London: Chelsea's new coach Enzo Maresca has a Premier League baptism of fire when champions Manchester City visit on Sunday as the Italian scrambles to form a cohesive team from another chaotic transfer window for the Blues. In keeping with Chelsea's transfer policy since a takeover two years ago, fronted by LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly, the London club have embarked on a spending spree focusing on promising young talent. Winger Pedro Neto's £54 million ($65 million) move from Wolves is the standout from nine new arrivals for an estimated £160 million.
But after splashing well over £1 billion on signings over the past two years, Chelsea's website lists 43 first-team players and over 50 are still contracted to the club when those on loan are included. Many have been sidelined from Maresca's pre-season training to focus on finding moves before the transfer window closes at the end of the month. "At the moment if I start to think I have 43 players it is not a good thing," Maresca said on Friday.
"(Co-sporting directors) Paul (Winstanley) and Laurence (Stewart) they are there in charge of finding solutions for these kind of players. I'm not the guy in charge of finding solutions for loan players, otherwise they have to pay me double!" To add to Maresca's task he has to win over a discontented fan base. Many in the Chelsea support were craving some stability as Mauricio Pochettino turned around a poor start to finish strongly and climb up to sixth in the Premier League.
Ins.