With Enzo Maresca’s appointment at Chelsea now imminent, the club have plans in place to potentially sell four players in the near future.
Maresca’s football will differ from Mauricio Pochettino’s, a manager who puts a real emphasis on positional play and keeping the ball.
On the other hand, Pochettino’s approach favoured a high-press, attacking style of football.
It won’t necessarily be a dramatic change, especially given Chelsea will likely remain in a 4-3-3, and will continue to build their game around Cole Palmer.
But perhaps the most rewarding change, from Chelsea’s decision makers’ point of view anyway, will be Maresca’s more agreeable character.
It would be wrong to suggest that Pochettino was ‘difficult’, but reports state that he wanted to be involved in decisions beyond his position.
Maresca will be much more of a ‘head coach’, happy to focus strictly on what happens on the training pitch.
That being said, it would seem that Chelsea have already potentially made the decision to part ways with four players, irrespective of Maresca’s arrival.
Conor Gallagher is one of four players who may not work with Enzo Maresca at Chelsea
According to The Telegraph, Chelsea could part ways with four home grown players this summer, including Conor Gallagher, who has interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.
The club are also willing to listen to offers for Trevoh Chalobah, who did enjoy some stellar performances under Pochettino.
And then there’s the club’s returning loan pair Armando Broja and Ian Maatsen.
Whilst Broja didn’t necessarily enhance his reputation during his time at Fulham, Maatsen enjoyed a storming time with Dortmund.
Maatsen is set to play in the Champions League final for the German side, and is then likely to leave permanently.
Perhaps Gallagher is the name on that list that will frustrate Chelsea fans the most – a player whose performances were often befitting of the captain’s armband he wore last season.
That being said, the information mentioned also states that Chelsea will be looking to buy a new left-back, as well as a goalkeeper and a forward.
And in that regard – wouldn’t Maatsen be the perfect fit?
The 22-year-old is predominantly a forward-thinking defender, but could be well suited to Maresca’s preference to invert his full-backs into midfield.
Of course, when considering the changes Chelsea could make this summer, and the possible influx of players, Maresca’s past comments on his Parma sacking are now very interesting.