Marc Guiu Approaches Chelsea Exit as Napoli Shows Interest
Chelsea’s attacking clear-out is gathering pace, and Marc Guiu is moving closer to the door.
The 20-year-old striker is weighing up three proposals as the transfer window ticks into its final week, with clubs from Italy, Spain and Germany all pushing to sign him either on loan or on a permanent deal. Napoli are among the most serious suitors and are exploring a straight purchase.
Guiu scored three goals in 16 appearances across all competitions last season, flashes of promise in a campaign short on minutes. Chelsea signed him from Barcelona for £5million in 2024; now they value the La Masia graduate at around £25m despite his limited game time at Stamford Bridge.
Napoli’s interest in Chelsea’s forward line does not stop with Guiu. The Serie A side, who are already taking Benoit Badiashile on an initial season-long loan, also sounded out a move for Nicolas Jackson. That chase has stalled, though, with Chelsea’s £65m valuation cooling their enthusiasm.
Guiu’s Situation
Guiu’s situation is more straightforward. He is not part of new head coach Xabi Alonso’s first-team plans for this season and did not receive a squad number before Chelsea’s opening Premier League fixture against Fulham on Monday night. For a young striker trying to build a career, the message is clear.
Alonso and the club hierarchy are determined to trim a bloated squad before the deadline and reshape the attack around a new focal point. Jackson, Guiu and Liam Delap are all available for the right price as Chelsea look to cash in and reset.
Jackson's Interest
Jackson is not short of admirers. Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid are among the clubs monitoring his situation, waiting to see if Chelsea soften their stance or if the player pushes for a move.
Delap's Prospects
Delap has his own queue. Everton, Nottingham Forest and former club Ipswich are all keen on the 23-year-old, while Serie A side Como are also in the mix after already landing Trevoh Chalobah from Chelsea earlier in the window. Despite Delap scoring just two goals in all competitions last season, Chelsea have placed a £50m price tag on him, aiming to bank a sizeable profit on the £30m they paid to beat Manchester United to his signature last summer. Ipswich, meanwhile, are understood to have a sell-on clause in that deal, giving them a financial interest in whatever happens next.
Future of Chelsea's Attack
While one generation of forwards is being pushed towards the exit, another has been firmly installed at the heart of Alonso’s plans. Chelsea will go into the new campaign with Joao Pedro as their first-choice striker. The Brazilian, signed from Brighton last summer, has impressed to such an extent that the club have already moved to tie him down to a new long-term contract running until 2034, complete with a pay rise and improved terms.
As Joao Pedro settles in as the man to lead the line, the question now is simple: which of Chelsea’s other strikers will still be standing beside him when the window finally slams shut?
