Fabrizio Romano gives 'here we go' to Chelsea deal involving player Enzo Maresca 'loves'

Chelsea are about to seal their first deal of the January transfer window, and as expected, it involved an exit. The Blues have spent much of this month focusing on departures, with a handful of players left desperate for game time after the first half of the season.

Enzo Maresca has made no bones about the fact he would allow players in need of game time to depart, and the list includes the likes of Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka and Cesare Casadei.

Another player who is on his way out is Renato Veiga, who the Blues paid £11.8million in the summer of 2024 from FC Basel. But the 21-year-old has made only seven league appearances, with only one of those coming in the Premier League.

Veiga will be allowed to leave as a result of his limited game time, but the Blues are not giving up on the defender who is under contract until 2031. According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have agreed a loan deal to offload Veiga, but they have not allowed the Italian club to include any option to buy.

Romano tweeted: “Juventus agree deal with Chelsea to sign Renato Veiga, here we go! Loan deal for €5m loan fee until June, no buy option clause — and then player back to Chelsea at the end of June for Clubs’ World Cup. Veiga, expected to play as CB at Juventus.”

Maresca a big fan of Veiga’s

Chelsea boss Maresca has previously confessed his love for Veiga, saying: “I just said to Renato, he has played already as a centre-back, a full-back, holding midfielder, attacking midfielder. He has already played four or five positions. One of my first press conferences, I said that the reason why I really like and love Chelsea is because many players can be versatile.

“Today, in my idea, if they can play different positions, then it is better for the team and especially for the players. Today, if you just play one position, I don’t think it’s enough. You need to learn more positions. Renato, Malo [Gusto], they are playing in different positions and they are doing well.”