Chelsea are seriously weighing up the prospect of player exchanges, to both trim their bloated squad and reinforce Enzo Maresca’s own options.
Related
£90m star very open to joining Chelsea with Nicolas Jackson swap possible
The Senegalese faces an uncertain future.
Fresh off their impressive Club World Cup campaign in the USA, where they won six of their seven matches en route to a statement 3-0 win over PSG in the final, BlueCo continue their attempts to reshape the side ahead of a vital Premier League season.
|
Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season |
Average match rating |
|---|---|
|
Cole Palmer |
7.33 |
|
Moises Caicedo |
7.02 |
|
Enzo Fernández |
6.95 |
|
Nicolas Jackson |
6.88 |
|
Noni Madueke |
6.82 |
|
via WhoScored |
|
Chelsea are under some pressure from UEFA to sell players after being fined for breaching FFP rules recently (Kaveh Solhekol), but Maresca is believed to personally want more attacking options as well (Simon Phillips).
As a solution to Chelsea’s need for player sales, and their desire to bring in more signings after a trio of deals for Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro, it is reported that ‘unofficial swap deals’ are being pondered at Stamford Bridge.
“The Blues are still weighing up a number of new targets in attack and other areas,” wrote journalist Simon Phillips on Substack this week.
“Unofficial swap deals are something Chelsea and other clubs have done a lot of lately to help balance the books of both clubs and keep within PSR rules. They make sense really and help both clubs and help deals get done. They aren’t swap deals as such, more like favour for a favour separate deals.
“Chelsea are still weighing up some opportunities for this. And although my top source is still hearing nothing at all on Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea, something that has been backed up by Fabrizio Romano this week who says there has been no bid or even talks between Chelsea and United for Garnacho as of now, our source does also say that the only way it would happen is part of a ‘swap’ deal.”
Interestingly, Phillips also reported in the aforementioned Substack update that a player who could leave Cobham, in exchange for someone like Garnacho, is versatile attacker Christopher Nkunku.
The Frenchman still faces an uncertain future, despite impressing at the CWC, and has been told that he’ll only have a squad role next season.
Meanwhile, Joao Felix is widely expected to leave and has held talks over a return to boyhood club Benfica (Standard Sport).
Chelsea offer João Félix and Christopher Nkunku in exchange for Rodrygo
Now, as per Spanish news website Real Madrid Confidential, Chelsea are continuing to express an interest in £207,000-per-week Los Blancos forward Rodrygo.
Reports earlier this week claimed that Maresca’s side were plotting to use Nicolas Jackson in a potential swap for the Brazil international, and now RMC claim that Chelsea have proposed Nkunku and Felix in exchange for Rodrygo.
The 24-year-old is yet to make a final decision about leaving Real this summer, after scarcely being used by new manager Xabi Alonso at the Club World Cup, but it appears west London is emerging as a serious potential landing spot amid links to Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City.
Rodrygo bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season, with England midfielder Jude Bellingham calling him the most “underrated” player in their squad.
