Osimhen transfer completed, Gittens joins, Maignan decision, nine exit – Chelsea dream 25-man squad

Chelsea will be forced to make a number of brutal transfer decisions in order to hand Enzo Maresca his dream squad for the 2025/26 season. The Blues have already confirmed Liam Delap, Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr as new arrivals with all three firmly in Maresca’s plans.

Another three additions are expected with depth wanted at both ends of the pitch and serious attempts already made. One of Hugo Ekitike, Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko or Victor Osimhen could join Delap and Nicolas Jackson as the striker options.

The Eintracht Frankfurt star looks to be the No.1 choice with Liverpool and Manchester United also interested. Arsenal meanwhile, are actively pursuing Sesko and Gyokeres while Osimhen is wanted by former loan club Galatasaray and Napoli’s Serie A rivals Juventus.

The latter could be perfect for Chelsea however, as some experience is clearly needed to assist Delap, 22, and Jackson, 23, especially as neither have played Champions League football before.

Napoli want interested parties to meet his £64million (€75m) release clause and Chelsea are more than capable of paying that given the funds that can be raised from exits. Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku are the two that can earn the Blues the biggest windfall.

Both departing leaves space for another addition alongside Osimhen with that vacancy to be filled by Jamie Gittens. Two bids have already been submitted to Borussia Dortmund, but rejected for the winger who Maresca wanted to be part of Chelsea’s Club World Cup squad.

Their interest remains and though an enquiry has been made for Lyon’s Malick Fofana, Gittens is the priority and as he wants to depart Germany, a deal should soon be agreed. Mike Maignan of AC Milan was another that Chelsea tried to sign before the first deadline.

The two parties were quite far apart on their respective valuations but with 12 months remaining on his contract while Filip Jorgensen and Robert Sanchez are not quite thriving, a fresh approach should be made. The latter should be one to depart in order for Mike Penders to be integrated as third-choice.

To make room for new additions plus the young stars set to come in, Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka, Armando Broja, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Mykhailo Mudryk can join Sanchez, Felix and Nkunku in leaving.

Given the injuries he has suffered, it is worth trying to recoup as much as possible from Wesley Fofana after the Blues spent £70million to sign him in the summer of 2022.

The likes of Tyrique George, Josh Acheampong, Kendry Paez, Mathis Amougou and Aaron Anselmino may also not be at the club for the upcoming season with loan moves, allowing them to play regular minutes.

All of that requires a further 17 transfers to be sanctioned to provide Maresca with his dream squad for the upcoming season.

Dream 25-man Chelsea squad

Goalkeepers:Maignan , Jorgensen, Penders.

Defenders: James, Gusto, Badiashile, Chalobah, Tosin, Colwill, Sarr, Cucurella.

Midfielders: Caicedo, Fernandez, Lavia, Dewsbury-Hall, Essugo, Santos.

Attackers: Palmer, Jackson, Delap, Osimhen , Neto, Madueke, Gittens , Estevao.

Under 21s players not needing to be registered: Penders, Sarr, Essugo, Estevao.

*New signings in bold*