CHELSEA can’t stop spending money on attackers. Last summer, the Blues splurged over £150m on players for the final third after spending a similar amount the summer before that. The 2025/26 campaign doesn’t kick off for a number of weeks, and Chelsea have kept up the trend, spending another £150m on forwards.

One has already been integrated into Enzo Maresca’s team, as Liam Delap has played an important role at the Club World Cup. Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro have also been signed by the Stamford Bridge outfit, who are hopeful the pair will be able to contribute against Fluminense on Tuesday, with a potential meeting against Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid on Sunday.

 

The reconstruction of Chelsea’s forward line will prove once and for all if ‘Maresca-ball’ works. Last season saw the Blues lack attacking verve, with Maresca’s team frequently too easy to play against. This is why such an emphasis was placed on finding new forwards as soon as the summer transfer window opened.

While Maresca’s possession-heavy approach has given Chelsea a level of control in the matches they play, there is a sense that the Blues needed quicker, more incisive players in the final third to take the next step. Gittens in particular is seen by many at Stamford Bridge as the solution to this problem.

Gittens is one of the most direct dribblers in European football. Chelsea wanted a right-footed winger to operate on the left side and the 20-year-old fits the bill even if Gittens must sharpen his final product to realise his full potential. Stamford Bridge could be the perfect place for the Englishman to develop. Gittens might well be worth the £55m Chelsea paid for him.

Pedro is another high-potential addition. The Brazilian demonstrated his ability over two seasons at Brighton and is widely considered one of the most adaptable and versatile attackers in the Premier League. Chelsea needed a cohesion player to link up things in the final third of the pitch, and Pedro could be the ideal figure for this role.

Then there’s Delap, who has already given Chelsea a different dimension with his physicality and willingness to run in behind. The 22-year-old must improve his goalscoring numbers to be the number nine Chelsea truly want, but the initial signs have been positive. Delap already looks the part as the new focal point of Maresca’s team.

With Delap, Gittens, and Pedro signed, Chelsea will surely move on a number of attackers before the end of the summer transfer window. Arsenal have reportedly agreed personal terms with Noni Madueke ahead of a potential switch to the Emirates Stadium, while the Blues are apparently open to offers for Christopher Nkunku.

There are questions over Nicolas Jackson’s future at Stamford Bridge. The Senegalese striker has been sent off twice in his last four Chelsea appearances, and Delap’s arrival from Ipswich Town has placed Jackson under even greater scrutiny. He might have already lost his place as the Blues’ first-choice centre forward.

Of course, the true test of ‘Maresca-ball’ and the business conducted by Chelsea will come next season when the Blues will be expected to compete near the top of the Premier League table. Winning the Club World Cup would bode well, but Maresca and his players won’t be judged until the truly competitive action starts.

At its best, Maresca’s approach has allowed Chelsea to dictate matches on their terms. At its worst, though, it has made the Blues predictable and toothless. The challenge is now to build on the foundations of last season with Delap, Gittens and Pedro all signed to push Chelsea towards their next objective. 

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