“It’s every manager’s job to keep them all happy, but it’s almost impossible. Only 11 players will play. It’s almost impossible to keep them all happy. I always try to be honest with each of them. The noise is more external because I’ve been working with 21 or 22 players since we came back from the States. I’m not working with 42 or 43 players and more than 15 players train separately. It’s not the mess that you might think from the outside. Absolutely not. They can even have a 20-year contract, that’s not my point. I don’t care. I’m just here to make the right decisions for the team. This is the starting eleven we want, the team we want. I’m not working with 42 players. I’m working with 21 players.” said Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca a few days ago at a press conference. A strong statement from the Italian coach who had shown the exit to many members of his team like Raheem Sterling.
With 6 goalkeepers, 6 central defenders, 4 full-backs, 11 midfielders and 12 forwards, Chelsea still has a squad that is too large with 39 players and must do a lot of cleaning at the end of the transfer window. The club that spent the most this summer with 261 million euros spent, Chelsea also sold a lot (145 million euros) and was able to sell 5 players, 3 left for free and 8 were loaned. However, the big sale operation is not over and many movements are expected in the coming days on the Blues side. As for the goalkeepers, Chelsea intends to make do with Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen (arrived from Villarreal) while Marcus Bettinelli will be the third man. With this in mind, they will have to get rid of three players. Returning from a disappointing loan to Real Madrid where he finished third in the hierarchy, Kepa Arrizabalaga (29 years old) is heading to Bournemouth but only on a one-year loan deal. The Cherries, who were looking to secure Giorgi Mamardashvili on loan – who is expected to sign for Liverpool – have decided to fall back on the Spaniard.
Big files to conclude
Arrived from the New England Revolution last year for 16 million euros, the Serbian goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic (24 years old) is also looking for a way out. He was once mentioned in Strasbourg, but has not yet found a place to land, while the club is open to a sale or a loan. The Finn Lukas Bergstrom (21 years old) is in the same case. As for the defense, Trevoh Chalobah (25 years old) is appreciated by Crystal Palace, but it doesn’t seem very hot yet. Nottingham Forest were ready to pay 30 million euros, but the player refused. Chelsea could keep him if a good offer comes in for Axel Disasi, but it is the English defender who is on the market. A former executive undermined by injuries, the left-back Ben Chilwell (27 years old) has a large salary and the Blues intend to offload it. He was recently offered to Manchester United.
In midfield, the youngsters Alex Matos (19 years old) whose name has circulated in Lens and Harvey Vale (20 years old) are rather candidates for loans. Carney Chukwuemeka (20 years old) who cost 18 million euros two years ago when he arrived from Aston Villa is also on the way out. AC Milan and Crystal Palace are in the running, but there too it seems unlikely. Finally, the attacking sector needs to make room. Leaving for Napoli, Romelu Lukaku (31 years old) should make room and allow the Blues to recover some money since the transfer should be around 30 million euros. Offered to Manchester United, Raheem Sterling (29 years old) is Chelsea’s main file given his high salary. The Londoners are looking to get rid of him at all costs while Arsenal are also in the running. While he was to join Ipswich Town, Armando Broja (22 years old) should stay after his injury. Other elements like David Datro Fofana (21 years old), Angelo Gabriel (19 years old) And Deivid Washington (19 years old) are also looking for a place to land. The end of the transfer window is looking hot for Chelsea.
