Chelsea FC: 5 Summer Objectives for the Blues

Roman Abramovich has yet more decisions to make this summer and, in turn, so does the manager he appoints.

The annual appointment of a new head coach looms and there is much debate over who will claim the throne.

There are four or five young players banging on the door of the first team and four or five on the cusp of outstaying their welcome.

Chelsea are at a point of transition and some significant changes must be made. Here are five objectives for the Blues this summer and completion of them all will see success on the field.

Get the Right Man for the Job

Appointing a new manager is like Chelsea's very own version of the Super Bowl—it happens every year and it never fails to excite.

Roman Abramovich usually takes a few weeks from the close of domestic football to consider his options, then makes his big announcement in time for a full preseason.

Luiz Felipe Scolari and Andre Villas-Boas have both failed in recent years and the Russian owners' patience grows thinner and thinner.

Is Roberto Di Matteo the right man for the job? Many seem to think so, but would he perform as well with the pressure squarely on his shoulders?

The obvious targets remain tough to land. Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho both appear unreachable and for me, Di Matteo trumps Fabio Capello.

Get Rid of the Deadwood

Chelsea have some highly paid deadwood they should carefully remove.

Paulo Ferreira is a name many are simply astonished still remains on the squad listing. Jose Bosingwa has been subpar too, although releasing a flurry of right-backs might not be the wisest idea.

Raul Meireles is hardly the most popular man in West London and with young talents coming through the ranks, he could easily be usurped and sold.

On a personal note, I've been disappointed with John Obi Mikel's performances. Then again, if he was played in a more advanced role, he might be more of a success. He got the U-20 World Cup Silver Football as an attacking playmaker, after all.

Integrate the Youth

Chelsea have some wonderful young talents that, strangely enough, Andre Villas-Boas failed to integrate into the side.

With Didier Drogba quite possibly on his bike, Romelu Lukaku needs a full preseason to stand a chance of successfully stepping into the void.

Josh McEachran is ready to step into Chelsea's midfield and if Raul Meireles goes, the young Englishman will face a battle with Oriol Romeu to secure a spot.

Many Chelsea fans are chomping at the bit to see what Lucas Piazon can do—I myself am eager to see what all the fuss is about.

Lastly, Kevin De Bruyne will arrive in the summer and will be a largely unknown quantity to Premier League defences—something which could make for very interesting viewing.

Micromanage the Change

Any changes at Chelsea Football Club must be micromanaged.

Andre Villas-Boas tried to do it too quick and look where that got him. He had the right ideas but he rushed it—something which saw him last just five months despite costing £13.3 million in compensation.

Chelsea face an incredibly important summer and they must handle each aspect of it with delicate precision.

Remind Sturridge It's a Team Game

Daniel Sturridge has world-class potential—something that is no secret to any of us.

Unfortunately, he's quite possibly the most selfish player in the English Premier League.

This needs to change, as fans and teammates grow visibly frustrated with his incessant goal to score from the most acute possible angle.

If the young English forward can learn to pass when the time is right, he can surpass Juan Manuel Mata is Chelsea's go-to guy in future.

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