The Blues will compete in Europe’s premier competition for the first time in three seasons, having secured a fourth-place finish in the Premier League.
Promising youngsters Estevao Willian (winger), Kendry Paez (playmaker), Mike Penders (goalkeeper) and Dario Essugo (centre midfielder) will all link up with Chelsea after agreeing pre-contracts in previous transfer windows.
Liam Delap, Ipswich Town
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The 22-year-old had a breakthrough Premier League campaign with relegated Ipswich Town, scoring 12 goals – including in a 2-0 win over Chelsea in December – and providing two assists in 37 appearances.
The allure of Champions League football over no European action whatsoever helped sway Delap’s decision between Chelsea and United.
Joao Pedro, Brighton and Hove Albion
Fabian Hurzeler axed the talented Brazilian forward from the Seagulls’ squad for their final two fixtures, raising the prospect of a summer switch elsewhere.
Questionable temperament aside, Pedro is an excellent player, as 16 goal involvements (10 goals, six assists) in 27 Premier League appearances this season attest.
Left wing has been a problem position for Maresca, with Mykhailo Mudryk suspended after failing a routine drugs test, Jadon Sancho’s future unresolved, and Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto preferring to play off the right.
Jamie Gittens could be a solution for Chelsea’s problem position (Photo: Getty)The England U21 international previously spent time in Chelsea’s academy before following in Sancho’s footsteps by joining Dortmund from Manchester City.
With Dean Huijsen electing to join Real Madrid, Chelsea are back to square one in their pursuit of a new right-sided centre-back.
Lazio’s Mario Gila is another name that has cropped up after a couple of strong seasons in Italy. A graduate of Real Madrid’s academy, Gila is comfortable on the ball and a good distributor, completing 92 per cent of his passes this season.
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Jadon Sancho, Manchester United
Sancho is unlikely to scale the heights predicted of him when he was dazzling defenders with Dortmund, but he has proven to be an able squad player at Stamford Bridge.
Five to sell
Christopher Nkunku
Christopher Nkunku was meant to be the chosen one, a gifted goalscorer who had lit up the Bundesliga and would do so in the Premier League. Alas, a serious injury delayed his impact and by the time he was fit, Chelsea had become the Cole Palmer team.
Benoit Badiashile
square FOOTBALL Big Read'He's magnificent': The jewel at the heart of Chelsea's BlueCo empire
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The problem the Frenchman has is that Chelsea have a much better player with the same characteristics in Levi Colwill, who is two years younger, homegrown and a probable future captain.
There is an excellent full-back there but as long as Maresca is in charge, it seems unlikely that Malo Gusto will fulfil his potential at Stamford Bridge.
However, he has set up just one league goal this term. Gusto is far better suited to overlapping than inverting and is a poor tactical fit for Maresca’s system, as highlighted in the Conference League final when he ceded possession for Betis’ opener.
You’d forgotten that Joao Felix still plays for Chelsea, hadn’t you?
He was loaned out to AC Milan within six months and hasn’t done much there either, with two goals and zero assists from 15 Serie A appearances. Selling him would be ideal, but another loan, perhaps back to Benfica, seems more likely.
Presumably, the hope when sending Raheem Sterling across London was that he would rediscover enough form to A) earn a permanent move to Arsenal or B) earn a permanent move somewhere else.
With two years left on his contract, Sterling is in limbo. Another loan, this time to a mid-table side, seems likely.
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