Enzo Maresca admits Chelsea will add to their 10 summer signings if they can land a top striker. The Blues have spent over £200million already this summer - taking the total spending under BlueCo to well over £1billion.
Chelsea are reportedly working on a player-exchange deal that would see Victor Osimhen arrive at Stamford Bridge with Romelu Lukaku departing to Napoli. The Italian side have previously rated Osimhen at over £100m.
Maresca earned his first victory as Chelsea boss with a 2-0 triumph over Servette in the Conference League. But a remarkable miss from new teenage striker Marc Guiu emphasised the Blues’ need for more firepower.
Asked if signing a new centre-forward is a priority in the final week of the window, Maresca responded: “Because of Marc? I love Marc, he is deserving his chances even if he is not scoring.
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“But if we have a chance to bring in a No. 9 who can help us we are going to try - otherwise we are OK.”
Joao Felix’s permanent return from Atletico Madrid this week took the total number of incoming players into double figures for this window. Some of their transfers have been funded by a series of outgoings, with a little over £130m recouped in fees this summer.
Maresca insists Chelsea are not signing players for the sake of it and will only add more players in areas where his squad needs strengthening.
The Italian continued: “If we sign for the sake of signing, it’s better that we don’t sign any more because we don’t need to sign players just for the sake of it.
“But if we are going to sign players because they can help us improve, sure we will sign players - otherwise we are happy with the way we are.”
Felix’s arrival from Atletico marked the 39th signing of the BlueCo era, which only started in 2022. The figure will rise to 40 if Maresca gets his way and Chelsea sign another centre-forward.
The Blues also hope to offload many of the 13 players who have been told they are not in Maresca’s plans for the upcoming season. England duo Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are among the individuals seeking an exit from Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has denied being tempted to persuade Sterling to make the move across London. The Gunners have been linked with the 29-year-old winger as part of their search for a new attacker.
