In recent Chelsea transfer news, the club is nearing the completion of their sixth acquisition for the summer window, having reached an agreement with FC Basel for the £14 million transfer of defender Renato Veiga, as reported by football.london.
In recent Chelsea transfer news, the club is nearing the completion of their sixth acquisition for the summer window, having reached an agreement with FC Basel for the £14 million transfer of defender Renato Veiga, as reported by football.london.
The 20-year-old Portuguese player is poised to sign a long-term contract with Chelsea, with his medical examination already arranged. Veiga, a versatile left-sided central defender who can also play as a left-back or defensive midfielder, has caught Chelsea’s eye due to his adaptability.
Veiga joined Basel last summer from Sporting CP and will be Chelsea’s sixth addition in what has already been a bustling transfer season for the club. Previously, Chelsea secured the signings of Tosin Adarabioyo, Estevao Willian (who will join in 2025), Omari Kellyman, Marc Guiu, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Furthermore, the club is on the brink of completing a £17 million transfer for Aaron Anselmino from Boca Juniors, which will bring the total number of new players to eight, pushing Chelsea’s summer spending beyond £100 million.
This summer’s transfer activities suggest significant influence from Enzo Maresca, who was appointed head coach last month, replacing Mauricio Pochettino. Maresca, known for his unique tactical approach that includes having full-backs invert when in possession, finds Veiga an ideal fit for this strategy.
The signing of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City also illustrates Maresca’s influence on the club’s transfer decisions. Dewsbury-Hall previously worked with Maresca at Leicester, achieving notable success together. Maresca’s involvement in the transfer strategy appears substantial, contrasting with the minimal influence Pochettino reportedly had, which contributed to his departure from Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s transfer operations are orchestrated by the club’s co-sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. Despite the past issues with Pochettino over transfer control, Maresca seems to have a more collaborative relationship with the club’s management regarding player acquisitions.
As for Veiga, he will be evaluated during the pre-season to determine if he is ready to compete for a spot in Chelsea’s first team. If deemed not yet ready, a loan move might be considered, potentially to Strasbourg, a club within the BlueCo multi-club network.
Additionally, Marc Cucurella, currently excelling in Euro 2024 after helping Spain defeat Germany to reach the semi-finals, remains an option for the inverted left-back role. He demonstrated his potential in this position during the latter part of Pochettino’s tenure at Chelsea.
