Due to a streak of only two draws and two losses in four consecutive league matches, Chelsea's promising situation has disappeared. On the league standings, they are now about ten points behind the top spot, making their hopes of winning the title this season very slim. Although they have an excellent squad depth, Chelsea is lacking top-level players in some key positions, which has become their biggest weakness. Currently, Chelsea is expected to make some significant signings during the transfer window.
Maresca "Descends from the Altar"
Objectively speaking, before the start of this season, when Maresca first joined Chelsea, the outside world was not too optimistic about the future of this Italian coach. The main reason was that his resume seemed too thin, after all, a team like Leicester City cannot be compared with Chelsea. Therefore, in his first time coaching a top club, whether he could successfully manage the team raised doubts. From the performance at the beginning of the season, Maresca seemed to be doing well, ending the chaotic situation of the past two seasons and putting Chelsea back on track. After winning the Premier League Manager of the Month award, Maresca was once considered the biggest gain for Chelsea this season. Chelsea's performance continued to improve and they even approached the top of the table.
However, just as the outside world was full of expectations for Chelsea to regain the league championship this season, the team suddenly "lost power" without any buffer, gradually falling behind the top spot as the league schedule passed the halfway point. As the head coach, Maresca's weaknesses in tactics and on-field command began to emerge. For example, in the use of Palmer, to let Enzo assist Gusto in defense on the right, Maresca repeatedly switched positions between Palmer and Enzo, placing him on the left where he was not accustomed to playing, which greatly limited Palmer's performance. Additionally, in terms of on-field substitutions, Maresca mostly relies on positional replacements, rarely making game-changing moves. In the eyes of the outside world, unless Maresca takes the initiative to change, the team will find it difficult to achieve significant progress in the future.
Top Striker Could Sign Quickly
Besides Maresca, the poor form of several key players is also an important factor in the team's underperformance. Especially in the striker position, Nicolas Jackson has returned to the old path of last season. During the team's low period, Jackson frequently missed scoring opportunities, failing to score in four consecutive games. This Senegalese forward's poor ability to seize chances has made him the target of much criticism. Even though the team is short on strikers, Chelsea fans are still calling for Maresca to at least exclude him from the starting lineup.
According to The Telegraph, Chelsea is ready to sign a main striker in the winter window, with Osimhen being the most likely candidate. This physically strong center-forward is in his prime and has maintained an excellent efficiency during his loan spell this season, scoring 12 goals and providing 4 assists. It is reported that Napoli is very keen to sell Osimhen and may further reduce the asking price based on the player's €75 million release clause. Chelsea is expected to quickly sign this top striker.
Chelsea Decides to Sell Two Attackers Worth 110 Million
Furthermore, two other players' performances have disappointed the team, facing the prospect of being shown the door. One is Nkunku. This French shooter has been unable to enter the starting lineup this season, only starting three times in the league, failing to demonstrate his worth in either the attacking midfielder or striker positions. The other is Felix. Since officially joining the team this season, Felix's performance has been lackluster, seemingly reaching his ceiling at the age of 25. According to London Football, Chelsea has decided to sell these two attackers with a combined value of €110 million and will listen to offers for them during the winter window. (Images sourced from the internet, please contact us for removal if there is any infringement.)