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Chelsea's summer has been one of the most unorthodox on record as they prepare to return to the Premier League next month.
Technically, the Blues' 2024/25 season did not culminate until July 13, when they beat PSG in the final of the Club World Cup in the United States. Having had little time to rest and recuperate from the gruelling campaign, Chelsea have been on holiday and will play just two pre-season fixtures before the big kick-off.
While the players have been on a break, the recruitment team have been working hard to strengthen Enzo Maresca's squad ahead of the big kick-off. With this in mind, football.london has taken a look at some of the latest reports surrounding the Blues.
Chelsea's audacious Rogers plan
According to Football Insider, Chelsea could be looking to complete an audacious plan to sign Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers this summer. It is claimed the Blues are willing to offer Villa two players in turn for Rogers.
Those mentioned as part of the swap deal are Tosin Adarabioyo and Nicolas Jackson. The 23-year-old only moved to Villa last summer but scored eight goals and grabbed 11 assists in the Premier League alone.
What FL says: The longer this transfer window goes on, the more likely it seems that Jackson will be moved on by Chelsea. Maresca seems determined to go with the new front pairing of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, and there seems to be little room for Jackson in that squad. Adarabioyo's first season at Stamford Bridge did not see him tie down a regular position in the starting squad, which perhaps leaves him open to an exit, and at 27, he doesn't quite fit the model that Chelsea are going for at present.
Napoli considering Sterling
In a report from Mediaset, Serie A champions Napoli are believed to be interested in a move for Raheem Sterling this summer. It has been claimed in Italy that Sterling has been offered out to the Naples club, where he would reunite with Kevin De Bruyne.
Chelsea are thought to be willing to pay 40 percent of his wages to get him off the books on a loan deal.
What FL says: Sterling's time at Chelsea is effectively up, and you can imagine all parties would like to agree a permanent exit for the winger this summer. That, of course, is not always possible, so a loan move is the next best thing.
For Sterling at the age he is (30), trying a new culture with a team on the up is a great opportunity. However, with Fulham also interested and offering him the chance to remain close to home, maybe a switch to Napoli would be a bridge too far this summer.
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