Enzo Maresca's dream £300m Chelsea midfield will be complete after major transfer hint

Chelsea's midfield has been a major talking point this season with Enzo Maresca being rather light in the department throughout the season.

After selling Cesare Casadei and loaning out over the January transfer window, many expected the to recall from his loan deal at Strasbourg. However, Santos, who has had an extraordinary campaign in France with the BlueCo-owned club, remained at the Stade de la Meinau for the entirety of his season-long contract.

the 21-year-old midfielder will represent Chelsea in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. Santos has spent the past two summers with the west Londoners but has then been loaned out. The midfielder recently admitted there has been no communication from the club as to whether he will be playing his football at Stamford Bridge next season.

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If he does impress in the Club World Cup, though, it will tell Chelsea all they need to know regarding Santos. The Brazil international could be added to a squad in desperate need of central midfielders. and have been the Blues' two first-choice in that position this season, with having another campaign disrupted by injuries.

has not been trusted in the Premier League after signing from Leicester City last summer and could be on his way out of the club at the end of the season, while Mathis Amougou is , football.london understands. It has left the Blues very light in midfield - and that is why they have agreed a deal with Sporting CP for Dario Essugo to join the club in the summer.

Chelsea agreed a deal for Essugo in March to join at the end of the season. The 20-year-old is expected to be a back-up option for the Blues next season, with Caicedo very much still the go-to man for . football.london and will add depth in Maresca's second season in the dugout.

If Santos was to be recalled, it would leave Chelsea looking much better in the centre of midfield. Caicedo, Fernandez, Lavia, Santos and Essugo presents a very exciting pool of midfielders for Maresca to choose from. These five midfielders have cost Chelsea more than £300million worth of transfer fees altogether and next season could be the first time we see them all in one squad.

Chelsea require such depth, especially if they were to get Champions League football next season. It has been a bit different this season because the level of opposition in the Conference League has not been too high, Maresca has been able to rotate his squad a bit more than normal.

If, however, Chelsea were to be back amongst Europe's elite next season, then Caicedo and Fernandez will likely to be asked to play in midweek - something they have not done too much this term. Speaking of Fernandez, there has been some speculation over his future, with Real Madrid interested in the Argentine midfielder, but football.london in the summer.