Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Chelsea will look to bring in a winger to replace Jadon Sancho when the summer transfer window reopens for business.
Chelsea have set out their stall in the transfer market after enjoying a strong end to the 2024/25 campaign, in which they won the Europa Conference League and secured Champions League football for next season.
With deals for Estevao and Kendry Paez already agreed, the Blues wasted little time in capturing Ipswich striker Liam Delap in an agreement worth just £30million.
The west London outfit have also brought in both midfielder Dario Essugo and centre-back Mamadou Sarr from Sporting and Strasbourg respectively in recent weeks.
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan had been expected to follow suit, only for a proposed deal to collapse, with Chelsea refusing to cough up the required £20m fee for the Frenchman.
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Discussions are also ongoing over a possible move for Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens after the Stamford Bridge giants saw two separate bids rejected for the England Under-21 attacker.
‘Jadon is not with us so for sure that is a position [winger] we need to do something,’ Maresca told reporters ahead of Chelsea’s Club World Cup opener against Los Angeles FC.
‘We have Noni [Madueke], Pedro [Neto] and Ty [George] only as the proper wingers so something for sure is going to happen.
‘When the transfer window is open, for sure, we can do something.’
Asked about Chelsea’s supposed plans to find an upgrade for Robert Sanchez, the Chelsea head coach replied: ‘The goalkeeper situation is simple: Robert is No.1, Filip [Jorgensen] is No.2 and we will analyse and judge [Mike] Penders.
‘Maignan and different players at others clubs… I don’t think it is worth talking about them.’
Maresca is delighted that Chelsea saw off strong competition from Manchester United to land Delap having witnessed the forward’s talent and potential first-hand while at Manchester City.
‘Liam knows how important the No.9 is for this club,’ the Italian added.
‘I see Liam relaxed and easy since he arrived, he is working well.
‘We know each other from years ago, I know what he can give us and he knows what he needs to be a better player. As No.9, hopefully he can score goals for us.’
Maresca refused to confirm whether or not Delap would be thrown straight into Chelsea’s starting XI against Los Angeles FC, with Nicolas Jackson ready to put up a fight for the position.
‘I never say to a player you want to be a first-choice,’ Maresca continued.
‘The message is always the same: you arrive, you work hard, you work more than the other number nine and you want to be a number nine first choice.
‘So the conversation with Liam has been quite clear. He was keen to join us because he knows the way we play, the season that we were together.
‘Also we won for the first time for Manchester City the under-23 competition, he scored 24, 25 goals that season. So he knows exactly what we can give him, and as I said before, I know what Liam can give us.
‘So I think it’s a win-win and the conversation was quite an easy conversation. We like Liam, Liam likes us, so it was an easy conversation.’
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