It is always a bold move to outwardly project completing plenty of transfer business before the end of June. It is even more of a claim to say that significant deals will be done before June 10.
That is exactly how Chelsea approached this summer. With the knowledge that their schedule would be vastly different to their rivals, the importance of acting quickly to get players over the line was paramount.
Being sharp, efficient, and effective in the market is always a good sign. It usually leads to longer on the training field with new teammates and surroundings. It helps players to adapt and to bed in.
With the Club World Cup taking up a chunk of Chelsea's summer, they really did not have any choice. That has not stopped them from stalling previously.
In both of the last two summer windows they have been scrambling on deadline day to complete signings. Moves for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia both dragged on in 2023 whilst no striker was found in 2024 and Jadon Sancho arrived in a late surprise loan.
The deeper into the window it takes to get key pieces in place, the tougher it becomes for those to work out. That is why, despite some reservations over the exact quality and level of improvement (if any) Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens would make on Chelsea's starting XI, it is a positive sign to see the directors putting their money where their mouth is.
That has not always been the case. Chelsea say a lot of things and tend to do very differently. Take the goalkeeper situation, as just one example.
There has been a very active effort after only five days of the window being open, to focus on making these signings. It is almost entirely a good thing. There is also a catch.
Chelsea have at least 10 players from around the senior squad who have no future at the club and will need to be sold, or, if that is not possible, loaned. The loan list itself is almost as long, although it is comprised mainly of younger players rather than discarded first teamers this time.
As well as leaving certain incomings late last season, they failed to find adequate moves for many of the 'bomb squad', which left Carney Chukwuemeka, Axel Disasi, and Ben Chilwell with little to nothing to do for most of the first half of the season.
That was remedied in January - although they once more took their time to finalise things - but is hardly an ideal scenario. Chelsea will also have to find a new home for Raheem Sterling, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Joao Felix, who all return from their respective loans.
None of these players are in Maresca's plans for the 2025/26 season. The same is true of Armando Broja, who went to Everton. David Datro Fofana was recalled after injury and off-field issues curtailed his stay in Germany. Both strikers will surely be looking for permanent exits from Stamford Bridge.
From the squad Maresca ended last season with, Kiernan Dewsbury Hall and Christopher Nkunku can also be added to this group. They struggled to find a place under the Italian and were both in talks to leave in January as well.
In total, all of the players mentioned here were signed for a combined £354million by Chelsea. The new owners are responsible for £232million of that and the current sporting directors (Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart) were in place for £120million of those deals.
It is likely that at least one of the three goalkeepers signed by Winstanley and Stewart leave as well. Whether Mike Maignan is brought in or not, there is not room for Djordje Petrovic (£14million), Filip Jorgensen (£22million), and Robert Sanchez (£25million).
If an agreement for Maignan is reached then two of the three could find themselves surplus to requirements. Petrovic has had the best season of the lot and may well be worth the most.
Mike Maignan
Mike Maignan is an option for Chelsea this summer (Image: Baptiste Fernandez/Icon Sport)
There are also questions over what Chelsea do with Lesley Ugochukwu. He was ultimately relegated with Southampton but is still highly rated as a box-crashing midfield to add depth and legs. Chelsea already have two new bodies coming in this summer in the shape of Andrey Santos and Dario Essugo, so it is unclear what they will look to do with Ugochukwu.
He could be picked out for another loan or have offers welcomed. Depending on the Maignan situation, that is 12 players Chelsea might have to sell, still.
Then when it comes to guys set for loans, Marc Guiu is attracting interest from Ipswich Town as they look to replace Liam Delap. Others signed by Chelsea include Aaron Anselmino, Mamadou Sarr, Mathis Amougou, and Kendry Paez. Combined they cost £56million.
Young goalkeepers Eddie Beach, Ted Curd, Lucas Bergstrom, and Gabriel Slonina will all be hoping to get a season of senior minutes under their belt as well. EFL loans for them are all possible.
This does mean that there are at least 21 players here who will not be around Maresca's main playing squad next season. That is a lot of business to be conducted.
The priority has been on getting more players through the door with the rush of the Club World Cup, but soon enough Chelsea will have to cut their numbers again. With deals for Hugo Ekitike, Alejandro Garnacho, and defenders including Marc Guehi and Jorrel Hato all possible, the wait to shift some of the unwanted lot is set to go on for some time yet.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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