An emphasis on investment remains at BlueCo’s Chelsea, but several learning curves have been passed and there’s a feeling that things are not so scattergun anymore.
With Enzo Maresca’s side preparing to take on the Paris Saint-Germain super-team in the Club World Cup final, the club will be permitted to take only the briefest sojourn before a reduced pre-season commences ahead of 2025/26.
There has already been a deluge of new arrivals for the west Londoners, who secured their place back in the Champions League and won the Conference League across Maresca’s first season at the helm.
Liam Delap and Joao Pedro have been poached from domestic rivals, while Jamie Gittens, 20, has finally completed his £51.5m transfer from Borussia Dortmund, having been hailed by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley as “England’s best left winger in 2024/25” before he plateaued over the closing months of the term.
The talented Estevao, Kendry Paez and Dario Essugo are all bound for Stamford Bridge too, but Chelsea still have a few more tricks up their sleeve.
The latest on Chelsea's summer transfer window
Noni Madueke has been granted permission to engage in the personal technicalities of his proposed transfer to Arsenal, with the Gunners having seen a £52m offer accepted.
The right winger is a talented player but hardly indispensable. And he’s not the only one the Blues are willing to offload in order to reshape in a superior fashion. Indeed, Nicolas Jackson may be sold, with Todd Boehly reportedly pricing the Senegalese striker at an eye-watering £100m amid interest from AC Milan.
Elsewhere, Chelsea have been mooted to make their move for Aston Villa’s dynamic attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers, something which Madueke’s departure would facilitate.
But Maresca seemingly wants some more competition out on the left, too, with Mykhaylo Mudryk in interminable purgatory and the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix all likely to leave this summer.
And that’s why Chelsea could make an approach for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Kaoru Mitoma, who, aged 28, is settled as one of the most underrated wingers in the Premier League.
That’s according to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, who has confirmed that Chelsea (and Arsenal) have considered making a move to sign the Japan international this summer.
Bayern Munich and Saudi Arabian suitors are also looking to get a deal done, and while there’s a sense that Mitoma’s entourage are drumming up interest to get a bumper new contract at the AMEX, the door is ajar for a summer switch, though Brighton would certainly need to lower their £80m asking price.
Why Chelsea want to sign Kaoru Mitoma
Mitoma joined Brighton from Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale and was instantly loaned out to Royal Union Saint-Gilloise in the Belgian Pro League, something which proved instrumental for his development as he polished his physical properties before being unleashed in the Premier League.
Now, he’s a seasoned veteran, having completed 108 appearances for the Seagulls across all competitions, scoring 24 goals and assisting 20 more.
His 37-goal involvement return in the Premier League, across 88 matches, is also nothing to be sniffed at. Mitoma isn’t the most prolific player, but he is immensely talented and endowed with the pace and intelligence to make a real difference.
In fact, the 28-year-old ranked among the top 15% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the English top flight last term for non-penalty goals and the top 12% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, which highlights the impact he could have in Chelsea’s first team.
Is there any proof that Gittens, so young and untested, could bring such an instant effect to Maresca’s squad? Indeed, cast your mind back to Jadon Sancho’s days at Dortmund, and you will find all the substance needed to form such a compelling argument.
Matches (starts)
36 (28)
32 (21)
Goals
10
8
Assists
4
3
Shots (on target)*
1.6 (0.8)
1.6 (0.8)
Big chances missed
12
4
Pass completion
81%
82%
Big chances created
8
6
Key passes*
1.0
0.7
Dribbles*
1.4
2.4
Ball recoveries*
2.8
2.0
Tackles + interceptions*
1.7
1.3
Duels won*
4.1
4.9
While Gittens is maybe a bit more active in the duel, and certainly has the makings of a clinical wideman, Mitoma is more complete in his performances, with BBC pundit Shay Given even claiming he’s “at the heart of everything positive” Brighton do in the Premier League.
There is also the pretty significant factor that Mitoma plies his trade in the Premier League, whereas Gittens has been cutting his teeth these past few years in the Bundesliga, a division of ostensibly lower quality.
The aforementioned Bailey has regarded Mitoma as “one of the Premier League’s best”, and it’s clear to see why. Though consistency might not be the Japanese’s strong suit, he has shown quality on England’s biggest stage that most wingers could only dream of, and even then, such ambitions would be hazy, ill-defined things.
While Gittens has the makings of something special, Chelsea would be wise to ease him into a position of seniority at Stamford Bridge. Signing Mitoma and allowing the pair to jockey for starting roles could prove a move that bears dividends for the success of Maresca’s project.
Chelsea will be raising the bar in the months to come. European nights will be freighted with the added expectation and intensity that the Champions League theatre brings. Mitoma is exactly the kind of player who could help the club tackle this issue and come up with a solution.
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