Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has admitted that transfer speculation has contributed to his team’s mid-season slump, with the final days of the January transfer window likely to see further player movement at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s form has significantly dipped since mid-December, when they were just two points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. The club now finds itself 13 points off the top, having won only once in their past seven matches. This decline in form has been attributed to various factors, including constant speculation surrounding the futures of several players.
Maresca acknowledged the impact that ongoing transfer rumours have had on his squad, saying, “A hundred percent for me. But not only us, all the teams, because in the end they (the players) are human beings.”

Despite players asserting that they remain professional and focused, Maresca believes that constant talk of transfers inevitably disrupts concentration. “If they are talking about you, about different clubs, probably the focus is not 100 percent,” he added.
With the January transfer window closing at 2300 GMT on Monday, Maresca predicted both incoming and outgoing transfers at Chelsea. Several players, including Axel Disasi, Cesare Casadei, and Joao Felix, have been linked with moves away, while Renato Veiga has already left for Juventus on loan.
Meanwhile, Chelsea has been linked with wingers such as Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho and Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel. “You can expect players to arrive and you can expect players leaving,” Maresca remarked.
Another area of uncertainty for Chelsea is their goalkeeper situation. Maresca has yet to decide whether Robert Sanchez, who has made several high-profile errors this season, will start against West Ham. Although Sanchez was initially the first-choice goalkeeper, Maresca hinted that there may be changes, especially as backup Filip Jorgensen has impressed when called upon. “Any decision I take I feel good because every time Filip played since we started he has done well,” Maresca said.