Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is reported to be a real admirer of a highly-rated forward behind-the-scenes, so much so that the west Londoners have made him a mammoth contract offer to join them.
Chelsea slump to second defeat against Brighton in six days
It has been a week to forget for the Blues, who suffered their second loss against Brighton in the space of six days.
Chelsea very open to selling £70m star as elite club plan summer talks
They seriously wish to sign him.
ByEmilio GalantiniFeb 13, 2025
Maresca’s side were knocked out of the FA Cup after their 2-1 defeat at Brighton last weekend, with the Amex proving an unhappy hunting ground once again on Friday evening.
Goals from Kaoru Mitoma, preceding Yankuba Minteh’s brace, handed Chelsea a crushing 3-0 defeat on the south coast and a fourth defeat in their last eight Premier League games – with Maresca’s honeymoon period starting to slowly fade away.
“In terms of the way we played on the ball, I do not think it was a worse performance,” said Maresca on Chelsea’s second defeat to Brighton, when compared to the first.
“Result, yes, it was worse than the last one, no doubt. I think we arrived quite well in the last third, and then we struggled to create chances. Something up until two or three weeks ago we were doing very well – creating chances, many chances every game.
“In this moment, the bad feeling is that we look that easily we can concede chances, and we struggle to create chances. This is the feeling at the moment. The reason why, there are many reasons why. Because of the No.9 and the injuries, it is part of that, but in this moment it is like this, but we have 13 games to go, and we have to finish in the best way.”
Aston Villa (away)
February 22nd
Southampton (home)
February 25th
Leicester City (home)
March 9th
Arsenal (away)
March 16th
Tottenham (home)
April 2nd
Chelsea also currently have a shortage of attacking options, exacerbated further by Noni Madueke’s hamstring injury, with Marc Guiu and Nicolas Jackson also unavailable for the long-term after João Félix joined AC Milan on loan in January.
Chelsea were repeatedly linked with attackers in the January transfer window, and their interest in a new forward is something that could be carried over to the summer.
Chelsea offer Nico Williams a £319,000-per-week contract to join them
Now, a major claim has surfaced from Spain, as relayed by Football 365. Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams is believed to be among Chelsea’s top targets for next season, with the west Londoners apparently looking to sneak in ahead of the competition for his signature by making him a huge proposal.
Indeed, it has now been reported that Chelsea have offered Williams a £319,000-per-week contract to join them from Bilbao. Football 365 quote an unnamed Spanish media outlet, who state that Maresca is “obsessed” with the idea of signing the Euro 2024 sensation who bagged 19 assists in all competitions last season.
This is quite the rumour, especially considering Chelsea’s current highest earner is Reece James on around £250,000-per-week, so this offer would make Williams their best-paid star quite comfortably.
The 22-year-old’s current contract includes a reported £48 million release clause, which is central to all the reports linking him with a move away from Bilbao.
