The Blues have a number of big issues to address as an abject 2018 put them out of the Champions League and into the crosshairs of their critics

Getty Images1Promote the club's youth-team stars

Antonio Conte has handed debuts to Ethan Ampadu, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Dujon Sterling, but more can be done by the next manager at Stamford Bridge to bring through the club's talented youngsters.

Chelsea's academy is arguably the highest-performing in Europe, having won an unprecedented domestic quadruple last season and back-to-back UEFA Youth League titles.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is an example of a player who has stagnated by remaining at the club, but if the Blues continue their plans to curb their spending, then a strategy of promoting youth-team stars is one to seriously consider.

A better integration of the top young talent at the club is something they had long hoped to achieve, where the appointment of a committed, long-term manager would surely help matters.

AdvertisementGetty Images2Splash out on a world-class player

Chelsea's last two or three transfer windows have been poor but there is still an element of rebuilding going on from their 10th-placed finish in 2016.

The club have missed out on world-class players as they are no longer at the top of the transfer market, with Manchester City, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain in a position to outbid them.

That rebuilding process has seen many of the older champions leave the club to be replaced by a squad of younger players. They are currently way off the pace to be challengers in England and Europe, and they could do with one or two marquee signings to provide that injection of class.

While the signings of the likes of Danny Drinkwater, Olivier Giroud and Davide Zappacosta added to the options available and bolstered the squad, they need a genuine superstar in the next transfer window.

Getty3Save Bakayoko's Chelsea career

Tiemoue Bakayoko was signed to be a key player for Chelsea this season but he has epitomised his team's struggles in 2017-18 and been something of a disappointment in his debut campaign in England.

After his calamitous display against Watford, he was hauled off in his next start against Leicester City, with fears he would repeat his Vicarage Road display by earning a red card.

The 23-year-old was earmarked to play in Conte's three-man midfield alongside Kante and Cesc Fabregas, but the Blues boss has since abandoned the system to play the 3-4-3 that won the title last season.

Chelsea haven't been able to adapt and, having moved on Nemanja Matic to make room for Bakayoko, they have lost a great deal of quality in midfield. It isn't over for Bakayoko yet at Chelsea, but he will need to show next season that this was just a one-off.

Getty Images4Get Morata firing again

Alvaro Morata's poor form has been a huge issue for Chelsea, with the club having banked on him being their main man.

Olivier Giroud, a player who was deemed surplus to requirements by Arsenal, started the Champions League knockout tie at Barcelona, while Eden Hazard featured in the first leg up front and thus out of position.

Morata's 2018 goal drought was due in part to a back problem, but he has also seen his mentality questioned as his frustrations on the pitch led to a spate of bookings and even a sending-off.

The 25-year-old clearly has talent but he needs to be far more consistent to be one of the world's best strikers.