Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz and Como star Nico Paz could be among Enzo Maresca's targets for Chelsea in the January transfer window | National World / Getty Imagesplaceholder image
Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz and Como star Nico Paz could be among Enzo Maresca's targets for Chelsea in the January transfer window | National World / Getty Images | National World / Getty Images
Enzo Maresca will hope Chelsea can supercharge their push for Premier League and Champions League success
It’s that classic Christmas conundrum - what more could those who already have everything, possibly want?
For me, that means buying my dad (who doesn’t having everything, but is pretty focused on what he wants and won’t wait for Christmas or his birthday to get it) a gift card and some nice chocolates, but the stakes are a bit higher with Chelsea Football Club.
Never mind January, The Blues have have already agreed over £50m of purchases for summer 2026 after they spent almost £300 million in the last transfer window, signing everyone from Kian Best to Alejandro Garnacho.
But at this point Chelsea are more of a player trading programme that happens to operate a mildly successful football team than a truly elite sporting competitor, so expect to see more spending this winter, and these are some of the players the Stamford Bridge faithful will be hoping to see arrive…
Who is on Chelsea’s Christmas transfer wish list?
Kenan Yildiz - A target for pretty much all of Europe’s super clubs, Kenan Yildiz draws a crackle of excitement every time he gets on the ball even from opposition fans. The Turkish winger will cost almost nine figures in 2026 but aged 20 and in only his second season as a regular starter in senior football, he’s already showing the end product to match his electric ability with the ball at his feet.
Nico Paz - Real Madrid appear to hold all the cards with Como’s Nico Paz, who’s almost as in-demand as Yildiz. But Chelsea remain somewhat in contention as for all their impressive recruitment in the past few years, Cole Palmer’s injury has exposed Chelsea’s lack of specialised number 10s. Paz would change all of that, having made 15 goal contributions last season he’s on pace to comfortably eclipse that in this campaign.
Murillo - Given the legacies of John Terry, Petr Cech and Riccardo Carvalho, Chelsea fans know as well as anyone that you don’t win the Premier League with a defensive core of Robert Sanchez, Trevoh Chalobah and Toisin Adarabioyo or Benoit Badiashile. Unless you’re Leicester City.
Talks with Mike Maignan appear to have stalled once again as the Frenchman would be a fantastic addition should Santa somehow deliver him, but Murillo would be another brilliant defensive upgrade. He may cost £80m, but that could end up being a small price to pay for turning the Blues into genuine challengers for the Premier League. Castello Lukeba is certainly another name to watch.
Souza - BlueCo appear to be front- runners to capture the talented full-back. Like Paz, Souza would reinforce an area where Chelsea are light in numbers. And in a strange twist of fate after his father rejected Chelsea to join Manchester City and kickstart the era of Emirati superiority in Premier League, they’re also chasing Souza’s Santos teammate Robinho Jr.
Marc Casado - One of the revelations of last season, Casado possesses the versatility to be hugely valuable to Enzo Maresca as he battles on multiple fronts, and Chelsea can use their huge Champions League triumph over Barcelona to try and tempt the 22-year-old to London where he possesses the tenacity and technical ability to star in midfield or defence.
Continue Reading