Chelsea win Ekitike race as Sterling buyer found - Maresca's dream Todd Boehly meeting

The fact Chelsea have been active in the early stages of the transfer window should be no surprise by now. The Blues have played a volume game since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took over from Roman Abramovich in 2022, which has comprised tonnes of signings and a high number of departures to balance the scales.

Chelsea have already completed the £30million signing of Liam Delap, and he is joined on the new arrivals list by fellow youngsters Estevao Willian, Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr and Kendry Paez. With plenty of work still up ahead, Express Sport takes you through exactly what manager Enzo Maresca wants to hear next time he sits down with Boehly...

Chelsea win Hugo Ekitike race

With 15 goals and eight assists in the Bundesliga last season, Eintracht Frankfurt striker Ekitike is hot property. Manchester United - the club Ekitike supported as a youngster - are believed to have held talks over a move, while Liverpool are also eyeing him up for their centre-forward vacancy.

Despite welcoming Delap to Stamford Bridge less than three weeks ago and retaining the services of fellow striker Nicolas Jackson, Chelsea are another club credited with strong links to Ekitike. And news that the Blues have beaten the competition to secure his signature would be music to the ears of Maresca.

At present, the saga is still up in the air and Ekitike is still fair game. The 23-year-old, who celebrated his birthday on Friday, could be attainable for around £60m this summer despite claims earlier in the window about Frankfurt demanding £85m.

Raheem Sterling buyer found

With a wave of young, hungry arrivals comes the need to offload the dead wood. At 30 years old, and coming off the back of an unsuccessful loan stint with Arsenal, there is every indication that Sterling is now past his prime.

Couple that with the fact he is the second-highest earner in the squad behind captain Reece James, and it is clear that Chelsea find themselves in a sticky situation. Sterling has no future under Maresca but he still has two years to run on his contract.

Given his collapsing form and his hefty salary, another loan spell seems the likeliest outcome, unless Sterling is willing to take a pay cut. How sweet it would be, therefore, for Maresca to be informed that he could draw a line under the issue.

Premier League clubs have been tentatively linked with Sterling since the start of the window, but nothing concrete has come to fruition as yet.