For Chelsea, due to a sudden "power outage" in the past schedule, the team was quickly overtaken by competitors in a short period of time. On the Premier League standings, Maresca's team has not only slipped to fourth place but also has a double-digit gap from the top. It seems that Chelsea's most realistic goal this season is still the top four. At the same time, after the transfer window opened, Chelsea has already started the pace of squad adjustments, and several transfers are "on the verge of happening."
Offensively and defensively, Chelsea has simultaneously "dropped the ball." In the past four games, Chelsea has clearly experienced a "Waterloo," with a performance drastically different from before. In terms of offense, Chelsea has scored only two goals in four consecutive games, with many attackers losing their form almost simultaneously. In the eyes of the outside world, as the team's head coach, Maresca needs to bear the main responsibility for the team's poor state. When the team's offense is not smooth, Maresca either "randomly pairs up," such as repeatedly switching positions between Enzo Fernandez and Palmer, which limits both of their performances; or he simply ignores the passive situation, with the number of substitutions in multiple games not reaching the limit.
Defensively, Chelsea's performance is also unsatisfactory. So far this season, Chelsea has conceded 24 goals, with an average of 1.2 goals conceded per game, making them the only team in the top four with an average of more than one goal conceded per game. In the central defender position, Maresca has never found a suitable partner for Colville, whether it's Fofana, Acheampong, or Adarabioyo, none of their performances have reached the expected level. At right-back, with Reece James unable to guarantee his attendance rate, neither Gusto nor Disasi can take on the responsibilities of this position. Considering that the aforementioned players are all in their prime, in the eyes of the outside world, their simultaneous underperformance is directly related to Maresca's unreasonable tactical arrangements.
In the central defender position, Chelsea is ready to make reinforcements, hoping to acquire a player of starting caliber during the winter transfer window. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Guehi, who plays for Crystal Palace, is at the top of Chelsea's list of targets. This England international came out of Chelsea's youth academy and joined Crystal Palace three and a half seasons ago, earning the team £18 million. Since then, Guehi's performance has continued to rise, and he has become a regular player for the England national team. On the transfer market, Guehi's current value is 45 million euros, and considering the premium factor, it is expected that Chelsea will need to pay £55 million in transfer fees. It is reported that Crystal Palace is open to Guehi's departure, and Guehi himself is not opposed to returning to Stamford Bridge. This international central defender is expected to sign quickly.
On the front line, with Palmer's state declining, no one within Chelsea has stepped up to take on the scoring responsibilities. Especially as the team's main center forward, Nicolas Jackson once again proved himself incapable of the task. According to British media analysis, Chelsea is likely to sign a main center forward during this transfer period, with Osimhen and Zekairesh being potential targets. In this situation, the situation of Nkunku, as a substitute, appears even worse. In the first half of the season, this French striker only played 390 minutes in the league, scoring two goals. Given the current situation, coupled with the rapid growth of Gyu, Nkunku's playing time in the second half of the season may be further reduced, leading him to consider leaving.
According to The Telegraph, Nkunku has been included in the list of departures, and Chelsea has officially decided to sell this attacker who was once worth 75 million euros at his peak. However, considering that Nkunku is still in his prime, even if he is shown the door by Chelsea, he still has no shortage of suitors in the transfer market. It is reported that Paris Saint-Germain is very interested in signing Nkunku, and their offer is expected to soon reach the desk of Chelsea's management. (Images are sourced from the internet. If there is any infringement, please contact us to delete them.)