Maresca will get more talent this summerMaresca will get more talent this summer
Maresca will get more talent this summer | Getty Images
All the latest news and transfer rumours as Chelsea prepare to kick off the early window with a bang.
Chelsea are now just a couple of weeks away from their FIFA Club World Cup campaign, but first they have the special 10-day early transfer window to contend with. The Blues have already made a strong start, with Liam Delap already Stamford Bridge-bound.
Emegha and Ekitike eyed
Fabrizio Romano says Chelsea are expected to sign Emaniel Emegha from Strasbourg, but they won’t get their hands on him for another year yet. Romano said on his YouTube show: "My expectation is for Chelsea to pre-sign Emegha from parent club Strasbourg this summer for 2026. So close the deal now and let the player join in 2026. Chelsea are already planning for 2026."
Romano also suggested that Hugo Ekitike could remain a target even after Delap, adding: "Chelsea remain interested in the situation of Ekitike at Eintracht, but at the moment, it’s not something advanced."
Ekitike ‘advantage’
On the Ekitike front, Florian Plettenburg says Chelsea have an advantage in the race to sign the Eintracht Frankfurt frontman. He told the Daily Briefing: “Chelsea hold the advantage over Liverpool for Hugo Ekitiké. Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal were previously considered the top favourites for Hugo Ekitiké, but the three-man competition has now turned into a two-club battle.
“At the moment, Chelsea, who qualified for the Champions League in fourth place, hold the best cards in the Ekitiké poker. Chelsea are already in dialogue with the player’s side and could soon get serious, but Liverpool are also still in the race, despite the upcoming record transfer of Florian Wirtz.”
Branthwaite links
Chelsea are said to be interested in a move for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, who has been linked with a big-money move for some time. The Blues are likely to sign a centre-back this summer, with Wesley Fofana having struggled with injury.
Mail Sport say Chelsea are weighing up a deal for Branthwaite, but Everton have previously valued the defender at £70million, so it would be a very expensive deal, and more expensive than Marc Guehi, who has also been linked with the Blues.
“Good players will always be linked with moves away, especially good young players,” Everton boss David Moyes has said of his prize defender. “But you have to remember Jarrad’s got a three-year contract left, he’s got two years and a year’s option so if anything Everton hold all the cards regarding that player.
“But I have to also say over the journey I’ve had over many years at Everton we’ve had to sell different players from Wayne Rooney to Mikel Arteta to Joleon Lescott. Apart from being a football manager, especially at certain clubs you have to sell on the journey to try and build as well. But I wouldn’t think that Jarrad one of the players I would want to lose, that’s for sure.”
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