Chelsea are moving quickly to satisfy the requirements of their incoming head coach, Enzo Maresca, in anticipation of the summer transfer window.
Maresca, set to take over from Mauricio Pochettino, has already witnessed the club make considerable progress in reshaping their squad for the upcoming season.
The first notable acquisition under Maresca’s leadership is Tosin Adarabioyo, who will be joining Chelsea on a free transfer from Fulham.
This move highlights Chelsea’s intent to bolster their defensive options as they prepare for the new campaign.
Nonetheless, Chelsea’s ambitions in the transfer market extend beyond merely strengthening their defense.
A major priority for Chelsea continues to be the acquisition of a top-tier striker, with Victor Osimhen and Benjamin Sesko being key targets.
In addition to enhancing their forward line, Chelsea is also looking to upgrade their goalkeeping department, aiming to secure a player with the reliability and ball-playing skills akin to Mads Hermansen.
Hermansen was pivotal in Leicester’s promotion campaign under Maresca last season, excelling both in shot-stopping and in playing out from the back.
According to The Mirror, Chelsea has targeted Las Palmas goalkeeper Alvaro Valles. Valles, whose contract runs until 2025, has been earmarked as a prime candidate.
Las Palmas president Miguel Angel Ramirez is open to selling him, particularly after rejecting a £17 million bid from Nottingham Forest in January.
Valles had an outstanding season, noted for his impressive statistics, including regaining possession a La Liga-high 38 times.
His market value, currently estimated at €4.5 million by FootballTransfers, is expected to rise.
Securing a new goalkeeper would necessitate Chelsea offloading one of their current goalkeepers to comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.
At present, Dorde Petrovic is favored to keep his place in the squad, having ended the most recent season on a strong note.
In contrast, Robert Sanchez and Kepa Arrizabalaga are seen as the most likely candidates for departure.
Sanchez and Kepa have market values of €21.2 million and €14.7 million respectively, according to Chelsea’s in-house algorithm.
Both players are expected to attract interest, despite Kepa’s disappointing loan spell at Real Madrid, where he was behind Thibaut Courtois and Andriy Lunin in the pecking order.
The likelihood of Chelsea recouping the world-record €80 million they paid Athletic Bilbao for Kepa in 2018 remains slim.
As Chelsea navigates the complexities of the transfer market, their focus is clear: they are determined to construct a squad capable of competing at the highest level while adhering to financial constraints.
Maresca’s influence is already visible, and with additional strategic acquisitions, Chelsea aims to strengthen their team across all positions in preparation for the new season’s challenges.
