Five players who could join Chelsea this summer

Chelsea have been one of the busier Premier League clubs in the transfer window (no surprise there) but it is not expected to be the end of the business for the Blues.

New head coach Enzo Maresca is reshaping his squad and more incomings are anticipated after five new arrivals so far. The West London side’s record-breaking spend has been primarily focused on emerging talent and there are plenty of budding superstars being linked with Stamford Bridge.

Here are five players who could join Chelsea this summer.

Aarón Anselmino (Boca Juniors)

Chelsea’s move for Aarón Anselmino is at an advanced stage with the Boca Juniors centre-back expected to travel to London for a medical in the coming weeks.

The deal is all but done for the defender as Chelsea continue their recruitment drive to unearth emerging gems from South America. The 19-year-old has broken into the Boca Juniors team across the last 12 months and is viewed as one for the future at Chelsea, with Anselmino set to remain on loan in Argentina for six months to continue his development.

Santiago Gimenez (Feyenoord)

Chelsea’s centre-forward search has dominated the gossip columns with the Blues linked with no shortage of striking solutions. Chelsea want to bring in competition for Nicolas Jackson and Santiago Gimenez is said to be high on the club’s list of candidates.

The Mexico international has been a prolific presence since signing for Feyenoord from Cruz Azul, where he has scored 49 goals across the last two seasons to attract interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Gimenez’s best work comes inside the penalty area and he would offer a focal point for a Chelsea team not short on creative supply. Last season, he ranked in the 99th percentile of forwards outside of Europe’s top five leagues (Next 14 competitions) for non-penalty goals and non-penalty xG, the 98th for attacking penalty area touches, and the 96th for shots per game.

There will be concerns over the inconsistency of Eredivisie imports and an underwhelming record at international level, where Gimenez has now gone 12 games without a goal after blanking in the Copa America. He has just four goals in 28 caps for the national team and last scored for Mexico in July 2023.

Victor Osimhen (Napoli)

Victor Osimhen is set to leave Napoli this summer despite a quieter-than-expected race for his signature.

The Nigeria international has a release clause of around €130m (£110m) in his contract though there have been suggestions the Italian side will allow him to leave for around €100m (£84.6m).

Chelsea are long-term admirers of the 25-year-old, who has scored 76 goals in 133 games for Napoli and was the league’s leading scorer during the club’s Serie A title success in 2022-23.

Osimhen has been clear on his desire for a move to the Premier League and has cited Chelsea icon Didier Drogba as a role model. The sticking point remains the price tag, though Napoli’s interest in Romelu Lukaku could help facilitate a deal.

Jhon Duran (Aston Villa)

Chelsea are long-term admirers of Jhon Duran and first held talks with Aston Villa over a deal for the forward in January. Duran has failed to earn a regular role in Unai Emery’s side and there have been rumours of a clash of characters at Villa Park.

However, the 20-year-old is a raw talent and underlined his potential amid limited action last season. Duran scored five goals in just 463 minutes of Premier League football, including a memorable brace against Liverpool and Villa’s Goal of the Season winner with a cracker against Crystal Palace.

The Colombia international has been public in his interest in joining Chelsea, while Villa are open to his exit for the right fee. One to watch once Duran’s campaign at the Copa America is concluded.

Murillo (Nottingham Forest)

Murillo’s outstanding first season at Nottingham Forest saw him claim the club’s Player of the Season award for 2023-24, with the Brazilian an instant hit after arriving from Corinthians.

Just two players across Europe’s top five leagues recorded more clearances than the 21-year-old, whose dominance in defensive duels and confidence charging forward from the backline were well-appreciated at the City Ground.

Chelsea and Juventus have enquired into his availability this summer, though Forest will demand a huge asking price for the player. There’s a strong belief from Forest that Murillo will break into the Brazil set-up in the coming seasons and they want to be compensated appropriately.

Read – Five players who have caught the eye at the Copa America

See more – Five players who moved from Leicester to Chelsea for big money

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