All the latest updates around Chelsea’s business in this summer’s transfer window including news on Conor Gallagher’s potential departure, Romelu Lukaku’s exit and the arrival of Elye Wahi
The Blues are continuing their dominance over the market by lining up two more deals to address their defensive issues, with Aaron Anselmino from Boca Juniors and USMNT left-back Caleb Wiley both set to sign in the coming weeks. The pair would be the seventh and eighth arrivals since Maresca took over from Mauricio Pochettino following the Argentinian’s departure at the end of last season.
Throughout the previous campaign, Chelsea’s main issues came in the form of injuries to key players, meaning inconsistency across the board left them ballooning up and down the Premier League table, but their eventual sixth-place finish will be important in the negotiation phases after it secured them European football for the upcoming 2024/25 season.
Sales will also be an important factor in helping to keep the club’s financial status of out trouble when it comes to the top flight’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSRs), with the likes of Ian Maatsen, Omari Hutchinson and Lewis Hall all fetching a combined £78.5million to offset many of the moves the Blues have already made and will continue to make.
One sale they might get away with though is that of midfielder Conor Gallagher after Tottenham have turned their long-term interest away from the England international and towards Manchester United star Scott McTominay. It’s believed that Ange Postecoglou wants to further bolster his midfield after signing 19-year-old Archie Gray from Leeds already this summer but Gallagher is not interested leaving Chelsea.
While a new contract between the 24-year-old and Chelsea is still yet to be worked out, the club’s £50m valuation on top of his most impressive season with them to date last year has meant that his departure from Stamford Bridge is looking less and less likely as the window goes on even with Aston Villa’s interest in the star yet to wain.
Having captained his boyhood club for most of last season, Gallagher played in 50 of the 51 games across all competitions and unsurprisingly led the way for most minutes under Pochettino, leaving new manager Maresca with plenty of reasons to keep the star on for his first year in charge.
Elsewhere, the Blues may have found a way to rid themselves of out-of-favour striker Romelu Lukaku after the star has reportedly agreed a deal with Napoli who look set to sell Victor Osimhen to Paris Saint-Germain. It has come as a compromise though, with the reported fee of £21m plus bonuses way off the club’s original asking price of £37m where he’d reunite with Antonio Conte according to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport.
Southampton are still interested in striker Armando Broja and could help facilitate an exit for the Albanian international while forgotten defender Malang Sarr could finally see a way out of West London in the form of RC Lens.
On the signings front, Chelsea are ready to reignite their hopes of signing RC Lens striker Elye Wahi following a tough season for the 21-year-old. Having spent just one season at the Estadio Bollaert-Delelis after joining for a club record €35m (£30m) following his breakout season at Montpellier, Wahi’s nine Ligue 1 goals have left him on the precipice of an exit this summer.
It’s possible the Blues see this as a great opportunity to land both a failed objective from last summer as well as get themselves an alternative to Osimhen, who they appear to have failed in coaxing to Stamford Bridge with the Nigerian set on his way to PSG, but Chelsea are yet to send an offer to Lens for his services.
Chelsea are also said to be the team to watch in terms of Leeds United star Crysencio Summerville’s future after meetings with the Dutchman’s representatives. The 22-year-old has a myriad of clubs after him following a successful season in the Championship under Daniel Farke but sees Chelsea as his preferred destination.