Chelsea prepared to sell “leader” in January so they can sign £83m star

Chelsea at the moment are ready to promote a “chief” in January to allow them to signal an £83 million participant, with Enzo Maresca’s facet already making contact over a possible transfer.

Chelsea thrash Southampton 5-1 to increase unbeaten Premier League run

The west Londoners have been tipped as potential Premier League title contenders after a effective begin to the marketing campaign, even when Maresca continues to rebuff notions that they may finish the membership’s close to nine-year-long anticipate a home crown.

Chelsea have not received a title since Antonio Conte led them to the honour in 2016, however they’re making a severe go of it this season – mendacity simply seven factors behind league leaders Liverpool and dropping simply twice.

They got here by the hands of Arne Slot’s facet and present champions Man Metropolis, with Maresca but to style a single loss within the league since their defeat at Anfield in October.

Chelsea thrashed Southampton 5-1 at St. Mary’s to increase their unbeaten home run to 6 video games, and it’s virtually unattainable to get no less than a little bit bit excited given simply how properly they’re taking part in proper now.

Since arriving at Stamford Bridge from Leicester Metropolis in the summertime, Maresca has carried out an thrilling, attack-minded fashion of play which has happy each critics and supporters – however Chelsea’s boss remains to be refusing to get drawn into debates concerning this yr’s title race.

“We’re not within the title race. We’re not, in my view,” mentioned Maresca on Chelsea’s prospects of profitable the league.

“What I mentioned to the house owners and the sporting administrators the primary time I met them, due to the age, and due to how good the squad is, for me Chelsea within the subsequent 5 to 10 years might be one of many groups, or the workforce, that’s going to dominate English soccer.

“That is what I mentioned this to the membership the primary time I met them. Irrespective of who would be the supervisor, for the following 5 or 10 years, due to the age, the squad, you’ll be able to dominate English soccer, and I nonetheless suppose precisely the identical.”

Nonetheless, Chelsea might be going into their recreation towards inconsistent Tottenham on an actual excessive, with defender Axel Disasi even managing to get on the scoresheet towards Southampton after returning to the beginning eleven.

Chelsea ready to promote Axel Disasi in January to allow them to signal Tomas Araujo

The Frenchman had missed out on a spot of their earlier 5 Premier League matchday squads, however was handed the chance to start out towards Southampton by Maresca.

Disasi in the end repaid his supervisor’s religion with a stable show, however there have been experiences within the construct as much as January that Chelsea could look to dump Disasi and unencumber house for an additional centre-back.

Chelsea are scouring the marketplace for one other central defensive star, they usually’ve been linked with Benfica star Tomas Araujo.

TEAMtalk have an replace on their curiosity within the Portuguese, as Maresca appears to be like to reshape the squad into future dominators of English soccer.

It’s believed that Chelsea are ready to promote Disasi in January and have made contact over Araujo, with their defender’s sale seen as essential to doubtlessly placing a deal for the latter defender.

Regardless of being referred to as a “chief” in defence at factors, Disasi can be seen as “restricted” by some behind-the-scenes at Chelsea, prompting their curiosity in Araujo, who’s believed to have an £83 million launch clause in his contract.

The 22-year-old, who may play at right-back, is rising as one of many Primeira Liga’s most promising defenders – which has apparently turned heads in west London.