“I want him here” – Enzo Maresca keen to sign £14k-per-week ace who scored against Chelsea in pre-season

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

Chelsea and Enzo Maresca Join the Pursuit of a Pre-Season Star

A Confusing Summer for Chelsea

This summer has been quite a ride for Chelsea, as they’ve primarily focused on bringing in young talent instead of players ready to step right into the first team. As they prepare for the new Premier League season, they’ve faced a challenging pre-season campaign.

New Signings Over 20

So far, the only players over 20 that have joined Chelsea this summer include Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who transferred from Leicester City for £30 million, Tosin Adarabioyo, who came on a free transfer, and goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal. Their pre-season hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing either. Chelsea managed just one win out of four matches, which was against Club America. They also had a 2-2 draw with League One’s Wrexham. Premier League champions Manchester City handed them a tough defeat, with Erling Haaland scoring a hat-trick to secure a 4-2 victory. To add to their woes, they suffered a 4-1 loss to Scottish champions Celtic. It’s not been the ideal lead-up to their upcoming campaign, which kicks off in just two weeks with yet another encounter with Manchester City.

Brendan Rodgers’ Praise for O’Riley

Brendan Rodgers is eager to hold on to O’Riley, a player he’s praised as “phenomenal” after he played a pivotal role in securing the Scottish Premiership title for Celtic last season.

“He’s been incredibly consistent,” Rodgers stated. “His impressive stats reflect his dedication and daily focus on getting better. His teammates and everyone else clearly appreciate his efforts. It’s well deserved. He’s very humble, without any pretensions. His peers truly recognize his hard work and strong mentality.”

Chelsea’s Potential Disruption

However, Chelsea might throw a wrench in those plans, as reports suggest they’re considering O’Riley as a potential replacement for Gallagher. According to Alan Nixon, relayed by Video Celts, the £14,000-per-week talent is catching the eye of Maresca and company at Stamford Bridge.

It’s uncertain whether Chelsea will make a move, but the report mentions that a £25 million bid could potentially bring Celtic to the negotiation table over this valuable asset.