Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is open to further new signings before the looming transfer deadline, but it appears there is no way back for Raheem Sterling at Stamford Bridge.
The busy Blues remain heavily active in the market as the clock ticks down to the window closing for business at 11pm BST on Friday night, with a new striker still firmly at the top of their list of priorities after another hectic summer at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea remain in talks over a late swoop for Victor Osimhen, but appear to face stiff competition from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli for the Napoli frontman.
The Blues also remain interested in wantaway Brentford forward Ivan Toney, but Al-Ahli are also pushing for that deal too amid Manchester United talks over the England international.
Chelsea have also been eyeing Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho in the final days of the window, with the Red Devils opening talks over a potential move for Sterling.
However, the latest reports on Wednesday evening suggested that Juventus had now agreed a loan move for Sancho, who is said to be keen on a switch to Serie A.
Asked about Sancho during a press conference held ahead of Chelsea’s Uefa Conference League play-off tie second leg against Servette in Switzerland, Blues boss Maresca told reporters, per football.london: “If we can sign a player that can help us, for sure I would. Jadon is not our player. I know him very well. But he is not our player.”
On a hectic transfer window in general, the Italian said: “I said many times, the most important thing for us is to try and be focused on where we are, the way we want to try and improve.
“This is the only thing we can control. Many things can happen. We are very close [to the window closing]. But the main focus has always been on the pitch.
“I think it's a feeling for all the managers [to be happy when the window shuts]. When the transfer window is open, anything can happen. When it is closed, we will be more happy because we can focus on the squad we have.
“It's not just about the Conference League, we've already played two Premier League games. It's something that is not going to change [the transfer window being open once the season has started]. The transfer window is there. Clubs need to do business, so it will be there.”
Maresca also defended Chelsea’s divisive transfer approach after another eventful summer that has seen them once again sign a whole host of new players to swell their bloated first-team squad to over 40 names, with several players now training away from the main group as they look to seal exits before Friday’s deadline.
“I can say that it is not a mad club because since I joined the club, the team is working in one direction,” he said.
Maresca also confirmed that the Chelsea players currently training separately at Cobham would not feature for the club before the transfer window closes.
The Blues only have Servette to come before then at the Stade de Geneve on Thursday night, leading 2-0 from the first leg after goals from Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke in west London last week. Chelsea host London rivals Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday once the window is closed.
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Among Chelsea’s current high-profile exiles is Sterling, who is hoping to leave Stamford Bridge before Friday night with it being made clear that he is not part of the club’s long-term plans for the future.
And Maresca has now reiterated that the 29-year-old is simply not the style of winger he favours.
“For all the players that are training apart, before the transfer window closes, they will not [play],” Maresca said when asked about Sterling.
“I said already many times, he is a fantastic person. The only thing is that every manager has a different idea. He is not the type of winger I like. That says nothing about Raheem. The history and the numbers speak for Raheem.”
