Chelsea Set for Double Swoop: Maresca’s Choice Among Targets

Chelsea is eyeing Leicester’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Archie Gray from Leeds as potential new midfield options.

Although the Blues haven’t made any official moves yet, they are seriously considering both players. Dewsbury-Hall, who has been on Brighton’s radar for a while, might be heading to Chelsea instead. The 25-year-old had a fantastic season under Enzo Maresca, helping Leicester clinch the Championship title. Now, several clubs are interested in him.

Dewsbury-Hall seems eager to reunite with Maresca, who recently took over from Mauricio Pochettino as Chelsea’s head coach. The midfielder, originally from Hinckley, is open to joining Chelsea, with the club’s management impressed by his progress.

Meanwhile, Leeds’ young star Archie Gray has caught Chelsea’s attention too. Gray, 18, has played for England at every youth level and is considered a future star. Starting with Leeds’ Under-9s in 2014, Gray made it to the first-team bench at just 15. Last season, he broke into the first team and won the Championship’s Young Player of the Year award.

Both Leicester and Leeds are looking to sell players this summer for financial reasons. Selling homegrown talent like Dewsbury-Hall and Gray can be particularly beneficial, as it counts as ‘pure profit’ under the Premier League’s financial rules. This strategy helps clubs stay within the league’s financial regulations, making the sale of academy graduates very appealing.