Chelsea have successfully advanced to the last 16 of the Club World Cup and remain strong contenders for the trophy. Beyond the pitch, the club`s ownership group, BlueCo, is actively planning to strengthen Enzo Maresca`s squad ahead of his second season in charge.
The team secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over ES Tunis, where new signing Liam Delap netted his first goal for the club. Tosin Adarabioyo and Tyrique George also contributed goals in the routine win, with ES Tunis failing to trouble the Chelsea goalkeeper with a single shot on target.
Next up for Chelsea in the knockout stage are Portuguese giants Benfica. Maresca`s side has a realistic chance of lifting the silverware, which would result in a substantial £97 million financial boost for the club.
Reflecting on the win against ES Tunis, Maresca commented: “The performance, for me, was good. It was not easy and until we scored the first goal, it was difficult to break their defensive line down. We were quite patient, and when we scored the first goal, the game became a little more open and a little easier for us.”
He also addressed squad rotation, stating: “It’s impossible not to rotate players because playing every three days in these conditions means it’s not possible for them to play every game. The ones that played were good, and we’ve given some rest to Moi, Trev, Levi, Cucu, Cole, Pedro, many players. It’s important to recover the energy and try to win the next game.”
The conditions in which the Club World Cup is being played, particularly the intense heat in America, have posed significant challenges for Chelsea and other competing teams.
To help manage player fatigue, Chelsea can utilize a specific player registration window. From June 27 to July 3, they are permitted to add players, including recent signings, to their CWC squad, provided the player has not already participated in the tournament for another club.
This rule would prevent Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, who is reportedly close to joining Chelsea, from being added to the CWC roster. However, Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande could potentially link up with the squad if Chelsea finalise a transfer deal for the Ivorian international.
Chelsea Reportedly Seeking Discounted Deal for Ousmane Diomande
Recent reports from TEAMtalk indicate that Enzo Maresca is a significant admirer of Diomande and considers him a top priority for defensive reinforcements. The 21-year-old defender currently has a £68 million release clause in his contract with Sporting CP.
However, according to an update from CaughtOffside, Chelsea is hesitant to pay the full release clause and is instead “looking to negotiate” a lower transfer fee with Sporting. The report reiterates Maresca`s strong conviction in Diomande`s quality.
Chelsea is described as being “very” keen on securing the signing of the promising Primeira Liga player. Sporting is reportedly open to considering bids that are slightly below the release clause. Nevertheless, Chelsea faces notable competition for Diomande`s signature from clubs like Newcastle United and Real Madrid, making the pursuit of Maresca`s desired defensive target a potentially challenging one.
