ball is on the wing. Chelsea have been sub-par defensively this year, and I think Cahill will help figure out those issues.

He will start playing soon, and if he doesn't play well, this spot will be up in the air. I, for one, am extremely optimistic when it comes to Cahill.

Expect him to be a regular starter next year.

LB Ashley Cole

As infuriated as I am with Ashley Cole after his performance against Swansea City, he has had a great career at Chelsea.

Sure, his performances can sometimes leave you with incredulous questions.

Does he realize his red card suspends him for the Manchester United match? Does he realize Antonio Valencia is one of the most in-form players in the EPL right now? Does he realize that Chelsea have little hope to stop the Ecuador international?

Regardless, Cole is a solid tackler, a good attacker and a smart player (usually).

He will be back for another year at Stamford Bridge.

RM Ramires

Ramires has been a revelation this year.

His pace, work ethic and skill have been huge for Chelsea. He has adjusted quickly to Andre Villas-Boas' style and it fits him extremely well.

Ramires plays quickly and direct. He helps the counter-attack move quickly from the defense to the forwards. After getting rid of the ball, he keeps moving.

Ramires is an energetic player and he deserves to play a lot next year. Depending on some transfers, he may be relegated to a reserve role.

However, I foresee him starting regularly for Chelsea.

LM Oriol Romeu

Oriol Romeu is a strong holding midfielder.

He may not be the most creative player, but he makes good distributions. His passes make a difference in the match and they serve a purpose.

With a full season in England under his belt, Romeu is ready to make big strides. He may head back to Barcelona at some point, but that doesn't mean Chelsea can't use him while he's in London.

He has played well this year, and the holding midfield role is his to lose.

Romeu is a good player. He could become a great player very soon.

RW Kevin De Bruyne

Here's the newest addition to Chelsea: Kevin De Bruyne.

He's quick, young and skilled. If he adjusts quickly, De Bruyne could be giving left-backs headaches early next year. He has all the skills to be successful; he just needs to adjust accordingly.

Playing in the English Premier League is its own animal, and not everyone can cut it.

With that said, De Bruyne should be able to cut it. Although I was against the transfer initially, I've slowly warmed up to the idea.

De Bruyne has shown all the signs of being a special player. Let's just hope that translates to the EPL.

CAM Juan Mata

Juan Mata has easily been Chelsea's best player this season.

He has had some ups and downs, but he has played his best when Chelsea needed it most. He is the most (and only) creative midfielder on the roster, and he has been an intricate part of nearly every fruitful attack.

Mata is quick with the ball, and his passing skills are incredible. He can cross the ball well, but he seems to be at his best when he is playing quickly on the ground.

Mata is simply a monster. I foresee Andre Villas-Boas permanently moving Mata to the middle of the field next year, where he can fully exemplify the No. 10 role.

Also, Chelsea will need to make some room on the left side of the attack for...

LW Eden Hazard

Boom.

Suddenly, Chelsea would get younger, quicker and more dynamic.

Eden Hazard is the next big thing in football, and Chelsea don't want to miss out. The Blues are reportedly the favorite to sign the Belgian international in the summer, and I'm predicting they make it happen.

I've been a big skeptic on Hazard, but he really is that talented. Chelsea need some creativity, and Hazard would fit right in. Moving Juan Mata to the middle would take pressure off Hazard and give him plenty of space to operate.

Hazard is something special. He wants to move to England. Why not just bring him in to London (you know, without bringing him to Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur)?

It would be a good fit for him and for the club.

Roman Abramovich, make it happen.

S Daniel Sturridge

It's time.

Daniel Sturridge is ready to become Chelsea's top striker.

It's his more natural position, and he simply wouldn't be able to play on the wings with these other wingers. With a productive summer, he could earn himself the starting striker role.

I expect it to happen.

Chelsea are fed up with the other options at striker, and Sturridge is the next best option. He's young, fast and powerful. Plus, he's already proven an ability to score goals at the highest level.

Romelu Lukaku is too young and raw, and a loan would probably be best for him. With him gone, the job is Sturridge's to lose.

Key Reserves

Defenders

Ryan Bertrand: He's been on plenty of loans, and he is ready to contribute to the Chelsea first team. If there are some injuries, the 22-year-old wing back could get some playing time.

Branislav Ivanovic: Assuming he's still around next year, Ivanovic could play a big role if injuries strike the defense. Or, you know, that possibility that Gary Cahill is terrible.

David Luiz: He's come a long way this year, and I think he could start for a lot of Premier League teams. Luiz is very good, and he will likely be the most-used defensive reserve.

Midfielders

Michael Essien: He could very easily start if Oriol Romeu doesn't work out. He isn't the player he once was, but he can still be effective. I don't think he's capable of starting for a full season, which will be a major reason he comes off the bench.

Frank Lampard: A club legend. Lampard will play a big role in some matches and a small role in others. He's a class act and should accept his smaller role in stride.

Josh McEachran: Maybe next year is the year he breaks through, maybe not. Either way, McEachran is a real talent; he just needs an opportunity.

Raul Meireles: A great last-minute transfer this past summer. Meireles has played well this year, and he will be great for depth next season.

Forwards

Didier Drogba/Fernando Torres: One will be gone; one will stay. I would prefer Drogba, simply because I'm sick of Torres' baggage. We'll see how the summer transfer window turns out. 

Romelu Lukaku: If he doesn't go out on loan, Lukaku could be a serious contributor to the Chelsea attack. He's a good talent, but I think he's a little raw to be a serious attacking threat. We'll see.