Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca gave supporters a reason to be excited during his first few weeks in the role after seamlessly transitioning into life in West London.
The Italian lost his first game against Manchester City but led the Blues to a six-game unbeaten run, looking like the biggest challengers to runaway leaders Liverpool at one stage.
However, in recent months, the side have endured somewhat of a drop-off in form, slipping to fifth in the Premier League and 21 points off Arne Slot’s side with just 11 games remaining.
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Qualifying for the Champions League would be a huge success in his first season in charge, giving him a platform to build on for the coming years during his tenure at the club.
If he is to build off his recent success at the Bridge, he needs to invest well once again this summer, replicating some of the deals which he’s overseen during his first season in the capital.
The impact of Maresca’s signings at Chelsea in 24/25
Forward Pedro Neto joined Chelsea in a £54m deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers over the summer, looking to add further firepower to the club’s already potent forward line.
The Portuguese international has since registered five goals and six assists in his 31 games for the club, including a phenomenal strike against local rivals Arsenal at the Bridge.
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Neto wasn’t the only forward to move to West London last summer, with Jadon Sancho joining the Blues on loan with an obligation to buy from fellow Premier League side Manchester United.
The 24-year-old looked as though he would be a shrewd addition after his cameo off the bench for his debut against Bournemouth, but his performance levels have rapidly declined in recent weeks.
The former Borussia Dortmund ace has failed to register a goal or an assist in any of his last nine outings, putting his starting place under the Italian at risk.
However, despite the form of the aforementioned duo, one other summer addition has failed to deliver - with Boehly brutally needing to offload the big-money signing at the next opportunity.
The player who Boehly needs to offload this summer
As seen by the previous arrivals during Maresca’s first window in charge, owner Todd Boehly put trust in the new boss to make the additions he wanted to take the side to the next level.
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Such trust saw the Italian raid his former club Leicester City and bring Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall with him to West London after his time with the midfielder in their Championship-winning campaign last time around.
The 26-year-old registered 12 goals and 14 assists in his 44 league appearances in 2023/24, impressing at the heart of the Foxes midfield and playing a pivotal role in their immediate return to the Premier League.
As a result, Boehly forked out £30m to prise him away from the East Midlands outfit, with Maresca labelling him “fantastic” after securing a move for his services.
"He has the calmness that that kind of player needs. He’s fantastic with the ball, he knows when to attack and what to give the team. He is so dangerous near the box and has the quality to score or assist from anywhere."
However, Dewsbury-Hall has struggled to impress for the Blues since his transfer, unable to dislodge the likes of Enzo Fernández and Moises Caidedo from their starting roles at the heart of the side.
Chelsea's Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in action with Southampton's Kamaldeen Sulemana
He’s only registered eight league appearances to date, with only one of which coming from a starting role and subsequently relying on Europa Conference League minutes to showcase his talent.
The midfielder has registered two goals and one assist in his eight European outings, but ultimately, he hasn’t demonstrated enough quality for a player who cost £30m.
Dewsbury-Hall's stats for Chelsea in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Games played
Minutes played
Pass accuracy
Dribble success
Tackles won
Fouls committed
Duels won
Stats via FotMob
Numerous rumours emerged over a potential move for Dewsbury-Hall in January, but the boss reiterated his desire to keep hold of the Englishman, but he’s only featured for 105 minutes since the closure of the window.
As a result, Boehly needs to be brutal over the summer and cut their losses on the former Foxes star, ultimately preventing the Blues from losing a small fortune on the fee they forked out for his signature.
It’s a shame that the move to the Bridge hasn’t worked out for Dewsbury-Hall, but he needs regular minutes to recapture his form, with the funds potentially helping Maresca improve the side in other areas to allow them to reach the next level.
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