4 players who could play huge roles at Chelsea during 2024/25

Another new dawn beckons for Chelsea, a club where nothing ever lasts too long - good or bad.

Following Mauricio Pochettino's departure at the end of last season, Enzo Maresca has been appointed to take residence in the Chelsea dugout for the 2024/25 campaign. After a Championship-winning year with Leicester City in which he installed a patient, possession-based philosophy, the Italian has been marked as an elite coach in the making.

However, time is a precious commodity at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea must make a quick start to the new campaign, or else Maresca risks the brunt of an infuriated set of owners who have proved they are never afraid to pull the trigger.

While Chelsea have been as busy as ever in the summer transfer market, they already boast one of the Premier League's deepest squads. After a difficult 2023/24, the Blues desperately need some of their lucrative purchases of recent years to make a significant difference on the pitch.

Here are four players who could play huge roles for the west London outfit next term.

1. Christopher Nkunku

Within Christopher Nkunku's 14 Chelsea appearances during his debut campaign, there were glimpses of his genius. The 2022/23 Bundesliga top scorer arrived with hefty expectations following a £52m move from RB Leipzig, but a nasty injury forced him into a bit-part role under Pochettino.

Adept at playing as a false nine or orthodox number ten, Nkunku could massively relieve Cole Palmer of the goalscoring burden at Stamford Bridge. He managed an impressive 70 goals in Germany, with 56 assists for good measure.

Excellent in tight spaces with a killer first touch and great ball retention, Nkunku could thrive in a Maresca side that will allow him to flex his creative muscles.

2. Romeo Lavia

Similarly to Nkunku, former Southampton and Manchester City midfielder Romeo Lavia endured an injury-hit debut season in west London. He was limited to a grand total of just 32 minutes for the Blues, who could have really used his grit in the engine room when times were tough.

However, the Belgian is now fit once more and has been a regular for Chelsea during pre-season. With a keen eye for a pass, great tenacity in the tackle and excellent in-game intelligence, he could prove a crucial member of Maresca's setup during the upcoming campaign.

He will face competition for his starting berth from Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, but a strong pre-season run may have moved him up the pecking order.

3. Noni Madueke

With the relentless Palmer often residing on the right wing, Noni Madueke had little hope of ever putting together a string of starts. But there have been suggestions that Palmer will be utilised in a more central position by Maresca, leaving that wing vacant for a traditional wide man.

Madueke is certainly that, offering Chelsea blistering speed, sharp feet and a willingness to be direct. Much like Stephy Mavididi and Abdul Fatawu did last season for Maresca's Leicester, Madueke could provide some much-needed variety to the Blues' attacks.

4. Marc Cucurella

Marc Cucurella has made the remarkably quick transformation from court jester to superstar over the past few months. The left-back's Stamford Bridge career looked to be petering out but a terrific end to the season has reinvigorated the former Brighton man.

Cucurella's impressive displays continued at Euro 2024 where he was Luis de la Fuente's starting left-back. His relentless runs and surprisingly stoic defending helped Spain lift the Henri Delaunay Cup in Germany, forcing his naysayers to eat a large slice of humble pie.

With Ben Chilwell still a regular in the treatment room, Cucurella could be absolutely pivotal to Chelsea's setup under Maresca. The Italian likes to play with an inverted full-back - a role held by Ricardo Pereira at Leicester - and Cucurella showed his ability to perform such a function down the stretch last term.

If he can keep his form up, he's still able to complete an exceptional comeback in west London.

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