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Four players with significant potential for 2024–25 Chelsea roles
For Chelsea, a club where nothing stays forever (good or bad), another fresh day is on the horizon.
Enzo Maresca will replace Mauricio Pochettino as Chelsea’s head coach for the 2024–25 season. Pochettino left at the end of last season. After leading Leicester City to the title with a possession-based, patient style of play, the Italian has been hailed as a future great coach.
On the other hand, every second counts at Stamford Bridge. Without a swift start to the new campaign, Maresca runs the danger of taking the wrath of an enraged group of owners who have demonstrated they are not hesitant to use force.
Even though Chelsea have been extremely active in the summer transfer market, they already have a deep roster compared to other Premier League teams. Following a disappointing 2023–24 season, the Blues are counting on the impact of their recent expensive acquisitions to turn things around.
The following four players have the potential to make significant contributions to the west London club next season.
1. Nkunku Christopher1.Christopher Nkunku showed flashes of brilliance in his fourteen appearances for Chelsea in his first season. After a £52 million transfer from RB Leipzig, the 2022–23 Bundesliga leading scorer arrived with high hopes, but a devastating injury relegated him to a supporting role under Pochettino.
With his skill as both an orthodox number 10 and a false nine, Nkunku might greatly lighten Cole Palmer’s goal-scoring load for Chelsea. His 70 goals and 56 assists in Germany are quite remarkable.
Nkunku might flourish for a Maresca side that gives him room to express himself creatively; he is excellent in confined areas, has a fantastic first touch, and has excellent ball retention.
2. Lavia, RomeoRomeo Lavia, like Nkunku, had an injury-plagued first season in west London after playing for Southampton and Manchester City. The Blues might have used his tenacity in the engine room when going downhill, but he only got 32 minutes to play with.
But the Belgian is back to full fitness and has started every preseason game for Chelsea. He may be an integral part of Maresca’s setup for the next season thanks to his superb in-game intelligence, strong tackle toughness, and excellent passing eye.
His outstanding preseason performance may have propelled him to the starting lineup, where he will compete with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Moises Caicedo, and Enzo Fernandez.
3.Madueke NoniThere was little chance of Noni Madueke ever putting together a run of starts against the unrelenting Palmer, who typically resided on the right wing. Yet rumour has it that Maresca plans to use Palmer more centrally, freeing up that wing for a more conventional wide man.
With his lightning quickness, pinpoint accuracy, and unflinching honesty, Madueke is unquestionably that for Chelsea. Madueke has the potential to inject some much-needed variety into the Blues’ attacks, similar to what Stephy Mavididi and Abdul Fatawu accomplished last season for Maresca’s Leicester.