Chelsea is poised to hijack a “special” player as Enzo Maresca’s first signing, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Chelsea are on the brink of securing their first summer signing as they prepare to introduce new manager Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge. Despite the surprising departure of Mauricio Pochettino, who led Chelsea to five consecutive Premier League victories to close the season, the club swiftly identified Maresca as his successor.

Enzo Maresca, the current Leicester City boss and former Manchester City assistant coach, is reportedly set to sign a lucrative five-year contract with Chelsea. Maresca’s managerial career has seen its ups and downs, from being sacked after just 14 games at Parma to guiding Leicester to a Championship title, albeit with some struggles.

At 44, Maresca is about to join a club undergoing significant changes and facing financial pressures. Chelsea reportedly needs to sell homegrown talents like Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah, and Armando Broja by June 30th to comply with financial fair play regulations.

Despite these challenges, Chelsea appears to have secured Maresca’s first signing at no cost. According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea has successfully intercepted Newcastle United’s move for Tosin Adarabioyo, who is out of contract at Fulham this summer.

Adarabioyo, a former Manchester City defender, was a vital player for Marco Silva’s side, appearing 18 times during the season despite a groin injury. Silva praised him as a “special” player, highlighting his defensive skills and ability to build from the back: “We missed him a lot because he didn’t play the first three months of the season. Tosin is a special player for us, the way he can defend the box and his abilities on the ball.”

With Adarabioyo’s £40,000 per week deal at Fulham expiring on July 1st, and his decision not to renew his contract, he seemed set for a move to another Premier League club. Newcastle appeared to be the likely destination, with advanced talks reportedly taking place. However, Chelsea has now emerged as the frontrunner, with Romano indicating that they are in the “final stages” of finalizing the deal, making them the “clear favorites” to sign the center-back.

Adarabioyo’s arrival could trigger changes in Chelsea’s defense, with Trevoh Chalobah likely to depart amidst interest from Manchester United and Tottenham. Chalobah, already behind Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi, and Levi Colwill in the pecking order, may seek a move that benefits Chelsea financially, especially if replaced by a free signing like Adarabioyo.

Although Chelsea will only compete in the UEFA Conference League next season, the move to Stamford Bridge represents a significant step up for Adarabioyo as Chelsea aims to reclaim its status among the Premier League elite.