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Former Chelsea star Claude Makelele has shared his opinion on what the club needs to become contenders for major honours next season. The Blues are set to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup this summer before returning to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in three years next season.
Chelsea finished the season very strongly under Enzo Maresca , securing a fourth place finish in the Premier League and with it, a place in the Champions League. In an interview, former midfielder Makelele pointed out where reinforcements are needed to take the club to the next level. He said (via BBC Sport);
"Chelsea need a goalkeeper, striker and maybe winger to fight for the Champions League and Premier League next season."
The Blues have already made moves to strengthen their squad this summer, signing 22-year-old striker Liam Delap from Ipswich Town. The Englishman will compete for a starting berth in the USA with Nicolas Jackson during the Club World Cup, and they are still in for another striker.
With Jadon Sancho having been sent back to Manchester United after his loan spell, the Blues have also tried to sign Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund. Brazilian youngster Estevao Willian will join them after the Club World Cup, giving them more options out wide.
Maresca's side made an attempt to sign AC Milan star Mike Maignan but failed to meet his valuation with the Italian club. Highly-rated teenage star Mike Penders will be with them at the Club World Cup, but they are expected to make another move to sign Maignan this summer. The Blues are likely to sign players in each of the positions mentioned by Makelele by the end of the summer and could challenge for honours next season.
Chelsea hand official squad number to teenage goalkeeper
Chelsea have given teenage star Mike Penders the number 39 shirt for their FIFA Club World Cup campaign, naming him in the official squad. The Belgian youngster joins the club this summer, having spent the 2024-25 season at Genk after securing a transfer last summer.
Penders will be one of four goalkeepers available to Enzo Maresca in the USA alongside Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, and Gabriel Slonina. The teenager is expected to get a chance to impress Maresca as the club are not eager for him to spend a long time out on loan.
Mike Penders made 26 senior appearances for Genk during the 2024-25 season, keeping seven clean sheets. The Belgium U-19 international will hope to emulate Thibaut Courtois in making a name for himself in Chelsea colours.
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Sulayman Salahudeen
Sulayman is a European and international football writer at Sportskeeda covering news and transfer rumors. He has an overall experience of 4 years, having previously worked at the likes of SportsRation and ExtraTimeTalk. His tryst with the sport happened at a young age, playing it at home and watching the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Sulayman has a good feel for the game, which is reflected in his descriptive articles. He double checks information via multiple sources for accuracy, and only uses top-tier platforms like Transfermarkt and Opta for statistical information. His experience and exploits in the industry have led Sulayman to cover the Nigerian Professional League for three years along with games involving the Nigerian national team. He has also worked in F1, joining hands with industry veterans to provide a smooth viewing experience in Nigeria.
Sulayman hails Lionel Messi as the one true GOAT, and his brace in Argentina’s 2005 U20 FIFA World Cup final win over Nigeria left a lasting impact on him. He also supports Chelsea at club level, having followed their dominance under Jose Mourinho. Sulayman also follows other leagues with Nigerian players like Eredivisie, Saudi Pro League, Turkish Super Lig, and more. When not writing, he enjoys cooking and eating.
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