Dewsbury-Hall signs, new striker – Chelsea’s four biggest summer transfer jobs

Chelsea are expected to continue to be busy in the summer transfer market, despite already signing three players. The Blues completed their first recruit after securing the services of Tosin Adarabioyo in a free transfer from Fulham, before a move for talented Brazilian winger Estevao Willian – who won’t join until 2025 – was confirmed.

Then on Saturday, Chelsea announced the arrival of Omari Kellyman from Aston Villa for £18m. The 18-year-old has signed a six-year deal at Stamford Bridge. The Blues are not expected to stop there, with a number of players linked with a move to west London as Enzo Maresca tries to further bolster his squad.

Meanwhile, on the outgoing front, Ian Maatsen has left the club to join Villa for a fee in the region of £37.5m and Lewis Hall has completed his permanent move to Newcastle. Thiago Silva has departed the club at the end of his contract to join Fluminense, while Hakim Ziyech has signed for Galatasaray.

Chelsea finished sixth last season but are hoping to build on that and kickstart a new era under Maresca, who joined from Leicester earlier this month. The Blues still need to do some more business to reshape the squad for the 2024/25 campaign. With that in mind, football.london has taken a look at four things owner Todd Bohely must do this summer to steer the club – at least – back into the Premier League top-four.

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New striker

It’s evident that one of Chelsea’s biggest problems last season was finding the back of the net. The Blues would often create a bucket load of chances but fail to have that cutting edge in front of goal. Although they managed to score more frequently near the end of the season, a prolific marksman is someone they should target.

A club record move for Alexander Isak has been touted, with the Blues reportedly ready to pay in excess of the £115m they forked out to sign Moises Caicedo. It had even been reported Chelsea were discussing an extraordinary deal that could see Nicolas Jackson head to St James’ Park as part of a player-plus-cash deal.

That, for me, would be ludicrous considering Jackson showed much progress as the season wore on and finished with 17 goals in 44 appearances. A move for Isak would not be terrible, but the Blues should look for someone a little bit cheaper instead so they are not splashing a huge sum of money on just one player.

Look no further than Lille forward Jonathan David. He was impressive in Ligue 1 last season, netting 19 goals in 34 matches, and would be an astute addition.

Clear the deadwood

While Chelsea should be keen to strengthen, it does mean that exits need to follow. There are several players who should be among those sold, however. One of which is Armando Broja, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Fulham and is keen to gain regular first-team game time elsewhere.

Although he impressed at the back end of the season, Trevoh Chalobah could be moved on. He has been linked with a move to West Ham and Nottingham Forest. With the Blues blessed with a number of other centre-back options, Chalobah should be sold to free up funds in other areas.

Gallagher decision

Conor Gallagher‘s future has been up in the air this summer with Tottenham and Aston Villa among those showing interest in the midfielder. The 24-year-old may be sacrificed to bring in other players, but the Blues should try their best to keep the academy graduate, who could flourish under Maresca.

The position he would fill is on the right side of the two more advanced midfielders. With Maresca wanting his team to press, Gallagher is the profile that would work and succeed in his system, even if his technical ability is not quite brilliant. He should be kept and given a chance working with Maresca.

Back Maresca

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is someone that has been linked with a move to Chelsea in recent days. The 25-year-old shone while working with Maresca at Leicester last season and knows his system inside out. Despite the criticism from some fans over the proposed transfer, this one would be an excellent move all round.

Though he played in the Championship in 2023/24, some may forget that he shone in the Premier League during the previous two years. He was named in the Europa Conference League Team of the Season in 2021/22 – a competition the Blues will play in next season – and impressed for the Foxes in the top flight.

£35m for a homegrown, Premier League-experienced midfielder would not be bad business at all, especially when he would slot straight into Maresca’s system. Dewsbury-Hall is an energetic, all-action operator who can provide quality in the final third, having scored 12 goals and added 15 assists in the second tier last term.

As well as Dewsbury-Hall and a new striker, the Blues need a ball-playing goalkeeper and ideally a left winger. If they can get those over the line then Maresca would have enough to work with and at least two top-class players in every position across the pitch.