Maresca and Potter both have attacking needsplaceholder image
Maresca and Potter both have attacking needs | Getty Images
Chelsea and West Ham should consider a swap deal to tick off both of their needs.
Chelsea need a winger signing this summer and they could yet sign one from within the Premier League. Enzo Maresca wants to improve his squad on a number of fronts this summer as he looks to build a squad capable of competing for the Premier League title.
The Blues secured a top four finish last season and they will want to achieve more progress next term as they also prepare for a Champions League campaign. New players are needed if Maresca is going to have a good chance of managing such progress, and it seems as though the Italian wants to add another striker after the signing of Liam Delap, while a winger, centre-back and goalkeeper is also on the list of needs ahead of the new season.
Chelsea are currently busy at the FIFA Club World Cup, losing their second group stage game on Friday night, but they are still in a good position to advance to the knockout stage. In the meantime, Blues chiefs will be working on new deals, and they have so far come up short in their bid to strengthen out wide, with Borussia Dortmund rejecting offers for Jamie Gittens.
The Blues appear determined to sign Gittens, but they are some way short of Dortmund’s valuation and it’s far from certain that they will reach a deal to sign the 20-year-old. An alternative the Blues have been heavily linked with is West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus. Reports have claimed that Kudus could go for around £65million, which is £20million less than his £85million release clause.
Kudus might have commanded that release clause a year ago after a superb first season, but he was largely ineffective last season although in the context of playing in a West Ham side that struggled as a whole.
Chelsea don’t appear likely to pay £65million for a winger this summer given their needs elsewhere, but they could strike a swap deal to kill two birds with one stone.
Chelsea and West Ham swap deal
Chelsea are also on a mission to offload Christopher Nkunku this summer with Maresca far from convince by the Frenchman. The Blues paid £52million to sign Nkunku but recent reports have suggested they will ask for just £35million to secure a sale this summer.
That means the Blues could cut the Kudus asking price in more than half if West Ham are interested in landing Nkunku this summer. The Hammers are in need of a forward, and Nkunku could tick the box given he can also play wide, allowing Graham Potter to play both the Frenchman and Niklas Fullkrug together.
Nkunku scored 14 goals last season and provided five assists. His hard-working nature and positional versatility will make him attractive to Potter, and so it could be a transfer that appeals to both sides. Though, it’s likely Chelsea would have to put up a significant amount of cash on top of Nkunku to land Kudus, even with the winger’s stock having fallen a little.
Continue Reading