One other new daybreak beckons for Chelsea, a membership the place nothing ever lasts too lengthy – good or dangerous.

Following Mauricio Pochettino’s departure on the finish of final season, Enzo Maresca has been appointed to take residence within the Chelsea dugout for the 2024/25 marketing campaign. After a Championship-winning yr with Leicester Metropolis through which he put in a affected person, possession-based philosophy, the Italian has been marked as an elite coach within the making.

Nevertheless, time is a valuable commodity at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea should make a fast begin to the brand new marketing campaign, or else Maresca dangers the brunt of an infuriated set of homeowners who’ve proved they’re by no means afraid to drag the set off.

Whereas Chelsea have been as busy as ever in the summertime switch market, they already boast one of many Premier League’s deepest squads. After a troublesome 2023/24, the Blues desperately want a few of their profitable purchases of latest years to make a big distinction on the pitch.

Listed below are 4 gamers who might play enormous roles for the west London outfit subsequent time period.

Inside Christopher Nkunku’s 14 Chelsea appearances throughout his debut marketing campaign, there have been glimpses of his genius. The 2022/23 Bundesliga prime scorer arrived with hefty expectations following a £52m transfer from RB Leipzig, however a nasty harm pressured him right into a bit-part function underneath Pochettino.

Adept at enjoying as a false 9 or orthodox quantity ten, Nkunku might massively relieve Cole Palmer of the goalscoring burden at Stamford Bridge. He managed a formidable 70 targets in Germany, with 56 assists for good measure.

Wonderful in tight areas with a killer first contact and nice ball retention, Nkunku might thrive in a Maresca aspect that can permit him to flex his artistic muscle tissue.

Equally to Nkunku, former Southampton and Manchester Metropolis midfielder Romeo Lavia endured an injury-hit debut season in west London. He was restricted to a grand complete of simply 32 minutes for the Blues, who might have actually used his grit within the engine room when occasions had been robust.

Nevertheless, the Belgian is now match as soon as extra and has been a daily for Chelsea throughout pre-season. With a eager eye for a go, nice tenacity within the deal with and glorious in-game intelligence, he might show an important member of Maresca’s setup throughout the upcoming marketing campaign.

He’ll face competitors for his beginning berth from Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor, however a powerful pre-season run might have moved him up the pecking order.

With the relentless Palmer usually residing on the fitting wing, Noni Madueke had little hope of ever placing collectively a string of begins. However there have been ideas that Palmer will probably be utilised in a extra central place by Maresca, leaving that wing vacant for a conventional huge man.

Madueke is actually that, providing Chelsea blistering pace, sharp toes and a willingness to be direct. Very like Stephy Mavididi and Abdul Fatawu did final season for Maresca’s Leicester, Madueke might present some much-needed selection to the Blues’ assaults.

Marc Cucurella has made the remarkably fast transformation from court docket jester to famous person over the previous few months. The left-back’s Stamford Bridge profession tapering off however a terrific finish to the season has reinvigorated the previous Brighton man.

Cucurella’s spectacular shows continued at Euro 2024 the place he was Luis de la Fuente’s beginning left-back. His relentless runs and surprisingly stoic defending helped Spain raise the Henri Delaunay Cup in Germany, forcing his naysayers to eat a big slice of humble pie.

With Ben Chilwell nonetheless a daily within the remedy room, Cucurella may very well be completely pivotal to Chelsea’s setup underneath Maresca. The Italian likes to play with an inverted full-back – a task held by Ricardo Pereira at Leicester – and Cucurella confirmed his means to carry out such a perform down the stretch final time period.

If he can preserve his type up, he is nonetheless in a position to full an distinctive comeback in west London.

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