Chelsea news: Enzo Maresca eyes Bundesliga winger as misfit plots return to former club

Life at Stamford Bridge hasn't been the breeze Marc Guiu hoped for when he was recalled to the club over the summer. So much so that the former Barcelona prodigy has reportedly asked to leave Chelsea in January and return to familiar surroundings.

He wouldn't be the only prominent figure to leave the club of late, either, after Casper Stylsvig's recent exit. However, the former chief revenue officer has already stumbled into fresh employment.

Elsewhere, there could be a new arrival in west London after Chelsea joined the race to battle Brighton for a Bundesliga wonderkid. Mirror Football breaks down today's latest headlines so you don't have to.

Blues battling Brighton for Bundesliga wonderkind

Chelsea have a lot to thank Brighton for after helping develop future Blues mainstays like Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro, Marc Cucurella and Levi Colwill. However, the west Londoners are hoping to beat the Seagulls at their own game by targeting Kolm winger Said El Mala.

Reports in Germany have claimed Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are already raising interest in the 19-year-old. However, Chelsea and Brighton appear to have thrown their hats in the ring for arguably the brightest teenage talent in the Bundesliga right now.

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Despite only making his top-flight debut this season, El Mala hasn't looked out of place among his senior peers. And he's contributed to the Koln cause with two goals and one assist in his first six Bundesliga appearances.

Brighton have made a habit out of signing lesser-known prospects for affordable fee before selling on for massive profit. However, Chelsea will hope to cut out the middle man by adding to their winger corps direct.

Chelsea misfit eyeing January return to former club

After being forced back to Stamford Bridge in August, Guiu is already targeting a return to Sunderland in the winter transfer window. The Spaniard joined the Black Cats on loan in the summer and made three senior appearances for the club before he was recalled.

Liam Delap's injury late in the summer transfer window forced Maresca's hand in finding cover in attack. However, Guiu has hardly featured for his parent club since returning, with his only appearance for Chelsea this season coming in a 16-minute cameo against Liverpool.

Guiu, 19, came to west London with high expectations despite his modest £5m fee, scoring six times in his first 16 appearances for the club. Sunderland had looked to capitalise by offering more regular minutes in the north-east, only for those plans to peter out unexpectedly.

But reports suggest Guiu must have enjoyed his brief spell at the Stadium of Light given his January intentions. And it's little wonder why after Sunderland have enjoyed a hugely promising start under Regis Le Bris this season.

Chelsea chief lands glitzy new job

Not long after taking his leave of Stamford Bridge, former Blues money man Stylsvig is already in a new position. And he has swapped one pressure cauldron for another after unveiled as executive director of sports business at the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).

Stylsvig has also joined the organisation's board of management after heading for the Chelsea exit last month. And the swift nature of his redeployment serves to illustrate just how in-demand the Dane was.

The finance expert previously served as chief revenue officer at AC Milan and Fulham. This followed almost eight years as global sponsorship director for Manchester United, helping ensure the Red Devils' revenue was up to scratch.

He performed in the same capacity at Stamford Bridge since November 2023 and helped enact a complete overhaul of Chelsea's commercial operations. The HKJC boasts an annual turnover of around £29million, with Stylsvig set to get underway in his new role from January 15.

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