Chelsea enjoyed an encouraging first season under Enzo Maresca in 2024/25, as the Italian manager led the Blues to a fourth-placed finish in the English Premier League – their first top-four finish since 2021/22 – and the Conference League trophy.
The Blues appeared to be in a title race heading toward the turn of the year, but a rocky period of form saw Chelsea drift away from leaders Liverpool, eventually finishing 15 points behind the champions.
Maresca will be hoping his side can mount a sustained challenge for the EPL trophy this campaign, and the Blues will be active in the transfer market to strengthen their team in pursuit of that objective, while multiple deals have already occurred.
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Potential Line-Up For 2025/26 Season Opener
GK – Mike Maignan
- Chelsea made huge efforts to sign the French goalkeeper before the on-going Club World Cup but an agreement was unable to be made, but the Blues are expected to move back for the AC Milan star after the tournament is completed.
RB – Reece James
- James perfectly fits Maresca’s system, as the full-back is capable of overlapping and providing width, inverting into a defensive midfield position or dropping further back and making up part of a back three while the opposite full-back ventures forward.
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CB – Trevoh Chalobah
- Chelsea are reportedly looking for an improved central defender on the right side, but with very few available targets, Chalobah may retain his place in the back four after an impressive season with Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
CB – Levi Colwill
- Colwill is the certainty in central defence, with his ball-playing ability a key part in helping Chelsea feed the ball through the lines and to their more creative players such as Cole Palmer, while his pace and one-vs-one defensive abilities allow him to cover for when the left-back pushes forward.
LB – Marc Cucurella
- Similarly to James, Cucurella is Maresca’s perfect left-back, as the Spaniard excels at inverting into the defensive midfield position and also boasts strong attacking ability and the defensive qualities to form a back three when needed.
CM – Enzo Fernandez
- Fernandez often shared the role with Romeo Lavia, but a promising end to the 2024/25 campaign means the Argentine is expected to start alongside the nailed on Moises Caicedo. Fernandez offers an expansive passing range from deeper positions, while his ability to form an attacking midfield partnership with Cole Palmer is perfect for how Maresca likes his team to build up.
CM – Moises Caicedo
- Caicedo was arguably the best midfielder in the Premier League last season, winning a massive 1.96 tackles and 6.33 duels per 90 minutes – ranking among the very best defensive midfielders in the competition.
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LW – Jamie Gittens
- Chelsea are reportedly extremely keen on signing a new left winger in the summer, with links to Alejandro Garnacho, but having attempted to sign Borussia Dortmund’s Gittens before the Club World Cup, the Englishman looks the most likely bet. Gittens is a technical and direct dribbler, with the ability to cut inside and shoot or drive down the line and cross into the box – two qualities that mirror the brilliant Pedro Neto on the right wing.
CAM – Cole Palmer
- The talisman of this Chelsea side, Palmer is effectively given a free role by Maresca, as the Englishman is allowed to appear in deeper roles to help in build up or drift wide and attack the box.
RW – Pedro Neto
- As already mentioned, Neto is a superb part of this Chelsea system, with the winger exceling at holding width and driving down the line or receiving the ball and cutting onto his favoured left foot before laying it off or taking a shot toward goal.
ST – Liam Delap
- Delap has already impressed in his limited minutes for Chelsea at the Club World Cup, including scoring his first goal for the club in their 3-0 victory over Esperance Sportive de Tunis. The striker is a powerful presence that loves to receive the ball between central defenders and full-backs before racing toward goal and unleashing a fierce strike, while his stature also makes him a threat from crosses.
Read: Where will Victor Osimhen end up next?
Other Potential Signings
As already mentioned, Chelsea are reportedly looking for a new central defender to start on the right side of their defence and alongside the left-footed Colwill, with Illia Zabarnyi and Marc Guehi the most apparent likes at this point in the transfer window.
The Blues could also be interest in another striker, especially if Nicolas Jackson is allowed to leave, with Victor Osimhen, Viktor Gyokeres and Hugo Ekitike all linked with a move to the Premier League club.
What do you think of Chelsea’s potential XI? Bet on the Blues first game of the season against Palace – check out the most markets in Nigeria for the EPL opener!
