Maresca could make a big decision this summerMaresca could make a big decision this summer
Maresca could make a big decision this summer | TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Ima
Chelsea could consider cashing in on one of their big earners this summer.
Chelsea could offload a player they haven’t managed to get the best out of up to this point. Enzo Maresca has an interesting summer ahead, although not before an important few weeks for the Blues.
Chelsea will not only look to win the Europa Conference League but also secure a top five finish to qualify for next season’s Champions League. Whether the Blues make it to the Champions League or not could make all the difference in their recruitment this summer, although they should have money to spend in any case.
Maresca has improved things at Chelsea, but he will know that he needs to lead the Blues to a step forward next season, and a step towards being Premier League title contenders no less. The Blues boss must assess where he needs to improve his squad and which players he wants to let go, not only to make room, but to freshen things up where needed.
One player who might fall into that category is Wesley Fofana. The defender is one of Chelsea’s best defenders when fit, but he has struggled with injuries since his Leicester City days when he suffered a nasty injury in a pre-season friendly.
Since arriving at Stamford Bridge, Fofana has missed more than 100 games through injury since arriving 2022, suffering three knee injuries and a hamstring issue. The Frenchman is still only 24 years of age, so his best years may be yet to come, but if Chelsea are going to be paying big wages to a centre-back, they need him to stay fit and available.
They can’t say that of Fofana, and journalist Sebastien Vidal is reporting that the defender might be interested in a fresh start as he looks to rejuvenate his career. It’s claimed Olympique Marseille are interested in a deal and that there is ‘mutual’ interest in striking a deal, although Chelsea’s fee demands would have to be met, unless they consider a loan deal in a bid to get Fofana’s confidence and fitness back. It’s also noted that there could be interest from Saudi Arabia.
Chelsea should cash in on Fofana
Fofana is a very good player, but if Chelsea are going to be title contenders, they can’t carry a player they paid up to £75million for without him playing 30 plus games per season. Unfortunately, the Frenchman just doesn’t seem to be capable of that, despite his relative youth, and he perhaps needs to play in a different country to get a good run of fitness, with other leagues perhaps suiting his body more.
The Blues will surely need to take a loss of around £20million, but they need a top-level centre-back now as they look to take advantage of their window of opportunity to become a title contender with a squad that should reach maturity in the next season or two. With other holes to fill, can they really afford to give Fofana another chance? If he gets injured and misses half or more of next season, it would have a huge impact on any title hopes, and with other positions already strengthened at that point, it’s unlikely they will have the financial space to replace him.
A loan deal could be a viable alternative, but Chelsea would have to convince an interested club to pay the majority of his wages, and it would also be wise to include liability for his medical bills should there be any long-term issues. Either way, for both Chelsea and Fofana’s sake, the defender should play away from Stamford Bridge next season.
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