‘Chelsea to spend again after Enzo Maresca sack decision made’
Chelsea are expected to be busy in summer transfer window in the wake of a decision over whether or not to sack manager Enzo Maresca this summer.
The Italian took charge at Stamford Bridge last summer, and initially made a strong start to his time in charge, challenging for top spot in the Premier League in the early stages of this season.
However, that push fell away and they are now fighting for to qualify for the Champions League in the final games of the season, while the Conference League is their only hope of silverware.
As a result, there has been speculation around the future of the manager, with a number of Chelsea fans calling for Maresca to be sacked.
Jamie Redknapp though expects the former Leicester coach to both be kept and properly backed at Stamford Bridge in the lead up to next season.
Enzo Maresca to spend after being backed for Stamford Bridge stay
Earlier this week, it was reported that Maresca will be kept by the Blues even if they fail to qualify for the Champions League this season [BBC Sport].
Redknapp has suggested that having made that call, the club will now back their manager in the transfer market this summer, with that need to strengthen in several positions having been highlighted recently.
There is though, also an expectation that younger players will still be given a chance even after those new additions.
That comes with 19-year-old Tyrique George having been handed his first Premier League start for Chelsea against Man United on Friday (16 May), following Nicolas Jackson’s sending off away at Newcastle.
Speaking about Maresca’s situation on Sky Sports‘ coverage of that game, Redknapp said (7:55pm): “He’ll be here next year as well, the manager. I think the club have pretty much said that this week.
“And they’ll certainly back him. They’ll give him the players that he wants. I think you’re probably looking at a striker, goalkeeper, centre-back. They’ll be looking in different departments.
“But they also know they’ve got some good young players. I’ve known Tyrique since he was seven or eight years of age seeing him at the academy.”
Chelsea right to back Enzo Maresca for now
Football Insider Verdict
There has been a considerable turnover of managers at Stamford Bridge over the course of the past few seasons.
As a result, there may be a need for Chelsea to stick with a manager for a longer period in an attempt to establish some element of stability around the club.
For the time being that would of course mean sticking with Maresca, who did show some potential of what he might be able to do with this squad earlier in the campaign.
But given those weaknesses in the squad that have been highlighted this season, he is going to have to be backed with new signings if he is going to have a chance of succeeding in the future.
That could lead to a turnover in the squad to make room for new recruits, with agents of some Chelsea players concerned about potential sales this summer.
With all that in mind, it feels inevitable that this transfer window will prove to be a rather eventful one at Stamford Bridge.