ROMELU LUKAKU
20-year-old, 6ft 4in hulk of a centre-forward who Chelsea signed at the start of last season from Anderlecht, where he played 73 games as a teenager. After a disappointing opening season where the Belgian international only appeared spasmodically, he has spent this season at West Bromwich Albion and scored 17 Premier League goals.
Though comparisons with Didier Drogba are obvious, Lukaku appears quicker and more mobile than the Ivorian despite being bulkier, but less comfortable with his back to goal. Mourinho’s liking of physical battering-ram strikers should only be to Lukaku’s advantage and with there being no doubts about his capabilities at this level the youngster should most definitely be a part of the Chelsea squad next season.

KEVIN DE BRUYNE
Flame-haired 21-year-old Belgian who Chelsea bought from Genk in January 2012. De Bruyne has spent 2012/13 on a season-long loan at Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga, for whom he has been a shining light in a poor season, with eight goals and 11 assists. Initially made his name playing on either wing in Belgium, but has been primarily used on either the right or left-hand side of a midfield three for Bremen. Playing more centrally, also for the Belgian national side, has highlighted De Bruyne’s playmaking abilities and his raking cross-field passes and lung-busting runs from deep positions have drawn comparisons with Steven Gerrard. Some Chelsea fans anticipate De Bruyne becoming Frank Lampard’s eventual successor, assuming he is not used in a part-exchange deal to bring Bayer Leverkusen’s Andre Schuerlle to Chelsea, as has been rumoured.

THIBAUT COURTOIS
Another Belgian, the 21 year-old 6ft 5in international goalkeeper was snapped up from Genk for around £7 million in July 2011. Courtois has spent the first two years of his Blues career on loan at Atletico Madrid, where he replaced David de Gea, and has already won the Europa League, European Super Cup-by thrashing employers Chelsea 4-1, and the Copa del Rey. He has also proved himself as reliable as any keeper in La Liga and is in line to win the Zamora prize, which rewards the goalkeeper who concedes the fewest goals.
Could probably already command a fee of £20 million should Barcelona test Chelsea’s resolve to keep him at all costs, as has been rumoured. Providing they don’t succumb to selling it looks to be a question of when rather than if he can displace Petr Cech. But with the long-serving Chelsea keeper still in top form Courtois may be loaned out for a third season in order for them to both continue playing regularly.

NATHANIEL CHALOBAH
18-year-old England Under-21 international who can operate in central defence or midfield and has spent the 2012/13 campaign on loan at Watford. Tall and lithe, tough in the tackle and with good speed and passing ability, Chalobah graduated from the Chelsea academy and captained their FA Youth Cup-winning side in 2011/12. Former Blues legend Gianfranco Zola has nurtured Chalobah this season and allowed him to dictate games from a deep central midfield position. The youngster’s influence on the Watford team has been dramatic, with the Hornets winning 20 of the 37 matches he’s started and just four from the 14 he hasn’t. He was named Football League Young Player of the Month for May and scored one of the goals of the season with an unstoppable 30-yard half volley at Leicester. It will be interesting to see if Mourinho puts his faith in Chalobah ahead of the tried and trusted, but past-his-best, Essien.

LUCAS PIAZON
19-year-old Brazilian attacking player who Chelsea signed from Sao Paulo in 2011. Piazon made a few first team appearances this season before being loaned to Primera Liga side Malaga for the final few months. He was a key member of Chelsea’s FA Youth Cup-winning side of 2011/12 and was named the club’s Young Player of the Year for that season. While he has not been given enough minutes in Spain to set the league alight, his attributes are obvious. Piazon is a quick, technically gifted attacking midfielder/second striker who favours playing on the left. While he’ll have his work cut out getting games ahead of the likes of Juan Mata and Eden Hazard, Mourinho could surely at least consider Piazon as a back-up option to the ‘three amigos’ in Chelsea’s 4-2-3-1 formation, alongside Victor Moses and ahead of the failed-to-impress Marko Marin.

JOSH McEACHRAN
Now 20-years-old, McEachran made his Chelsea debut under Carlo Ancelotti in 2010/11 off the back of his stunning performances for the Youth Cup-winning side of 2009/10. The England Under-21 international immediately looked a potential future superstar with a string of mature performances as a deep-lying playmaker, but his career appears to have stalled somewhat since. A fruitless loan spell at Swansea in the second half of last season, despite playing for his former Chelsea coach Brendan Rodgers, has been followed by a one-tier drop for a season-long loan at Middlesbrough, where he has largely impressed and won the club’s Young Player of the Year award. Technically gifted, McEachran certainly has the ability to make it at Chelsea, although he lacks pace and is of a very slight physique. Pre-season will surely be his chance to ensure he is not forgotten about and is worthy of a squad place in what will probably be a crowded midfield department.

AND THE REST…
In addition to the six players listed, Mourinho could also put his trust in the likes of Kenneth Omeruo, a central defender who’s been on loan at Eredivisie side Den Haag and was part of Nigeria’s victorious Africa Cup of Nations side in February; Todd Kane, an academy right-back who’s received plaudits for his performances in the final quarter of the season at Blackburn; Czech defender Tomas Kalas and Dutch left-back Patrick van Aanholt, who’ve both been regulars at Vitesse Arnhem this season; and not least Thorgan Hazard, younger brother of Eden, and a sensation for surprise Belgian title contenders Zulte Waregem this season. Although also still on the club’s books, the ship may have sailed for Jeffrey Bruma and Gael Kakuta, as they’re now in their 20s and have so far not lived up to their initial promise over multiple loans each.
Chelsea have invested serious money in their academy and scouting of the world’s best young talent and has resulted in helping Chelsea to three Youth Cup finals in the last four seasons, including two wins. Chelsea have amassed almost an entire squad of young players who are at the very least capable of competing for squad places. The question is, can Mourinho promote the prodigious talents that have flourished at a number of grateful clubs around Europe this season?