'They text me!' - Enzo Maresca reveals how little he cares about Chelsea's 'bomb squad' with startling transfer admission

Having completed so much transfer business across recent windows, the Blues find themselves working with a bloated senior squad. Many of those have been deemed surplus to requirements, with the path being cleared for them to move on.

As they do not form part of the bigger picture at Stamford Bridge, certain individuals are being made to train away from the rest of the first-team ranks. The likes of England internationals Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell currently fall into that category.

Lesley Ugochukwu was another, but he has completed a £23 million ($31m) transfer to Burnley. When quizzed on that deal, Maresca told reporters of those that are out of sight and mind in west London: "The situation, I think, is quite clear. They are training. I guess they are waiting for a solution. But when they leave, it's just the club that they text me or they call me.

"It was just mentioned to me that Lesley joined Burnley. I have this kind of news from the club because I don't pay attention to the ones that are training and need to leave. I just focus on how we prepare the session, how we can win games."

More sales are being lined up before the next deadline, with Maresca adding on his desire to work with a smaller group of stars: "For sure, it's much better to work with 25 players than more, than the biggest number. In this moment, we are working with the ones that we want. And we will see [what happens] from now until the transfer window is finished."

Maresca’s first season as Chelsea boss saw the Blues collect Conference League and Club World Cup honours, with their 2025-26 Premier League campaign due to get underway on August 17 when playing host to Crystal Palace.