Enzo Maresca says Chelsea are still in the market for new players – with a centre forward top of his wishlist.
The Blues have added a further 10 players to an already bloated squad this summer, meaning Maresca is having to carefully manage those on the fringes with the likes of Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell ostracised from first-team training having been told they can leave.
Outgoings, rather than arrivals, would seem to be the logical priority over the next week but Maresca says there are still areas of the squad that need strengthening.
“If we sign for the sake of signing, it’s better that we don’t sign any more because we don’t need to sign players just for the sake of it,” he said.
“But if we are going to sign players because they are going to help us improve, sure we will sign players – otherwise we are happy with the way we are.”
Chelsea signed striker Marc Guiu from Barcelona earlier this summer but, at 18 years of age, Maresca feels he does not have the experience to act as back-up to Nicolas Jackson for an entire season.
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has long been linked with the Stamford Bridge club, who are reported to also hold an interest in Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran.
“I love Marc,” Maresca told the Guardian following Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Swiss side Servette in the Europa Conference League last night. “But if we have a chance to bring in a No 9 who can help us we are going to try – otherwise we are okay.”
🤝 @NoniMadueke_ giving us that two-goal cushion. 😁#CFC | #UECL pic.twitter.com/dfqG1oJaUi
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 22, 2024
Next up for Chelsea is Wolves on Sunday with Maresca mulling over whether to include Joao Felix for the trip to Molineux.
“If he is available, for sure he has a chance of playing,” he said. “In terms of knowing the way we want to play, not yet, but physically I think he is ready. He is mature enough to understand what he has to do and learn from his mistakes in the past. Overall he is a player who is going to help us.
“I knew about him when he was at Benfica, where he was already scoring many goals and everyone was suspecting he would be a top, top, top player. He has played with Benfica, Atlético Madrid, Chelsea and Barcelona – big, big teams – and we are happy to have him here.”
