‘Enzo Maresca set for major Chelsea issue with Joao Felix and Axel Disasi’
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is set for a major issue with Joao Felix and Axel Disasi when their loans expire, according to Paul Merson.
The Blues had a busy transfer window in January, with Disasi joining Aston Villa on Deadline Day, Felix joined AC Milan, and Ben Chilwell moved to Crystal Palace.
Carney Chukwuemeka also left the club, signing with Borussia Dortmund, as Maresca looked to trim down his bloated squad.
However, all those departures were loan moves, meaning that Maresca will have to once again find a solution to his oversized squad in the summer.
Merson believes that next season will be hard work as the returning players will be unhappy.
The former Arsenal midfielder said on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (8 February, 1.32pm): “These players have gone and he’s got away with it. Next season I think it’s gonna be hard work, there’s gonna be a lot of unhappy players there and they’ll need to sort that out.”
Simon Thomas asked if he senses trouble coming and Merson said: “Yeah, 100%. You’d be the same wouldn’t you Tim?”
Tim Sherwood: “Absolutely, the biggest problem is not them going out, it’s them coming back at the end of the season. He’s made his mind up about that group of players.
“He’s not sending them away to develop and then come back and play for Chelsea. He’s made his mind up, he hopes they do well because then someone might take them off his books and maybe he can spend some fresh money.”
Chelsea will hope Aston Villa and AC Milan come up with cash
Football Insider Verdict
Due to the London club’s participation in the Club World Cup (CWC) in June this year, Chelsea will be afforded the luxury of being able to make transfers in FIFA’s new exceptional transfer window.
From 1 June to 10 June, CWC participants will be able to sign and sell players, before the opening of the standard transfer window on 12 June.
The club may look to use this new window to sell players like Felix and Chukwuemeka will return to Chelsea in time for the transfer window.
Many clubs around the globe will find themselves in a race to snap up talent in time for the competition, and it could prove to be a useful period for Chelsea, who are burdened with so many unwanted players.
Enzo Maresca must find Chelsea form again after difficult winter period
To begin the season, the Blues seemed to be in pole position to compete for a Premier League title alongside Liverpool.
However, following a 2-1 loss to Fulham on Boxing Day, that impressive start began to fall apart, and Chelsea are now fourth, 13 points behind the Reds, having played a game more.
While many Blues fan’s felt they were a false second, it will still be disappointing for Maresca that his side have been unable to maintain that good early season form.
The Argentine boss will hope that the January transfer’s that have been made will allow his squad to be successful in their push for Champions League football.