Enzo Maresca requests Chelsea to sign 2 Barcelona players who are not considered 'essential' by Hansi Flick: Reports

Incoming Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has reportedly requested the Blues to launch moves for Barcelona pair Raphinha and Jules Kounde in the upcoming summer transfer window.

After parting ways with Mauricio Pochettino earlier this month, the Blues are said to be close to appointing Maresca as their new manager. They are set to hand the Italian tactician a five-year-contract and dish out £10 million in compensation fee to Leicester City.

Now, according to Spanish news website El Nacional, Maresca has told Chelsea's top brass that he is keen to add two Barcelona stars to his squad. He is interested in signing Raphinha due to his new club's lacklustre wide options, and is hoping to bolster the Stamford Bridge outfit's defence with Kounde's potential signing this summer.

Meanwhile, Barcelona could decide to sell both Raphinha and Kounde as the duo are considered to be not 'essential' for incoming boss Hansi Flick. They are said to have slapped a £51 million price tag on the Brazilian, while the defender's asking price is still unknown.

Ahead of the 2022-23 season, Chelsea were reportedly in the race to sign both the aforementioned players. However, Barcelona signed Raphinha from Leeds United in a potential £55 million deal and snapped up Kounde from Sevilla in a £51 million move in the summer.

Ex-Barcelona star says Chelsea should not sign new player to replace Nicolas Jackson

Speaking to British betting website Grosvenor Sport, ex-Arsenal and Barcelona ace Emmanuel Petit urged the Blues to not sign a new striker this summer. He said (h/t TV360 Nigeria):

"Chelsea do not need [Victor]Osimhen or [Alexander] Isak. We all know about the No. 9 curse and in the last couple of months, we've seen what [Nicolas] Jackson can do. There's no need to put more pressure on him by signing someone like Isak on his back."

Claiming that Chelsea should trust Nicolas Jackson, Petit concluded:

"You need competition in every position, but when you have someone like Jackson starting to emerge, don't put pressure on him and let him explode. For me, I'm not buying Isak [or Osimhen] as Jackson is already beginning to flourish."

Napoli's Victor Osimhen endured a lacklustre season by his standards, scoring 17 goals in 32 matches this season. Newcastle United's Alexander Isak bagged 25 goals in 40 overall appearances this campaign.

In comparison, Jackson found the back of the opposition net 17 times in his debut season for the Blues. The 22-year-old Senegalese also provided six assists in 44 outings across all competitions for his club.