Maresca is set to get a new attackerplaceholder image
Maresca is set to get a new attacker | Getty Images
All the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding Chelsea as they prepare to face Fulham.
Chelsea are back to it on Saturday when they take on West London rivals Fulham in what will surely be a stern test. The Blues have enjoyed a steady start, picking up four points from their first two games, and they will be looking to build on the momentum established in their 5-1 win last time out.
In the meantime, work continues on transfers as Chelsea look to beat Monday evening’s deadline. Here we round up all the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding Stamford Bridge.
Garnacho inbound
Chelsea look set to miss out on one of their key targets in Xavi Simons, who looks set to join Tottenham instead, but their other primary targets in Alejandro Garnacho looks to be Stamford Bridge-bound.
Fabrizio Romano has posted on X: “Alejandro Garnacho will be in London on Friday for medical tests and contract signing as new Chelsea player. £40m fee confirmed with 10% sell-on clause agreed with Manchester United. Exclusive story since July, confirmed.” Garnacho will come in to replace Noni Madueke, who joined Arsenal earlier in the transfer window.
Nkunku deal strick
One of the key deals to allowing the Garnacho deal to happen is the departure of Christopher Nkunku, who has never been truly valued by Maresca during the Italian’s time at the club. Nkunku featured steadily last season but he wasn’t a true starter, and he will now move on with the view of being a starter elsewhere.
AC Milan are said to be his next club, with Chelsea ideally making a chunk of their money back on their £60million investment, but they will still take a big hit. Romano has posted: “Christopher Nkunku, landing in Milano to become new AC Milan player €37m plus €5m add-ons and sell-on clause from Chelsea, as exclusively revealed.”
Makelele on Chelsea’s UCL run
Former Chelsea favourite Claude Makelele has backed his former club to push for a Champions League run this season. He told SportBible: “For now, Chelsea can build something in the Champions League, because it has been normal for them. Always. We win the Champions League, Club World Cup, finals, as it's the only club who win all five trophies. Nobody does this. We have stories about all these competitions.
“We have a good group, and I like all the players, and the manager are doing a great job. I repeated that many times last year, as the fans were critical of him at first. We can see them making progress, though, so I hope they make it through to the final."
Chelsea have a tough start to their Champions League campaign, taking on FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich. They then face Benfica, Atalanta and Ajax before closing their group phase campaign against Napoli, Pafos and Qarabag. If the Blues can get through those first two games with four to six points, Maresca’s men will be very well set up to progress given the strength of their opponents weakens after those games.
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