Chelsea have elevated their status for this summer's transfer window through Champions League qualification and a Conference League trophy.
With the Club World Cup commencing on June 14, Todd Boehly, Clearlake Capital and the club's recruitment team have no intention of biding their time in the market with there being a desire to make important additions before the first transfer deadline of June 10.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look at how Chelsea are approaching the next nine days of business and who is currently most likely to end up making the move to Stamford Bridge.
Top targets
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Should everything go to plan, Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap will be completing a transfer to Chelsea on Monday or Tuesday, ticking a box in terms of acquiring a new centre-forward to compete with Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu.
However, if reports are to be believed, Chelsea are also interested in Eintracht Frankfurt attacker Hugo Ekitike, even though the Frenchman stands to cost more than double than Delap should a move materialise.
There are several wingers believed to be on Chelsea's shortlist, the suggestion being that they are Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho, Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams and Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens.
As of right now, there has been little indication as to who will ultimately link up with Enzo Maresca's squad, but there is a long-standing interest in each of the trio.
With Andrey Santos and Estevao Willian already in line to be integrated into the squad after their times with Strasbourg and Palmeiras respectively, the only other current target position is central defence, but it remains to be seen how Chelsea will approach that area on the back of impressing in defence during the Premier League run-in.
Budgets
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This feels very much like a moving part this summer. Having spent in excess of £1bn since their arrival, Boehly and Clearlake have already invested an astronomical amount of money into Chelsea across the last three years.
However, with the revenue generated from a top-four Premier League finish, winning the Conference League and, most notably, Champions League qualification and a Club World Cup appearance, Chelsea are in line for a vast increase to their revenue.
Combined with the expected sales, loan fees and reducing the wage bill between now and September, Maresca can expect to have a transfer warchest should he wish to use it.
Most likely signings
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As noted, Delap will become a Chelsea player in a £30m deal should he pass his medical, essentially already taking the West Londoners to three fresh faces for 2025-26.
Of Garnacho, Williams and Gittens, much may come down to value for money. Man United are unlikely to turn down any offer in the region of £40m for Garnacho given their financial predicament, neither will Dortmund if £50m is offered for Gittens.
Williams would likely cost more courtesy of his status at Athletic Bilbao and the fact that he has previously been a target of Barcelona after his Euro 2024 exploits.
Before other targets are set in stone, it may be dependent on offers that they receive for other players. One example involves Trevoh Chalobah, who would bring in pure profit if he is sold this summer.
However, the academy graduate has impressed since his recall from Crystal Palace in January and, as it stands, there is no certainty over a sale. Although Chelsea are said to be in the market for yet another centre-back, they may look to part ways with Benoit Badiashile instead.
Priority positions
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The general consensus is that a central forward with a physical presence to provide a greater scoring output than Jackson is the main priority this summer.
Delap will help provide a different look to the Blues frontline, yet it remains to be seen whether a more experienced option will join him or if youngster Guiu will remain in the first-team squad for 2025-26.
A right-footed left winger is also being sought, as mentioned with some of the targets above, while Chelsea remain in the process of trying to negotiate a long-term stay for Man United loanee Jadon Sancho.
Aside from a new centre-back and potentially a backup option at left-back for Marc Cucurella, Chelsea may not do any further business.
Darren Plant
