September 1, 2024

Maresca Stands Firm as Chelsea Signs New Deal for Striker

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca remains resolute in his decision to exclude certain players, including Ben Chilwell, from the first team. Meanwhile, the club has offered a new contract to their striker after a failed attempt to sign Victor Osimhen. This move highlights Chelsea’s ongoing adjustments and focus on securing the future of their current squad.

Enzo Maresca keeps his word as Chelsea’s outcast faces another snub

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca stood by his decision to leave Ben Chilwell out of the squad for Sunday’s game against Crystal Palace.

The Italian manager has clarified that the England international isn’t part of his plans, excluding him from all five of Chelsea’s games this season. The former Leicester player is now training separately from the first team.

Chilwell was offered to Manchester United during the transfer window as a replacement for Luke Shaw. but the deal didn’t go through. Now, the 27-year-old is set for an extended spell without playing, at least until January.

There’s speculation he could move to Turkey, where transfers are open until September 18, potentially joining Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.

Last month, Maresca advised Chilwell that leaving Chelsea would be the best move for his career. He acknowledged that he’d find it hard to get playing time, as Marc Cucurella is the current first-choice left-back.

“With Chilly, I said he is a lovely guy, but he is going to struggle because of his position,” Maresca told BBC Sport. “He is going to struggle. If you define this as brutal, it’s up to you to decide. For me, it’s not brutal; it’s just honest.”

Chilwell was among a group of Chelsea players sidelined by Maresca, nicknamed the “Bomb Squad.” This group included Raheem Sterling, Trevoh Chalobah, and Romelu Lukaku, who later moved to Arsenal, Crystal Palace, and Napoli, respectively. Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was also dropped from the first team before securing a loan move to Bournemouth.

Other “bomb squad” members who didn’t secure transfers this summer include forwards David Datro Fofana and Deivid Washington, winger Angelo, and goalkeeper Lucas Bergstrom.

Chilwell, signed for £50 million from Leicester City in 2020, was initially seen as Chelsea’s long-term left-back solution.

However, his consistency could have been better. Although he played 42 matches in his first season, including starting in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City, which Chelsea won 1-0, his performances have varied since then.

The following season, due to injury struggles, he managed only 13 appearances, including six Premier League starts. During the 2022-23 season, he started 15 league matches. Still, knee and hamstring issues limited him significantly, resulting in just nine Premier League starts for the entire season.

Chilwell once shared that Pep Guardiola told him he had the potential for great success after they had a conversation in the 2018-19 season.

“He told me that he thought I was a really talented player,” he explained to the Daily Mail. “And that he wanted me to keep playing well, getting up and down the pitch. That was it. And then he walks off to the next person he wants to speak to. I didn’t feel special, but it was nice for a successful manager to say I’m a good player.”

Chelsea offers a new contract to their striker after failing to secure a deal for Victor Osimhen

Osimhen has been notably removed from Napoli’s first team after a transfer to Chelsea fell through before Friday’s 11 pm deadline.

Chelsea made a strong effort to sign Osimhen, but a club representative left Naples without a deal after negotiations on personal terms fell through at the last minute.

The Blues were not prepared to match Osimhen’s current salary or offer from Saudi club Al Ahli, so they are now exploring other options.

The Athletic reported on Sunday that Chelsea had given their current striker, Jackson, a new contract, extending his stay with the club until 2033.

Since joining Chelsea from Villarreal in the summer of 2023, Jackson has scored 18 goals and provided seven assists in 47 appearances for the club.

Earlier this week, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca said: ‘I didn’t speak to Nicolas about this (the club’s reported transfer interest in Victor Osimhen).

‘I had a meeting with Nicolas, but just about the amount of good things he is doing with us.”

“I don’t think Nicolas needs a chat. He is our nine, our striker in this moment. We are very happy with him.”

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