Robert Sanchez is set to leave Chelsea.Robert Sanchez is set to leave Chelsea.
Robert Sanchez is set to leave Chelsea. | Getty Images
Enzo Maresca has earned a reputation for his ‘brutal’ approach to the transfer window at Chelsea.
Chelsea are set to undergo another big summer rebuild this year as Enzo Maresca prepares to lead the club in the Champions League next term.
The Blues had to settle for Europa Conference League action last season, and won that tournament, but now return to the top tier of European football thanks to their fourth place Premier League finish. The former Leicester City manager was ruthless when arriving at Stamford Bridge a year ago and looks set to take a similar approach to trimming his squad over the next couple of months.
Chelsea are in Club World Cup action later in June and look to be taking an active approach to the window. Ipswich Town talisman Liam Delap is set to become the first player through the door for £30 million and Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens could be next.
Chelsea place five first team stars on transfer list
Given the Premier League’s strict financial rules, any incomings will have to be offset by departures but Chelsea do not appear to be short of first team players they would be happy to show the exit door. The Guardian, as relayed by Sky Sports, have named five players already placed in the shop window.
A Sky Sports report claimed: “The Guardian believe that Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez is one of a number of players in Enzo Maresca’s squad who are up for sale. The Guardian also think that Chelsea are open to offers for Noni Madueke, Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix and Raheem Sterling.”
That list of players is perhaps no surprise for Chelsea fans. Robert Sanchez has been ridiculed this season for mistakes in between the posts with Maresca even dropping his first choice for Filip Jorgensen halfway through the season, before reinstating the Spaniard again.
The goalkeeping position remains a headache for the manager. When asked about changing his number one earlier this season, he said: “I said that Filip starting against West Ham was also to give Robert some time to recover mentally and physically. But the idea is not to switch goalkeepers game by game.”
“I spoke with Robert a few days before West Ham when I made the decision to play Filip. Since then, I haven’t spoken with him again, and the same goes for Filip. They both know the situation. This is the decision for now, and we’ll see what happens moving forward.”
Raheem Sterling set for departure after Arsenal loan
Chelsea paid £25 million to sign Sanchez from Brighton in 2023. He’s gone on to make 55 appearances for the Blues, keeping 15 clean sheets. Sanchez is joined on the transfer list by forwards Madueke, Nkunku and Felix.
Madueke made 41 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea this season with Nkunku afforded 42, and scoring 14 goals. Felix has been more of a fringe player and spent the back end of the campaign on loan at AC Milan.
Meanwhile, Raheem Sterling is expected to head straight back out of Stamford Bridge when he returns from his loan spell with Arsenal. The 30-year-old only scored once for the Gunners with Mikel Arteta’s men unlikely to pursue a permanent deal.
Maresca was candid when axing the player from his squad last summer. At the time, he explained: "I'm not saying Raheem is not a good player but I prefer a different kind of winger.”
When asked if he would consider his approach as ‘brutal’, he replied: "Brutal? I don't think so. I try to be honest. I can repeat again if it's not clear: I spoke with Raheem before the City game. I said he is going to struggle to get minutes with us and this is the reason why he is out of the squad.
"With Chilly, I said he is a lovely guy, but he is going to struggle because of his position. He is going to struggle. If you define this as brutal, it's up to you to decide. For me, it's not brutal, it's just honest."
In other news, 'Story Over': Fabrizio Romano confirms 'brutal' final Chelsea transfer decision.
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