Chelsea given edge over Man Utd in transfer for Maresca favourite

Enzo Maresca, Chelsea

Chelsea have made an approach to sign Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Enzo Maresca’s side could have the edge over Manchester United in any race for the Leicester City star.

Dewsbury-Hall was a standout performer as Leicester were promoted from the Championship back to the Premier League at the first attempt, with the midfielder grabbing 12 goals and 14 assists last season.

The 25-year-old worked under Maresca at Leicester and the Italian manager appears to be keen to bring his star man to his new club, with David Ornstein of

The Athletic

claiming contact has been made between Chelsea and the Foxes over Dewsbury-Hall.

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The report claims that no formal offer has been made yet but, crucially, Dewsbury-Hall is believed to only be keen on a move to Stamford Bridge if he is to leave his boyhood club.

Manchester United and Brighton are among the sides

that have previously registered an interest

in Dewsbury-Hall, however the player has not pushed to leave the club he has been at since the age of eight.

Leicester may also be open to a sale due to the club’s financial struggles, with a fee of €35 million (£30m) thought to be the asking price for a player who has three years remaining on his contract.

Dewsbury-Hall the ‘perfect fit’ for Maresca at Chelsea

Dewsbury-Hall is a player who has perhaps flown under the radar during his career, having made 59 appearances for Leicester in the Premier League yet never featuring for England at any level.

However, his performances under Maresca appear to have developed his game and the new Chelsea manager is thought to believe that Dewsbury-Hall is the perfect fit for his style of football in west London.

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A move for Dewsbury-Hall may potentially hinge on the future of Conor Gallagher, with the Chelsea academy graduate facing an uncertain future as he enters the final 12 months of his contract.

Gallagher, however, has insisted he has no desire to leave his boyhood club despite interest from the likes of Aston Villa and Tottenham and Chelsea’s tight financial constraints could mean a transfer may not develop until later in the summer.