Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s head coach, is making waves with his bold decisions ahead of the new season. Reports suggest that the Italian tactician has “no faith” in five of his current squad members, leaving fans and pundits buzzing about the potential shake-up at Stamford Bridge.
Known for their revolving door of players, Chelsea has already secured the signatures of rising stars like Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, Estevao Willian, Mamadou Sarr, and Kendry Paez this summer. However, to balance the books amid financial fair play regulations, the Blues may need to offload some of their existing talent.
One area under intense scrutiny is the goalkeeping department. According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Maresca is far from satisfied with his current crop of keepers. “There’s absolutely no faith from Enzo Maresca in any of them. Robert Sanchez has been told he can leave, and Djordje Petrovic, who has attracted interest from Nice and other French clubs, is also on the market,” Bailey revealed.
Sanchez, Chelsea’s first-choice keeper last season, and Petrovic, who impressed on loan at Strasbourg with the second-highest save percentage in Ligue 1, now face uncertain futures. Despite their contributions, Maresca seems determined to revamp the squad.
While the potential sales of Sanchez and Petrovic could bring in significant funds, Chelsea’s attempts to sign a new No.1 ahead of the Club World Cup have hit a snag. AC Milan’s Mike Maignan was their top target, but the Blues refused to meet the Serie A club’s hefty €20 million (£16.9m) asking price, citing a reluctance to pay a “Club World Cup tax.”
Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Chelsea has paused their pursuit of Maignan, leaving questions about who will guard the net in the upcoming tournament. Filip Jorgensen, another name in the mix, could step up if no new signings materialize.
However, not all reports align with the notion that Maresca has lost faith in his keepers. Ben Jacobs offered a contrasting view, stating, “Chelsea still retain faith in Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Djordje Petrovic, and Mike Penders. The club spent around £45 million on Jorgensen and Penders, believing in their potential to become elite goalkeepers.”
With the transfer window still open, Chelsea’s plans remain fluid. Maresca’s vision for the squad is taking shape, but whether it involves sticking with the current group or securing a marquee signing remains to be seen.
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