“I want him at Stamford Bridge” – Enzo Maresca tells Chelsea to sign 25-years-old Liverpool and Arsenal target
As he gets ready for the upcoming season and the probable departure of Conor Gallagher, Enzo Maresca wants Chelsea to sign one of his former Leicester City players.
Although Maresca officials begin their tenure at Stamford Bridge on July 1, they have already discussed potential arrivals and departures during the summer transfer window with the Chelsea owners.
The Italian, who was Manchester City’s assistant manager under Pep Guardiola, led Leicester City back to the Premier League as the Foxes won the Championship with ease last year.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is a Championship winner, and Maresca is eager to get him to Stamford Bridge. According to The Sun, he has told Chelsea that he wants to sign him.
Last month, Dewsbury-Hall, 25, was recognized as Leicester’s player of the year. and, following his 12 goals and 14 assists, was also named to the Championship team of the season.
The midfielder was expected to leave Leicester last summer amid interest from Arsenal, Liverpool, Brighton and Brentford but stayed put and starred in the Fox’s Championship title win.
Maresca reportedly views Dewsbury-Hall as an ideal replacement for Gallagher, who has been heavily linked with a move to Aston Villa as he prepares to travel to Germany with England’s Euro 2024 squad.
Gallagher, who started all but one of Chelsea’s 38 Premier League games last season, is set to enter the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge.
Rather than risk losing the 24-year-old for nothing in the summer of 2025, Chelsea are open to selling Gallagher now but will demand around £50m from Villa.
Most of that cash could go on Maresca’s proposed deal for King Power hero Dewsbury-Hall, who is valued at £40m by Leicester City.
Leicester admitted they were ‘disappointed’ by Maresca’s decision to leave and the 44-year-old could risk upsetting his former club again if he insists Chelsea bid for Dewsbury-Hall.
Following Maresca’s move to west London, Leicester City have been linked with former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper and West Brom manager Carlos Corberan as they prepare for life back in the Premier League.
Chelsea finished sixth in the English top-flight last season, though that was only after Maresca’s predecessor Mauricio Pochettino won his final five games in charge to end the campaign and his reign on a high.