Chelsea are acting swiftly to meet the demands of their incoming head coach, Enzo Maresca, as they gear up for the summer transfer window. Maresca, set to replace Mauricio Pochettino, is already influencing the club’s preparations for the upcoming season.
The first significant move under Maresca’s guidance is the acquisition of Tosin Adarabioyo from Fulham on a free transfer. This move underscores Chelsea’s intent to bolster their defensive options. However, their ambitions in the transfer market are not limited to defense alone.
A key priority for Chelsea is securing a top-tier striker, with names like Victor Osimhen and Benjamin Sesko high on their list. Alongside reinforcing their forward line, Chelsea is also keen on enhancing their goalkeeping department. They aim to find a player who can combine reliability with strong ball-playing abilities, akin to Mads Hermansen, who played a crucial role in Leicester’s promotion under Maresca last season.
According to The Mirror, Chelsea has identified Las Palmas goalkeeper Alvaro Valles as a prime target. Valles, under contract until 2025, has attracted Chelsea’s interest following his standout season, highlighted by regaining possession 38 times in La Liga. Las Palmas president Miguel Angel Ramirez is open to selling Valles, having previously rejected a £17 million bid from Nottingham Forest. Valles’s market value, currently estimated at €4.5 million, is anticipated to rise.
To comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations, Chelsea will need to offload one of their current goalkeepers if they acquire Valles. Dorde Petrovic is favored to remain, having ended the recent season strongly. In contrast, Robert Sanchez and Kepa Arrizabalaga are likely candidates for departure.
Sanchez and Kepa have market values of €21.2 million and €14.7 million, respectively. Despite Kepa’s underwhelming loan spell at Real Madrid, where he was third choice behind Thibaut Courtois and Andriy Lunin, both players are expected to draw interest. However, Chelsea is unlikely to recoup the €80 million they paid for Kepa in 2018.
As Chelsea navigates the complexities of the transfer market, their focus is clear: to build a squad capable of competing at the highest level while adhering to financial constraints. Maresca’s influence is already apparent, and with further strategic acquisitions, Chelsea aims to strengthen their team across all positions for the upcoming season.
