Chelsea handed early deadline for new signings amid £150m transfer raid

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On Wednesday morning, Chelsea supporters started to look ahead to the new Premier League season beginning for the first time. With the Blues in FIFA Club World Cup action over in the United States, there has not been too much time to think that far in the future.

However, Wednesday saw the fixtures for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign announced. Chelsea start the season with four consecutive London derbies - with Crystal Palace the visitors to Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend.

While it is okay to look that far ahead in the future, there are still two months, more or less, before the visit of the Eagles. In that time, Chelsea will be hoping to complete several transfers as the club look to give Enzo Maresca all the tools he needs to compete on four fronts next season.

Chelsea are prioritising signing a new left-sided winger this summer and Jamie Gittens is looking the most likely on that front at the moment. The Blues are preparing a new offer to Borussia Dortmund for the 20-year-old winger, football.london understands, after a £42million bid was turned down earlier in the month.

Gittens has his heart set on a return to England and a move to Stamford Bridge - and has let Dortmund know of his desire. Chelsea and the Bundesliga club remain locked in negotiations over a deal for the England Under-21 international, who was a late substitute in Dortmund's 0-0 draw with Fluminense in the Club World Cup on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, Chelsea are after a new central defender with the west Londoners having numerous names on their shortlist. On said list include Murillo, Jarrad Branthwaite, Tomas Araujo and Marc Guehi. However, at the time of writing, there is nothing advanced on bringing a centre-back to the Bridge.

As is the case with a goalkeeper. Chelsea do not see it as a priority position but did show an interest in AC Milan shot-stopper Mike Maignan earlier this month. With the France international having just over 12 months remaining on his deal at the San Siro, Chelsea believe Maignan could be available for a cut-price fee this summer.

Chelsea saw an offer of just short of £13million rejected by the Rossoneri but interest in Maignan has not gone away. It is a situation they could revisit this summer, or perhaps in the January transfer window when Maignan will be available to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs.

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The club, though, are happy with their goalkeeper options of Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen and Mike Penders, football.london understands. Jorgensen and Penders cost Chelsea a combined £45million last summer and the latter is viewed as one of the best teenage goalkeepers around. Chelsea also believe Sanchez had a strong end to the Premier League season to help the Blues qualify for the Champions League.

There is also a big interest in Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike but a deal for the French forward is complicated. Frankfurt are demanding around £85million for the 22-year-old - a price Chelsea perceive as far too high.

If the Bundesliga club refuse to budge on their asking price, then the Blues will most likely walk away from negotiations. Liverpool have also spoken to Frankfurt about signing Ekitike this summer.

If Chelsea were to sign Gittens, Maignan and Ekitike, we would probably be looking at around the £150million-mark altogether. And if any of them were hoping to make their Premier League debut for Chelsea when the Blues welcome Crystal Palace to west London, then they would need to be signed and registered by midday on Friday, August 15.

Premier League rules state that any club hoping to give a debut to new signings must have them registered by 12pm on the last working day before the match. Should players be signed after 12pm on Friday afternoon, then an away trip to West Ham United will be their first opportunity to make their Chelsea debut.

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