TRANSFER PUSH TO KICK OFF THE MARESCA ERA

CHELSEA FINALISING FIVE-YEAR DEAL FOR ITALIAN BOSS... AND DRIVE FOR NEW RECRUITS WILL FOLLOW

- Nick Purewal

CHELSEA will accelerate summer transfer plans to make four main signings once the appointment of Enzo Maresca has been completed.

The Blues were today finalising a deal to make the 44-year-old Italian their head coach on a five-year contract after thrashing out a compensation package worth £10million with newly-promoted Leicester.

Maresca will not have control over transfers, but he will have plenty of input and has already discussed potential targets with Chelsea chiefs.

The Blues are set to prioritise a new goalkeeper, centre-back, left-back and forward this summer.

Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford is among the targets being considered, while Chelsea are understood to be pursuing a free transfer for Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo.

The defender (right) will leave at the end of his contract next month and is in demand, with Newcastle and Manchester United also pushing hard to sign him. The SBC Blues have also tracked Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo, who could leave the Nou Camp this summer.