Enzo Maresca
Enzo Maresca
Aston Villa's Premier League rivals Chelsea are set to conduct a firesale before the transfer deadline on the 1st of September, with a host of first-team players currently training away from Enzo Maresca's preferred squad free to leave the club in the remainder of this window.
have a bloated squad having shifted a couple of players already this term but having welcomed in a host more; they've signed eight players, including Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, Joao Pedro from Brighton and Liam Delap from Ipswich. They're still trying to add, too, with Alejandro Garnacho and Xavi Simons on their radar.
From here, though, sales to raise money and free up room in their squad are on the agenda; Maresca has no plans to integrate the likes of Raheem Sterling, former loanee , Renato Veiga, Villa academy product or Ben Chilwell into his squad and all of the above can find new clubs.
Striker Nicolas Jackson, linked with Villa himself, and winger Christopher Nkunku can leave too, along with Aaron Anselmino. Youngster Tyrique George could leave on loan before the deadline while Chelsea are also open to loaning out or moving on Alfie Gilchrist and Alex Matos after their own time away from Stamford Bridge last year.
Kiano Dyer, 18, was not involved for the club's under 21s on Monday and needs clarity, in addition to figures such as Omari Kellyman (signed from Villa last summer), Sam Rak-Sakyi, Jimmy-Jay Morgan, Ronni Stutter and David Datro Fofana.
Chelsea have already sold plenty of players this summer - Joao Felix, Noni Madueke, Djordje Petrovic, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Armando Broja and Lesley Ugochukwu, among others, confident that their income from sales will have eclipsed £300m by the end of the window, meaning their net spend will be near £0.
What is Villa's transfer priority this summer?
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