Chelsea unlock three new undroppables for Enzo Maresca as final transfer plan comes together

Chelsea’s strongest team on paper is almost complete and almost fully known. There, at most, maybe two spots open in the days leading up to facing Crystal Palace.

Despite a summer of activity both in and out of Stamford Bridge, the make-up of the first XI selected by Enzo Maresca on Sunday is unlikely to be that different to how he ended last season. Apart from Joao Pedro up front instead of Nicolas Jackson – something which could yet change further down the line if Chelsea do not sell their striker in the remaining weeks of the summer window – the rest is settled.

Instead of switching out starters for new and upgraded starters in the market, Chelsea have added depth. The bulk of it was done early, as well.

Dario Essugo was signed shortly after the January window and ahead of the 2025/26 season whilst Andrey Santos returned from a third loan in two-and-a-half years since he signed in January 2023 from Vasco da Gama. That addressed the hole in midfield behind Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, two £100million players unlikely to be quickly pushed aside in the team.

Balancing the squad and making it more competitive rather than having a clear two-tier system was one of the goals for Maresca and his recruitment staff. They appear to have struck that chord with Santos ready to push those in front of him and Essugo being a noble deputy who is still learning.

In defence, Chelsea have been relatively quiet, only buying Jorrel Hato as cover for Marc Cucurella. The 19-year-old has experience beyond his age but is another who will be building himself up as an understudy to one of the best in the position, like Essugo. This is a space to be in.

Reece James’ continued run of fitness means he goes into the season as a genuine option to play regularly for the first time in three years. He has become truly undroppable and is now the closest to Old James (or Peak James) that we have seen since 2021.

Alongside him and there was a battle to become the first choice right-sided centre-back. Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo both stepped up when Wesley Fofana was again ruled out through injury.

When fit, Fofana is the starter, but keeping him on the field consistently has been the challenge. Now that Levi Colwill is out for what is expected to be most of the season, and Benoit Badiashile has his own struggles, the attention turns to Chalobah and Tosin to fill the gap.

They will both start the season with positions in defence which is not a role many would have predicted 12 months ago when Tosin was signed for free, effectively to replace Chalobah, who was being shipped out on loan having failed to be sold. Now they are both cemented in the plans for the early weeks of the season.

The two positions which are not set in stone right now are either side of Cole Palmer at No.10. Jamie Gittens looks like an exciting but raw left-sided option, however, with Estevao Willian’s immediate impact on the right, Maresca might turn to playing both him and Pedro Neto.

If Neto shifts to the left, which he does not prefer but did play at the Club World Cup on occasion, then it would allow Chelsea perhaps their most potent attack. Although it would put Neto on his weaker side, it may prove more valuable as Gittens develops his all-round game.

Once the transfer window ends it may well be that Alejandro Garnacho and Xavi Simons are fighting it out with Gittens, pitting Neto and Estevao together on the right. Neto was the most in form attacker of the past five months but Estevao’s arrival has made the prospect of him starting games irresistible.

It would be unfair to say either is undroppable just yet. Pedro certainly is, though. Liam Delap has not done much wrong in his minutes as striker but looks better suited to coming from the bench as a bulldozer to stretch opponents and take advantage of their tired minds and bodies once Pedro is done with them.

Between them, Chelsea will be able to produce 90 minutes of relentless running week in and week out. As recently as mid-June, having Pedro as a fixture in the Chelsea team seemed unlikely but now it is hard to imagine life without him.

The striker, who can also play as a No.10 or left-winger, has scored from five of his first seven shots in a Chelsea shirt. This level of finishing is unsustainable but leaves him in a strong spot to keep the shirt.

Compared to the Chelsea team that finished last season, there is now an expectation on James, Chalobah, and Pedro that did not exist before. That is all to Maresca’s benefit as Palace come to town.