Enzo Maresca has already dropped multiple Chelsea transfer hints amid one-word admission

"Disaster," Enzo Maresca responded when asked in January how he was finding the mid-season transfer window. It was a bit of a tongue in cheek comment, but the Chelsea head coach did not enjoy the noise around his players - that much was clear to see.

The were very active when it came to outgoings over the course of the last transfer window but were quiet on the incoming front. However, in the summer things are expected to be very busy once again at Stamford Bridge.

football.london understands Chelsea are looking to sign a new No.9 in the summer transfer window, with the likes of . While remains very highly rated at the club, there is an acceptance the striker needs more support and competition.

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Also, Chelsea are looking to add a new left-sided winger to their ranks, with both and Jamie Gittens of interest. from Athletic Bilbao is another option, although his wage demands make any potential deal more complicated.

Chelsea were interested in signing , but the Spain international has since completed a move to Real Madrid. Either way, all signs point towards the Blues recruiting in the centre of defence over the summer transfer window.

has had a whole season, almost, to review his squad and the Chelsea head coach will know now the areas that need strengthening and those players who do not have a future at Stamford Bridge. Over the coming months, Maresca will sit down with the two sporting directors to discuss how Chelsea operate in the upcoming transfer window.

With all of this being said, football.london takes a look at everything the Italian has had to say on the club's summer plans over the course of the season:

Missing Jackson

When Jackson was missing for a two-month period, it was clear as day Chelsea missed the No.9's presence in some matches. And while Maresca did not directly talk about transfers, the fact there was no other option for the Blues up front was rather telling.

He said this in February: "Sometimes I think you need to play games without players to realise how important they are. We said many times about Nico; he is important on and off the ball. Off the ball, his intensity is very good and on the ball, he is always a threat."

'For sure'

Around the same time, though, Maresca also addressed the striker problem at Stamford Bridge. The Blues head coach revealed the club will act in the summer if they believe there is a problem with the lack of depth in the No.9 position.

He said: "From now to the summer, we have still four, five months. For sure, in the summer, we will see if we need something different, not only in terms of striker but in general. From there, we decide."

Champions League reliance

Chelsea are in a strong position going into this weekend's final round of fixtures as they bid to return to the Champions League next season. The financial boost the club will receive for simply qualifying is enormous, but what it does in transfer windows cannot be understated either.

At the end of last month, Maresca admitted he would expect a "completely different" window if Chelsea do not return to Europe's elite competition. Asked whether qualification will have a big influence, Maresca responded: "Absolutely, yes.

"Today, football is not like five or ten years ago when the rules were different. Today’s rules, you have to be careful how much you spend because you can be banned [from competitions] or not in the right place. It will be a completely different kind of target if we finish in the Champions League or not."

100% confirmed

Just last week, with the summer window fast approaching, Maresca was less coy about the club's plans. When asked if he wanted to provide competition for Jackson for next season, the Italian simply responded: "100%."

Then when asked if a lack of depth in the squad has harmed Jackson's development, Maresca explained: "I’m not able to answer now because I don’t know the other part, if a No 9 was here. For sure, with us, in my personal opinion, he has grown and improved a lot. Now if another No9 was here is it better for him? I don’t know."