Chelsea is reset to a busy summer on the transfer market after they qualified for the Champions League and it seems that they look at the reinforcement to their backline
Chelsea weigh a step this summer to sign Everton suspender Jarrad Branthwaite, while Enzo Maresca wants to strengthen his team for a return to the Champions League.
The 22-year-old has left his contract for two years and was the subject of interest of Manchester United last summer. The Red Devils were rejected two bids, with their second £ 50 million available, but the Merseyside Club was determined not to sell.
And toffees -boss David Moyes remains cautious, by post online, with defender James Tarkowski who is still recovering from surgery on his hamstring. A movement might leave Everton at the coverage in the backline of Moyes, although Michael Keane and James O'Brien worked together in the center of defense against Newcastle on the last day of the season.
It has already been suggested that United could be tempted to spend more than £ 50 million on Branthwaite to secure his signature this summer, but Chelsea's competition will only contribute to the difficulty of their demand. A relocation for the star born in Carlisle would have been discussed in January before the Red Devils chose to operate more economically with the addition of Ayden Heaven in Central Defense.
However, if United goes against the blues in the coming weeks, they can get on the wrong side of the comparison. Last summer, Branthwaite was not willing to insist on a movement that did not include Champions League football.
The side of Ruben Amorim missed Europe completely after he had fallen from Tottenham in the Europa League final and 15th became in the Premier League after a gloomy season. The success of Chelsea on the last day of the season against Nottingham Forest ensured that they have the European top match to show off possible signing sessions in the coming weeks, making it an important advantage compared to United.
Enzo Maresca and Chelsea have already submitted a transfer block this summer after winning the race to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich. The attacker will undergo a medical on Monday prior to a move to Stamford Bridge after the blues had activated his £ 30 million release clause.
Again, Champions League football would have been crucial in the final decision of Delap, with a framework on personal conditions that are already present with United. But the 22-year-old finally chose Stamford Bridge.
Amorim, however, is optimistic that his team can find any benefit in the next term of the Champions League. A lighter schedule gives the Portuguese coach more time to prepare his team.
“I have to say that for us in the Champions League cannot be an advantage to perform better, to prepare better for games, to build the core we need for the future,” he said. “So I think it's good for us to take advantage of no European games.”