Chelsea "already" preparing bid to sign Liverpool "superstar" for Maresca

Chelsea are believed to be planning an offer to sign one Liverpool player ahead of the summer transfer window, amid claims that Enzo Maresca’s side could look to bolster their squad before the Club World Cup on June 14th.

Chelsea eye new signings before Club World Cup begins

Away from their chase for Champions League qualification and a Premier League top four place, BlueCo are believed to be making plans for the pre-CWC transfer window, which opens from June 1st to June 10th.

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Last week, the Premier League confirmed that the summer window would be split into two sections, with the early June version allowing both Chelsea and Man City to sign players before the CWC commences.

Chelsea are said to have laid “significant groundwork” over a deal for Liam Delap, and if all goes to plan, he could be signed from Ipswich Town before the CWC kicks off (Simon Phillips).

The tournament could yield £100 million for Chelsea if they manage to win it, leaving little wonder Stamford Bridge chiefs appear set to take it seriously.

A new striker of Delap’s ilk is just one of their many transfer goals for the summer, though. Despite their large backlog of goalkeepers, with Kepa Arrizabalaga out on loan at Bournemouth, Djordje Petrovic at Strasbourg and Mike Penders set to arrive from Genk in the summer, it is believed that they want another capable body in-between the sticks.

Petrovic has refused to rule out staying at Strasbourg next season, amid his very impressive spell in Ligue 1 on loan from Chelsea, so perhaps Liverpool star Caoimhin Kelleher could fill the Serbian’s spot.

The 26-year-old, rumoured to command a £40 million asking price moving into the next window, has seriously impressed as a very capable understudy to Alisson – leading to serious interest in his signature.

Chelsea “already” preparing £40m bid to sign Liverpool star Kelleher

According to reports in Spain, Chelsea are “already” preparing a £40m bid for Kelleher, but it won’t be an “easy” negotiation for the west Londoners considering Arne Slot’s side view him as a solid squad player and understudy for Alisson.

The Irishman has showcased true match-saving quality when given the chance, and he’s arguably very unlucky that such a big-name currently sits ahead of him in the Liverpool pecking order.

During Alisson’s spell out through injury earlier this season, the Republic of Ireland international was an absolute revelation, with Virgil van Dijk calling him “world-class” and TNT Sports pundit Steve McManaman branding Kelleher a “superstar”.

“Look at the goalkeeper [Kelleher],” McManaman said.

“He’s a superstar, isn’t he? Caoimhin Kelleher.

“He played more games last year than Alisson because of injuries, he’s done exactly the same this year. If you have the quality behind you – Trent Alexander-Arnold went off today and Conor Bradley seamlessly comes in – if you’ve got that, great.”