Chelsea have impressed massively throughout the 2024/25 campaign, with Enzo Maresca having a huge impact during his first season as the club’s manager.
The Italian took the reins last summer after Mauricio Pochettino departed, leading the side to a top five finish in the Premier League - subsequently securing Champions League football for 2025/26.
His side also claimed the Europa Conference League trophy after a thumping 4-1 win over Real Betis in the final, topping off what has been a season to remember in West London.
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With the transfer window now open, it presents the 45-year-old to make key additions in various areas of the squad to push themselves one step closer to returning to a title battle.
He’s already landed the signing of striker Liam Delap, but numerous other players are already on their shortlist, with potential moves popping up after the window opened on Sunday.
The latest on Chelsea’s hunt for new attackers
Despite the deal for Delap, Maresca has made adding strength to his Chelsea forward line a priority this summer, with further firepower needed for future success in the near future.
The likes of Samu Omorodion, Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko have all been touted with a switch to the Blues this summer, but as of yet, no deals have been agreed for any of the aforementioned talents.
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However, another name has been mentioned over the last couple of days, with West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus emerging as a key option, according to one Spanish report.
They claim that the Blues are preparing a £59m offer for the 24-year-old Ghanaian winger, who managed to register nine combined goals and assists in all competitions throughout 2024/25.
It also states that the hierarchy are determined to win the race for his signature this summer, with city rivals Arsenal also firmly in the race for the attacker’s services during the off-season.
Why Chelsea’s £59m target has shades of Hazard
Belgian winger Eden Hazard arrived at Chelsea back in the summer of 2012 as an unknown quantity to many, but it’s safe to say he managed to quickly announce himself to the fanbase.
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The attacker cost the club around £32m from French outfit Lille, a fee that proved to be a bargain given his time as a player in West London - all before banking them a huge profit, after eventually leaving in a £150m deal to join Real Madrid back in 2019.
The now-retired 34-year-old featured over 350 times, scoring 110 times, with Hazard today still in the conversation as one of the best wingers in Premier League history with his mazy runs and unbelievable dribbling ability.
Many players such as Jadon Sancho, Mykhailo Mudryk and Pedro Neto have all tried to fill the void left by the attacker in recent years, but have failed miserably - leading to the club’s interest in new forwards this summer.
Maresca could be able to find his own version of the Belgian this summer, with Kudus having a similar skill set, offering the side the added threat they need going forward.
FFC in-text wider Kudus
He registered 13 take-ons against the Blues back in 2023/24, the most of any player in the division that campaign, highlighting his ability with the ball at his feet. That tally of 13 was also what the great Hazard achieved on two occasions during his Stamford Bridge stay.
Kudus, who’s also been labelled “generational” by journalist Gary Smith, has registered 3.4 progressive carries and 3.2 successful take-ons per 90 this campaign - further highlighting his skillset of getting at the opposition.
Mohammed Kudus' stats for West Ham in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Games played
Goals & assists
Pass accuracy
Progressive carries
Successful take-ons
Shots taken
Carries into penalty area
Stats via FBref
The Ghanaian has also registered 2.6 shots per 90, cutting inside on his favoured left-foot off the right hand, similar to how Hazard did on the opposite side during his spell in West London.
£59m may appear to be another huge investment from the hierarchy this summer, but given the stats produced by the Hammers star, it’s a no-brainier with the winger having the tools to take his game to the next level as a result.
Should he manage to get anywhere near close to the levels produced by Hazard at the Bridge, it would be an absolute bargain, potentially catapulting the Blues towards title glory once again in the near future.
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