For the second time in the space of a few days, the comments of Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca make for very interesting reading down the road at Premier League rivals West Ham United.
The two London neighbours have done a fair bit of business between them over the years, from Emerson Palmieri and Kurt Zouma to Victor Moses to Yossi Benayoun.
But, while there is certainly a recent history of Chelsea players swapping deep blue for claret in pursuit of more regular game time, the last player to move in the other direction was none other than Joe Cole all the way back in 2003.
So, while Chelsea are not giving up on Mohammed Kudus becoming the first in 22 years to leave West Ham United for Stamford Bridge, the Hammers’ interest in goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic means that a potential player-plus-cash deal may still be on the cards.
Especially with Enzo Maresca this week confirming two things.
One, that the £25 million-rated Petrovic is not part of Chelsea’s plans. And, two, that the twice-Champions League winners are planning to sign a wide forward, albeit while stopping short of mentioning Mohammed Kudus by name.
Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca celebrates with the Conference League trophy - Real Betis Balompie v Chelsea FC - UEFA Conference League Final 2025
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Enzo Maresca wants a winger as Chelsea target West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus
To describe Kudus as an out-and-out winger, it should be said, is maybe a little reductive.
The versatile attacker has been utilised, both at West Ham and at previous employers Ajax, as a number ten, a second striker and occasionally as something of a false nine. Perhaps Chelsea see Kudus as a replacement for Christopher Nkunku rather than an upgrade on Pedro Neto or Noni Madueke.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Either way, with Mkyhaylo Mudryk joining Lucas Paqueta in seeing his entire footballing future cast into doubt, Maresca confirms that Chelsea have indeed put a ‘winger’ right at the top of their summer to-do list.
“We had already one entire season almost without Misha,” Maresca says, Mudryk facing a four-year ban for an alleged doping violation, per Sky Sports.
“We’re going to decide to go for a winger not because of Misha. It’s something quite clear that it’s a position that we need to improve.”
West Ham target Djordje Petrovic will be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge
Kudus, as versatile as he is, did make the majority of his appearances last season wide on the left-hand side.
Hammers News reported at the start of June that Graham Potter turned down the chance to sign Jadon Sancho – the man who spent much of last term on Chelsea’s left flank – as part of a potential swap deal.
Tosin Adarabioyo, Axel Disasi, Trevoh Chalobah, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Robert Sanchez – the man helping to keep Petrovic out of the first-team picture – were also brought up in discussions.
Mohammed Kudus before West Ham United FC v AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
There is an argument to be made that Petrovic – labelled ‘world-class’ by Strasbourg coach Liam Rosenior after a fine season on loan in Ligue 1 – is actually the best of Chelsea’s numerous goalkeeping options.
Yet, as long as Maresca remains at the helm, Petrovic will be stuck in third place at best.
“Robert [Sanchez] is the number one. Then Filip [Jorgensen as the number two],” the former Leicester City boss revealed, while also highlighting last summer’s £17 million arrival of Belgian teenage Mike Penders.
Hammers News understands that Graham Potter is a big fan of Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale too. Freiburg glovesman Noah Atubolu is a reported Hammers target as well, though Alphonse Areola will not be returning to Spain with Espanyol this summer.