Chelsea: Enzo Maresca expects 'completely different' summer transfer window if key condition is not met | OneFootball

The Blues are in a five-team scrap for Champions League qualfication

Enzo Maresca is aware just how important Champions League qualification is to Chelsea

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Malik Ouzia

Sign up

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

While the fact that the Premier League has already sealed an additional fifth spot in the competition next season is a significant help, Chelsea are in the midst of a five-team scrap for three places, with just four points separating third and seventh.

Currently sixth, the Blues can at least temporarily climb into fourth by beating Everton in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off, but then face a tricky run-in, including away trips to Champions League rivals Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.

Asked whether how the rest of this season plays out will influence plans for this summer’s window, Maresca said: “Absolutely, yes.

“Today, football is not like five or ten years ago when the rules were different. Today’s rules, you have to be careful how much you spend because you can be banned [from competitions] or not in the right place.

“It will be a completely different kind of target if we finish in the Champions League or not.”

The Blues’s recent transfer policy has focused heavily on signing the best young players from around the world and that trend is already certain to continue this summer, with exciting Brazilian teenager Estevao Willian due to join the club.

However, amid Chelsea’s struggle for form in the second half of the season there have been calls for Maresca to add experience to his squad and there were reports this week that the club were interested in signing Virgil van Dijk on a free transfer, before he signed a new contract at Liverpool.

“I love Van Dijk. He’s a fantastic player and will be again at Liverpool,” Maresca said. “In terms of experience, I think next year our squad will have more experience and will be better.

“For sure, when you have experience you have something more, no doubt. But the ones that struggled this year in terms of experience, they have one more year of experience and next year they can be better.”

Chelsea were reportedly interested in Virgil van Dijk before the defender signed a new deal with Liverpool

Getty Images

As well as incomings, it is likely to be another busy summer of outgoings at the Bridge, with a number of players loaned out last summer and in January due to return to the club.

There is also a decision to be made over Jadon Sancho’s future. The Englishman’s loan move from Manchester United is due to become permanent at the end of the campaign, but Chelsea have the option of paying a £5million penalty to cancel their obligation to buy.

"Not yet, including Jadon,” Maresca said, when asked whether any decisions have already been made over his players’ futures. “We didn’t have a moment where we can sit and decide about different players. There’s no time.

“Now, it’s a waste of time because we need to finish the season and then at the end of the season we can sit and take what we think is the right decision for all of them.”