Enzo Maresca has told Chelsea to avoid signing players for the sake of it, but the head coach said he would like to bring in a new striker before the transfer window shuts.
Chelsea have embarked on another spending spree this summer, adding 10 players to their squad, and they are looking to make a host of sales before next Friday’s deadline. Outcasts including Raheem Sterling, Trevoh Chalobah and Ben Chilwell are working away from the first-team group and Maresca is keen not to be landed with any more selection problems.
“If we sign for the sake of signing, it’s better that we don’t sign any more because we don’t need to sign players just for the sake of it,” the Italian said in the buildup to Sunday’s trip to Wolves. “But if we are going to sign players because they are going to help us improve, sure we will sign players – otherwise we are happy with the way we are.”
Chelsea would like a striker to provide competition for Nicolas Jackson and are monitoring developments around Napoli’s Victor Osimhen. The club want to sign Osimhen on loan but that does not appeal to Napoli or the Nigeria forward. Chelsea have previously looked at Jhon Durán of Aston Villa, who have been offered the chance to sign Sterling.
Napoli have reached a verbal agreement to sign Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea in a deal worth €30m plus €15m in add-ons. Lukaku joined Chelsea from Internazionale in £97.5m in 2021 but he struggled to settle in west London and has spent the past two seasons on loan.
The transfer could aid Maresca’s pursuit of Osimhen, however, it is understood that Osimhen is likely to be the subject of interest from Paris Saint-Germain and clubs in Saudi Arabia next week. He is admired by PSG’s sporting director, Luis Campos, and is reluctant to take a reduction in his wages.
Marc Guiu, an 18-year-old signed from Barcelona, is Jackson’s current deputy but the youngster could depart on loan. “I love Marc,” Maresca said. “But if we have a chance to bring in a No 9 who can help us we are going to try – otherwise we are OK.” Maresca is also looking to sign a new centre-back given Chalobah is up for sale and Axel Disasi and Benoît Badiashile may be sold.
João Félix could be involved against Wolves but Maresca warned that the Portugal forward will need time to adapt to his tactics after joining from Atlético Madrid. “If he is available, for sure he has a chance of playing,” he said. “In terms of knowing the way we want to play, not yet, but physically I think he is ready. He needs more time to understand how we want to play. He is mature enough to understand what he has to do and learn from his mistakes in the past. Overall he is a player who is going to help us.
“Potentially he is a top player – I have known about João for many years, and now I am working with him day by day I will know him even better. We are going to try to help him to improve.
“I knew about him when he was at Benfica, where he was already scoring many goals and everyone was suspecting he would be a top, top, top player. He has played with Benfica, Atlético, Chelsea and Barcelona – big, big teams – and we are happy to have him here.”
Chelsea are keeping an eye on Jadon Sancho’s situation at Manchester United. Nothing is advanced but it is understood they have not ruled out an opportunistic move for the winger, whose future at United is up in the air. Chelsea are also hopeful of completing the sale of Romelu Lukaku to Napoli soon, which could help with their attempts to bring Osimhen to Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth have held talks over a loan deal for Kepa Arrizabalaga. The £72m goalkeeper spent last year on loan at Real Madrid and has no future at Chelsea.
Bournemouth are prioritising the signing of a goalkeeper before next Friday’s transfer deadline. Kepa is among their targets, with Aaron Ramsdale, who joined Bournemouth from Sheffield United in an £800,000 deal in 2017, also of interest. Wolves are also keen on signing Ramsdale but Arsenal favour either a permanent deal or a loan deal with an obligation to purchase the player.
