Robin Bairner
Enzo Maresca, Chelsea
© IMAGO
Chelsea have been busy in the transfer market ahead of the Club World Cup, which has prompted manager Enzo Maresca to take some big decisions for his squad early in the summer.
The Blues open their campaign in the competition on Monday against Mexican outfit Leon in Atlanta before clashes against Flamengo and ES Tunis complete the group stage.
Chelsea have already signed no fewer than five players to Maresca’s squad ahead of the tournament, with Liam Delap, Estevao, Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr and Kendry Paez hooking up with the Blues at the beginning of June.
But the London outfit have a huge squad and Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Paez will not be retained for the competition but instead sent to sister club Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
“Kendry Paez will join Strasbourg on loan deal from Chelsea as he won’t be included in FIFA Club World Cup squad,” Romano reports. “Plan confirmed for Paez to have more game time and then return to Chelsea in one year.”
In addition to this, Mathis Amougou, who was signed from Saint-Etienne in January, is also set to hook up with the French side in a deal that has been planned since the beginning of the year.
Kendry Paez, Independiente
© IMAGO - Kendry Paez, Independiente
Who will play in the Club World Cup for Chelsea?
Andrey Santos, who was dubbed ‘the best player in the world’ while with Strasbourg last year, is set to be part of Chelsea’s Club World Cup squad along with Mamadou Sarr, who former club-mate at Racing.
On the other hand, goalkeeper Djordje Petkovic will not be called up to the squad, according to The Telegraph. The keeper is technically still on loan to Strasbourg and Chelsea have no plans to recall him, despite an impressive campaign in Ligue 1.
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