Delap and Huijsen sign, Santos decision, Gittens deal - Dream Chelsea XI after three transfers

It is expected to be another hectic summer transfer window at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea look to kick on from what they believe has been progress over the course of the 2024/25 season.

The are in fifth position in the Premier League - enough to qualify for the Champions League this season - with four matches of the campaign left to play and are in the semi-finals of the Conference League. is in his debut season with the club and the Italian is adamant there has been an improvement this time around in comparison to recent years.

However, there is no doubt that Chelsea need to act in the upcoming summer transfer market in order to improve once more. There are a few areas within the squad that need strengthening and the club will look to do that over the next few months.

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, football.london understands, and are keen to try and get any deal done for the 20-year-old before the FIFA Club World Cup this summer. The Spain international has enjoyed a tremendous debut season in the Premier League, meaning the Blues are not the only interested party. Liverpool, too, have a serious interest in as looks to improve on his title-winning squad this summer.

Maresca has a deep pool of centre-backs to choose from at the moment although there are circumstances that mean it is not quite as straightforward as it first seems on the surface. has barely been available for selection since moving to Stamford Bridge in 2022 because of consistent injury problems, and while Maresca rates the Frenchman very highly, Chelsea want to act on the problem.

Elsewhere, could leave the Blues over the summer. The Cobham graduate was brought back from his loan spell at Crystal Palace over the January transfer window but as reported at the time by football.london, should he want to move on at the end of the campaign. It is understood the club's stance has not changed in that regard.

is set to be given a go at the upcoming Club World Cup in the United States. The Brazilian midfielder has had a fabulous season on loan at Chelsea's sister club Strasbourg and many supporters are hopeful that the 20-year-old will be given first team opportunities at Stamford Bridge next term. However, football.london understands no decision over Santos' future has been made at the time of writing.

Should he impress in the US, though, then Santos will have a real opportunity of integrating himself into the squad next season. Chelsea need more depth in midfield and have already agreed a deal with Sporting CP for Dario Essugo to join the club in the summer. Maresca also has the likes of , , and to choose from in the middle of the park, although the latter of those four looks set to leave the club in the summer.

Dewsbury-Hall has been an ever-present figure in the Conference League side this season but has barely featured in the Premier League since following Maresca from Leicester City to Chelsea last summer. The 26-year-old midfielder has made 12 appearances for the Blues in the top-flight this term, with only two of them coming from the start and just over 250 minutes under his belt.

In attack, Chelsea are interested in signing a left winger. football.london understands the Blues are keen on Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens, although have not started talks with his camp yet. It was reported in Germany last week that the Blues were in constant dialogue with the Englishman's entourage but such speculation is understood to be wide of the mark.

Chelsea's priority this summer is adding another centre-forward to share the load with . Maresca is a huge fan of Jackson and even said recently that the , but the head coach is well aware that the west Londoners need more depth in the No.9 position, especially because could be sold.

, football.london understands, which includes the likes of , Jonathan David, Hugo Ekitike and . Interest in has not gone away, but there is .

With all of this being said, football.london has taken a look at a possible line-up Maresca could field once the summer transfer window is open. In the interest of fairness to some of those who missed out, we have also made an alternative XI...

Possible Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Huijsen, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos; Palmer, Fernandez, Gittens; Delap.

Another possible line-up Maresca could put out - consisting of completely different personnel - is as follows: Jorgensen; Gusto, Fofana, Badiashile, Veiga; Essugo, Lavia; Estevao, Paez, Madueke; Jackson.