Enzo Maresca faces a significant conundrum as his Chelsea squad prepares to travel to Brentford next Saturday. The availability of Cole Palmer is paramount, as the talented Blues forward has missed the last two fixtures due to a troublesome groin injury. If Palmer remains sidelined, Joao Pedro may once again assume the No.10 role. However, should Palmer prove fit, Pedro may be positioned further up the pitch. Regardless, Chelsea find themselves rather thin in central striking options.
This situation has been slightly alleviated by the recall of Marc Guiu from his brief loan spell at Sunderland, which lasted a mere 26 days. Initially, the plan was for Guiu to gain valuable first-team experience throughout the 2025/26 season at the Stadium of Light. However, an untimely hamstring injury to Chelsea’s new No.9, Liam Delap, during the recent victory against Fulham means Delap will be unavailable for several weeks, necessitating Guiu’s return to Stamford Bridge.
Guiu’s homecoming facilitated Nicolas Jackson’s departure on a season-long loan to Bayern Munich. The German giants paid a loan fee of £14.2 million, with a £56.2 million purchase obligation contingent upon specific conditions being met. Initially hesitant to let Jackson leave, Chelsea seized the opportunity to monetise the move upon Guiu’s return.
Guiu himself could represent an intriguing option for Chelsea. Whether Maresca will entrust the 19-year-old with a Premier League start remains uncertain. Last season, Guiu managed 16 appearances, though only seven were from the starting lineup and none in the league.
READ MORE CHELSEA NEWS: