Chelsea preparing for quick transfer 'breakthrough' as £97.5m stance confirmed

Chelsea have completed their first transfer of the summer but Stamford Bridge is always a busy place when it comes to business. The arrival of Tosin Adarabioyo on a free signing has meant the Blues have secured themselves depth in a weakened position following Thiago Silva's departure, with Premier League experience and someone who already has ties to the club.

For new manager Enzo Maresca, he'll certainly have his eyes on priority targets ahead of the 2024/25 campaign and will be keeping a watchful eye on the 2024 European Championships that kick-off next week to see if they give any indication as to who might be up for grabs.

However, the transfer window isn't just one way traffic - and if any club has been the definition of that over the past few seasons, it's been Chelsea. Reports have suggested that the club do not have to sell players before the Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules deadline for the 2023/24 period but departures before the start of the new season are nonetheless expected.

Here, football.london brings you latest from Stamford Bridge ahead of the summer window opening...

Lukaku stance confirmed

It was an interesting return back in 2021 for the Belgian international under Thomas Tuchel for what was a then-club record fee of £97.5 million from Serie A side Inter Milan before quickly stoking controversy in late December of that year which saw him claim about not being 'happy' under Tuchel during an interview with Sky Italia.

Lukaku claimed that the head coach 'has chosen to play with another system', comparing the teams tactics with that at Inter and then went on to express his wish to return to Inter 'in the near future'. That led to him being dropped by Tuchel for the upcoming clash against Liverpool and he eventually returned to Inter on a season-long loan deal the next summer.

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The next season, he landed a loan move to Roma in which his entire salary for the season was paid for by the Serie A club. Under Jose Mourinho, the 31-year-old scored 21 goals from 47 appearances across all competitions but is now set to return to Stamford Bridge yet again with no hope for any gametime.

The star's release clause is believed to be £38m, and while clubs have started offering cheaper offers, it's not looked fantastic business-wise ahead of the window's official opening next week. However, it has been said the club will only look for a permanent sale for him this summer with no hope of a third consecutive season out on loan.

football.london says: This is definitely the right way to go about things. It's obviously not worked out, and it's been a horrible piece of business both on and off the pitch given the staggering amount of money involved.

The Romelu Lukaku vs Chelsea saga has been far too ugly for the club to continue. While it's fully on the player and has nothing to do with the club, the best thing for the Blues to do now is cut their losses and find Lukaku a new home. It's clear that he wants out, two consecutive seasons on loan have proven that, and there are options for him on the market.

Whether that's at yet another Italian club, a fourth reunion with Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahçe or in the Saudi Pro League, it's time for new manager Maresca to make it one of his priorities as soon as he arrives at Stamford Bridge to stamp out this problem once and for all.

Broja exit talks underway

Everton are reportedly 'pushing' to sign Chelsea striker Armando Broja. The Albanian international failed to break into Mauricio Pochettino's regular squad after long-term injuries made it difficult for him to get minutes past Nicolas Jackson and his loan out to Fulham in the January transfer window didn't do him any favours.

Now with the arrival of Maresca, it looks as though the 22-year-old is set for a departure from Stamford Bridge this summer, with the Toffees hoping for a quick breakthrough with a £30m package deal. It's not the first time Broja has been rumoured with an exit, having been linked with a number of clubs across the continent including AC Milan, Monaco, Wolves, Crystal Palace and Bologna.

Sean Dyche's side are currently in ownership turmoil after owner Farhad Moshiri's takeover deal with prospective buyers 777 Partners collapsed suddenly after a court case in New York was filed against them accusing them of a complex 'pattern of fraud'.

Now there's interest from various parties including Evertonian businessmen and supporters AJ Bell and George Downing and American billionaire Dan Friedkin who is the president and owner of Serie A club Roma.

football.london says: It'll be very disappointing to see Broja go after what was such a promising start to his short career at Chelsea under Frank Lampard's original stint as boss.

His long-term injury meant Broja had a lot of ground to make up when Mauricio Pochettino arrived at the club, but the Argentinian constantly reminded the press about his upcoming involvement upon his return to full fitness. Unfortunately, that never came and now the academy graduate is set to be sent on his way without getting a proper run-in as the central focus up front for the Blues.

The loan spell at Fulham didn't exactly help things either, playing just 70 minutes of Premier League football strewn across eight substitute appearances for the Cottagers before making the short trip back across west London to Chelsea again. If Chelsea can get the £30m that Everton are rumoured to be happy paying, I'd take it in a heartbeat.

It should be clear to everyone, especially Enzo Maresca, that Broja isn't the future at Chelsea and getting £30m towards another asset that'll be far more useful in both the short and long-term future will go a long way in easing the Italian in at Stamford Bridge.