Chelsea plotting sensational double swoop for Premier League duo as first signings since Enzo Maresca’s departure

Enzo Maresca. (Reuters/Andrew Couldridge)

The first day of the January transfer window delivered a major shock at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea confirming the departure of Enzo Maresca less than six months after he lifted the Club World Cup in his debut season.

The 45-year-old Italian leaves with the Blues struggling for consistency, having won just one of their last seven Premier League matches and slipping 15 points behind leaders Arsenal after a disappointing December run.

In a club statement, Chelsea explained the decision by saying: “With key objectives still to play for across four competitions including qualification for Champions League football, Enzo and the club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track.”

While attention will naturally turn to appointing Maresca’s successor, Chelsea are also wasting little time planning for the next phase of their rebuild.

Early signs suggest the club are already exploring ambitious moves in the market as they look to reset the squad and define a new era.

According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea are considering a bold double move for Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers and Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri as potential statement signings following Maresca’s exit.

The Blues have admired Rogers for some time and continue to track his progress closely. The 23-year-old has been one of Villa’s standout performers over the last 18 months, registering an impressive 46 goals and assists across 95 appearances in all competitions.

The report claims Rogers is “high up” on Chelsea’s shortlist, with Villa’s financial situation potentially opening the door to a sale if a significant offer arrives.

Alongside Rogers, Chelsea are also monitoring Nwaneri, one of the most exciting prospects to emerge from Arsenal’s academy in recent years. The teenager made headlines by becoming the youngest player in Premier League history at just 15, before enjoying a breakout campaign last season with 37 appearances across all competitions.

This term, however, opportunities have been limited, with the 18-year-old yet to start a league match and featuring only sporadically.

Chelsea’s long-standing strategy of targeting elite young talent makes the interest in both players unsurprising. However, pulling off deals of this scale would be challenging in the current climate, and neither move would directly address the most pressing issue in the squad — the need for a commanding new centre-back.

For now, the proposed double swoop looks ambitious, if not optimistic, as the club recalibrates following Maresca’s sudden departure.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.