If This Month is Chelsea's Last Hurrah, Where Does the Club Go From Here?

In two weeks' time, Chelsea FC could very well end up achieving something it has never done before in its 105-year history by securing a Premier League and FA Cup double. On top of that, a new record could be set for most goals in a Premier League season, having already broken the club record for goals in a season.

The burning question, however, is what is to become of this side by the time the 2010-11 season begins?

It is no secret that the current Chelsea squad has several players over the age of 30. Michael Ballack, Deco, and Juliano Belletti are all expected to move on in the summer. Joe Cole and Ricardo Carvahlo are other names being linked to possible moves away from Stamford Bridge. There are even rumours of a possible move for Frank Lampard to Inter Milan.

If this is to be the break up of this squad (long overdue in some people's opinions), what is the future for the Chelsea team? The press are in overdrive with names of potential transfer targets. Sergio Aguero of Atletico Madrid, Giampaolo Pazzini of Sampdoria, Pato of AC Milan, and most prominently Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery are just some of the names being linked with moves to the club.

If these targets are not to be however, Chelsea can do no worse than look within their own club. Franco Di Santo and Michael Mancienne could be back in the first team squad, having gained much experience with their playing time at Blackburn Rovers and Wolves respectively. Add to this players such as Ryan Bertrand, Patrick Van Aanholt, and Jack Cork who have all had successful loan spells this season.

Winger Miroslav Stoch has had a very successful loan spell at FC Twente in Holland where he has collected an Eredivisie Championship and is expected to be a big part of Slovakia's World Cup campaign. Players such as Fabio Borini, Jeffrey Bruma, Sam Hutchinson, and the controversial Gael Kakuta have all picked up valuable first team experience this season.

This week, the Chelsea U18s have a good chance of winning the FA Youth cup. The significance of this should not be underplayed. This is the second time in three years Chelsea have reached this stage of the competition, having not previously been in the final since 1967.

Chelsea have often been criticised in recent years for not producing anyone in their academy of note since John Terry (though there is a case to be made for Carlton Cole). Now, however, Chelsea have developed a £200 million training complex in Cobham described by UEFA as "one of the best in Europe" and there is evidence this project is now starting to bear fruit.

So if this season is to be the last hurrah for the current Chelsea squad, at least Chelsea fans can sleep easy knowing the team's future is in safe hands.