“Chelsea is about to make a huge mistake by letting him go and Maresca is behind it. I don’t know what He has against the young player” – This is according to Frank Lampard as Enzo Maresca is playing a key role in Chelsea’s potential £50 million transfer for a key player — a move that most believe could turn out to be a costly error for the club. ‎

Noni Madueke’s potential switch to Arsenal appears to be gaining traction.

 

Over the weekend, trusted sources such as Fabrizio Romano reported that personal terms have been agreed, and it now seems the two clubs are steadily closing in on a transfer agreement.

 

Why Chelsea Are Open to Selling a Key Player

 

If Chelsea had no interest in parting ways with Madueke, this deal wouldn’t have progressed this far. Arsenal entering discussions over personal terms clearly indicates that Chelsea have shown some willingness to negotiate.

 

This development has left many Chelsea supporters puzzled—why would the club consider offloading a consistent starter to a domestic rival? In an article for Football.London, journalist Tom Coley explored this question.

 

Maresca’s Influence Behind the Decision

 

Coley noted that the transfer fee—believed to be around £50 million—isn’t so extraordinary that Chelsea couldn’t reject it. It’s a decent return on the £35 million they paid for Madueke in January 2023, but is a £15 million profit worth letting go of a first-team regular?

 

The answer may lie less in financial logic and more in managerial preference. It’s likely that new head coach Enzo Maresca doesn’t see Madueke as a long-term fit for his tactical setup. Instead of the club pushing for a sale purely for profit, this may be more about Maresca reshaping the squad to suit his vision—while the Chelsea board tries to turn the situation into a financially beneficial outcome.