Enzo Maresca tells Chelsea fans to expect players to arrive and leave before the winter transfer window closes next week. As ever, the Blues are being linked with a number of signings and with plenty of their players departing the club before transfer deadline day on Monday. It has actually been quiet in terms of completed deals so far this month at Stamford Bridge, but things could change very quickly in the final few days of the transfer window.

Maresca is certainly expecting them to, although he could shed no light on who he thinks will be arriving or leaving. ‘You can expect players arriving and you can expect players leaving – it is like this in this moment,’ Maresca told a press conference on Friday morning. ‘I don’t have any idea about the ones that can leave and the ones that can arrive. Anything can happen, we will see. For me the main focus is just 48 hours, the game, it is the main focus and the most important thing.’.

Chelsea host West Ham on Monday night in the Premier League, just as the transfer window is closing. He admits there is plenty of noise around some of his players, but says it is not a unique challenge and Hammers boss Graham Potter will likely be dealing with the same issue. ‘We have, in this moment, many noises around the players but it is not just for us,’ he said. ‘If you ask Graham, he will probably be exactly the same.

‘I don’t know if they have some noises about players, but overall it’s exactly the same situation for all the clubs, all the managers.’. He did admit, though, that transfer speculation does impact players, saying: ‘100 per cent. For me, yes. But not only us, all the teams. They are human beings. Even if they are professional and focused, but if they are talking to other clubs then the focus is probably not 100 per cent.’.

Chelsea forward Joao Felix has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, despite only signing in the summer. The Portugal international has failed to make an impact in the first half of the season and Aston Villa are interested in signing him. Axel Disasi has also emerged as a target for Villa, while the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Ben Chilwell are available for moves and Christopher Nkunku has attracted interest from Manchester United and Bayern Munich.

Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel has been mooted as a Chelsea transfer target, as has Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho. The Blues are also considering a move for a striker, with Brighton’s Evan Ferguson on their radar. Arrow MORE: Arsenal transfer target Sverre Nypan makes huge decision on his future. Arrow MORE: Theo Walcott names the Chelsea transfer target he ‘wouldn’t be against’ Arsenal signing.