Enzo Maresca already has plenty of attacking talent at his disposal but that hasn’t stopped Chelsea attempting to bolster their new manager’s forward-line this summer. It could be a case of two in, two out at Stamford Bridge ahead of next month’s deadline as the Blues look to kick on from last season’s sixth-place finish.
Christopher Nkunku was hugely promising in the handful of Premier League appearances he made last season. But he may still be forced out wide if Chelsea manage to snap up Atletico Madrid youngster Samu Omorodion.
The 20-year-old striker scored eight goals on loan at Alaves last season and the Blues have already seen bids for him rejected this summer. It could reportedly take £59million to convince Atleti to part ways with their prodigious talent, who has never played a senior game for them and is currently at the Paris Olympics with Spain.
Pairing Omorodion’s physicality and 6ft 4in frame with Nico Williams out wide would be enough to strike fear into opposition defences. Athletic Bilbao winger Williams was one of the standout players at Euro 2024 as he helped Spain towards a tournament triumph.
And his £49m release clause is almost certain to be triggered before the end of the summer, with Chelsea and a range of other top European sides believed to be circling.
If Maresca deploys the 4-3-3 formation which saw him achieve so much with Leicester City last campaign, a front-three of Omorodion through the middle, Nkunku on the right and Williams on the left would be the stuff of dreams for Chelsea fans.
Introduce Cole Palmer to the equation in a more adventurous midfield role, or a No.10 position if Maresca opts to play a different system, and the Blues will be brimming with creativity.
The biggest challenge for Maresca will be fitting all of his star players into the same starting XI. An attacking quartet of Nkunku, Omorodion, Williams and Palmer would leave the likes of Mykhaylo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson rooted to the bench.
