Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

Chelsea face transfer battle for Enzo Maresca favourite as £32m truth clear

The latest Chelsea FC news and rumours ahead of the Premier League clash at Anfield

20 Oct 2024, 03:00 by Keifer MacDonald · football.london

Chelsea will hope to continue their bright start to the Premier League season on Sunday afternoon when they face Liverpool.

The Blues started the weekend in fourth place and know a first Anfield victory since 2021 will move them into the Premier League's top three by the end of play on Sunday night.

However, Enzo Maresca will be without Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella after the duo both picked up one-match suspensions after their fifth bookings of the season against Nottingham Forest last time out.

Here, football.london looks at some of the stories you might have missed over the weekend.

Market 'heating up' for Enzo Maresca favourite

Several European teams are reportedly eying a move for midfielder Cesare Casadei, who has yet to break into Enzo Maresca's side this season.

The Italian spent last season on loan at Leicester City and made 25 appearances as the Foxes, managed by Maresca, won promotion back to the Premier League.

But after making just two appearances for Chelsea so far this season, TuttoMercatoWeb reports that Villarreal, Fiorentina, and Atalanta are among the clubs interested in the 21-year-old. The report adds that the market for Casadei is "heating up".

FL says: Despite impressing Maresca at the King Power last season, Casadei is yet to break into Chelsea's plans this campaign.

And with the stacks of talent that the Blues currently boast in the middle of the park, a move away from Stamford Bridge might just be the most sensible option for the Italy under-21 international to develop his career. The smart play for Chelsea here could be to insert a buyback or sell-on clause into any deal that materialises.

Nevin heaps praise on Jackson

Former Chelsea forward Pat Nevin believes Nicolas Jackson is showing signs of improvement during his second season at Stamford Bridge.

The 23-year-old made the move to West London in a £32m deal from Villarreal last summer and scored 14 Premier League goals in his maiden campaign.

Despite his impressive return in front of goal, the Senegal international was the subject of criticism on numerous occasions.

Now, though, in his second season at Stamford Bridge, Nevin believes Jackson is starting to silence his critics.

Assessing Jackson in a recent article for the BBC, he wrote: “You look up front at Jackson, the amount of chances he missed, the amount of great positions he got into with his staggering pace, it is staggering his pace, but then blew it time and time again. He’s getting better at that now. He’s running at you in more intelligent areas.

“If you watch Liverpool or Chelsea over the years and you’ve watched some centre-forwards, it’s not always just about getting the ball up to them for a tap-in. Look, you need to drive players away, you need to make good space, and that’s what he’s beginning to learn.”

FL says: Criticism of Jackson last season was perhaps unjust judging by the fact he netted 14 goals in 35 Premier League outings. However, he looks more composed in the final third this season and is enjoying a strong relationship with Cole Palmer which has now had a year to bed in.

Sunday's trip to Anfield will be the Blues' toughest test of the campaign to date., but It will provide Jackson with a chance to well and truly silence his doubters if he can lead the Blues to victory.

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