Chelsea send indication of when they will make official transfer offer for next signing

Chelsea are said to be closer to making their move for their next incoming transfer target after a fortnight or so of concentrating on exits. The Blues have been responsible with their spending this summer after a big fine from UEFA. UEFA also promised a further and bigger fine if Chelsea do not heed their warning, and it seems to have been enough for the West London side to listen.

Enzo Maresca has been handed new signings this summer, with Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Jorrel Hato arriving, but Noni Madueke and Joao Pedro departed on big-money deals, and there are plenty of other players who are expected to depart.

Be it Carney Chukwuemeka, Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Renato Veiga or others, there will be more exits this summer, and they will allow Chelsea to continue spending. At this point, it looks as though the Blues want an attacking midfielder, likely Xavi Simons, a winger, likely Alejandro Garnacho, and a centre-back, the identity of which is to be determined.

The next player in is likely to be RB Leipzig star Simons, who has reportedly had an agreement to join Chelsea for weeks, but under the proviso that the Blues would not be moving forward until more sales are arranged. Leipzig want £60million to sell the Dutchman, so Chelsea are biding their time until they get players at least close to leaving.

According to Sky Deutschland, though, Chelsea have a ‘promise behind the scenes to make an official offer soon’. It comes amid a report that Simons will be included in Leipzig’s squad for their first Bundesliga game of the season this weekend, against Bayern Munich. That could put Chelsea on alert as they watch on in the hope that Simons stays fit ready to be signed.

As far as Chelsea are concerned, sales are edging closer, but with big money wanted for Jackson, Nkunku and others, these things rarely happen quickly, and it is forcing all parties to be patient. Though, there may come a point where Leipzig refuse to sell, given they need to replace Simons, and it is not beneficial to go into the final week of the market with a need.

Maresca on Palace draw

Chelsea were held to a goalless draw on opening day to Palace, but Maresca was still pleased with the output of his side. He said: “We always try to win the game. Unfortunately, we didn’t win but overall we deserved [to win]. We created enough chances in the first half and the second half. Apart from the free-kick, we didn’t concede any [clear-cut] chances. But at the same time, we know how tough they are, how well organised they are, and that is why in the last two finals they have beaten Liverpool and Manchester City.”

On his side’s complicated pre-season preparations and whether they played a role, the Italian said: “I don’t think so, because until the end we competed and we tried to win the game. We had some chances at the end with Estevao and Andrey Santos, so that showed that we competed overall quite well. For sure, they played seven or eight games and we played two games last weekend where we shared the minutes, so for sure this was the first real game today but for sure slowly slowly we are going to be better.”

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