Revealed: Why 20-year-old Spaniard rejected Chelsea move at the eleventh hour

Last season, Argentine manager Mauricio Pochettino suffered without a proper goal-scoring striker for Chelsea. He had managed with Senegal international Nicolas Jackson, who joined last summer from Villareal. The striker scored 17 goals and six assists in 44 appearances across all competitions in his debut season for the Blues.

The Albanian international Armando Broja disappointed Pochettino despite the gaffer giving him multiple chances to prove his ability at Stamford Bridge. Later, the Argentine manager loaned out Broja to Fulham and managed with Jackson until the end of the season. Chelsea’s new manager doesn’t want to take risks on the front line and he is currently searching for a striker in the ongoing summer transfer market. He has already completed the signing of young striker Marc Guiu from Barcelona in the summer.

The West London club has been linked with multiple strikers to land another goal-poacher for the new season. Maresca has also tried French forward Christopher Nkunku as a striker option in the pre-season games and the player has excelled in the role by scoring multiple goals in the pre-season tour. The tactician also hinted that he may use Marc Guiu as a key player in the upcoming season for the Blues.

Omorodion’s deal collapsed

Chelsea was close to signing Spanish young striker Samu Omorodion from Atletico Madrid on a long-term contract this week, with the forward already completing his medical with the club. The deal collapsed after the player felt Chelsea ‘disrespected him’, per Express.

According to El Chiringuito TV, Chelsea attempted to buy 50 per cent of the forward’s rights and the Spanish striker felt it was an insult and turned down the deal at the last minute. Chelsea also agreed to sell Conor Gallagher to Atletico Madrid, and that deal might be affected after Omorodion refused to join the West London club. The 20-year-old Spanish striker has also been linked with Bournemouth for a move away from Spain, and he may activate the deal after turning down Chelsea’s offer.

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The Blues have also shifted their focus to re-sign Joao Felix in the summer, and they may believe that will help get Gallagher’s deal over the line. Felix might be a good addition to the Blues but Maresca would be more interested in signing a striker in the summer. The tactician may also use Nkunku and Guiu as key players, along with Cole Palmer, in the attacking line for the new season, as both players have impressed the manager with their performances in the pre-season tour.