New signings and a Cole Palmer tweak – how Chelsea could line-up next season as Enzo Maresca looks to make impact
08/01/2024 02:00 PM
It has been another summer of transition for Chelsea, with the 2024/25 season marking the start of a new era.
The decision to replace manager Mauricio Pochettino with Enzo Maresca ahead of the new campaign raised a few eyebrows, and the ex-Leicester manager will now be looking to justify the Blues’ bold move.
Having inherited one of the Premier League’s largest squads, as well as the addition of several new faces to his ranks, Maresca is not short of options as he looks to find his best starting XI.
The Blues have been busy during this summer transfer window, signing six players, which includes the arrival of centre-back Toisin Adarabioyo from Fulham on a free transfer.
Meanwhile, the Italian manager will also be reunited with one of the stars of his promotion-winning Leicester side in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who joined the club in a £30million deal earlier in July.
Villarreal goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen has also signed. Chelsea have brought in a number of promising youngsters, with Omari Kellyman, Marc Guiu, Renato Veiga and Caleb Wiley all players aged 21 or under who have moved to the capital.
With some notable new recruits, talkSPORT.com looks at where they may feature in a changed starting line-up season.
Maresca tends to play a 4-3-3 formation when out of possession, but when his team wins the ball, this can change to a 3-2-4-1.
One of the full-backs will invert into the midfield, with the two No.8s then pushing forward as they look to attack the opposition.
A disciple of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, having served as his assistant manager in the 2022/23 season, the 44-year-old coach places a strong emphasis on possession-based football.
With this in mind, a ball-playing goalkeeper will be essential to how Maresca wants to play, and it appears that Chelsea have found their man in Denmark Under-21 international Jorgensen.
The 22-year-old will challenge current goalkeepers Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic for the number one spot, with the new head coach reportedly keen for the 22-year-old to join the group immediately upon signing.
Deciding on a back-four is one of the Maresca’s first challenges, and it could prove a selection headache due to the wealth of players he has at his disposal.
Given his preference for technically adept defenders, Marc Cucurella and Reece James could start at left and right-back respectively.
Despite also boasting Ben Chilwell and Malo Gusto in their ranks, both of the chosen full-back pairing possess the necessary qualities to slot into midfield to fulfil the 3-2-4-1.
Cucurella was employed in an inverted role by previous boss Pochettino towards the end of last season, while James often played in midfield during his 2018/19 loan spell at Wigan.
Meanwhile, at centre-back Levi Colwill could partner new recruit Adarabioyo.
With athletic central defenders comfortable in possession a must in a Maresca side, Colwill’s willingness to step forward with the ball make him an ideal candidate to line up alongside Adarabioyo, whose all-round game saw him impress for Fulham last term.
There will be strong competition for places here however, with highly-rated Wesley Fofana recently returning from long-term injury, while Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile are also strong options.
£106m man Enzo Fernandez looks set to feature at the base of midfield, after Maresca played down a racism row after the 23-year-old posted a video of himself and his Argentina teammates appearing to sing a discriminatory chant.
British record signing Moises Caicedo and the returning Romeo Lavia, are also options as the deeper midfielder, but Fernandez’s ability in possession could give him the edge.
There could be an exciting new change ahead of Fernandez, with Dewsbury-Hall likely to take one of the number eight roles he fulfilled under his current coach at Leicester.
Alongside him is where fans may see the biggest surprise, with the Athletic claiming that star man Cole Palmer is in line to occupy the other midfield spot.
With 27 goals and 15 assists last campaign, Palmer is undoubtedly the first name on Chelsea’s team sheet, but featured mainly as a right-winger, and occasionally as a free-roaming number 10.
Having previously played under Maresca in the Man City Under-21s, this is a role Palmer is familiar with, and would allow him to get forward and support the front three in attack.
Typically, Chelsea have plenty of options out wide, and are likely to prioritise speed in these positions.
This could see Noni Madueke deployed on the right wing, having found his feet at Stamford Bridge in the second half of last season, after a slow start following his move from PSV in January 2023.
On the opposite flank, Christopher Nkunku may well be favoured ahead of Mykhailo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling, with his versatility already adored by Maresca.
A tricky wing pairing backed up by two attack-minded midfielders would form the foundations of a deadly front five, which could soon be spearheaded by current Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.
talkSPORT understands that the Blues are in talks with the Serie A club over a season-long loan for the Nigerian, which would see wantaway front-man Romelu Lukaku head in the opposite direction.
Osimhen has long been linked with a Chelsea transfer, and the deal would likely mean last season’s 17-goal striker Nicolas Jackson dropping to the bench, while 18-year-old Barcelona recruit Marc Guiu also faces a fight for a starting berth up top.
