has confirmed that are going to sign a left winger in the summer transfer window.

The Blues are in the market to sign a left-sided forward after they made the decision not to pay £5million to send Jadon Sancho back to Manchester United at the end of his loan.

Sancho, 25, spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Stamford Bridge but struggled for consistent form, scoring five goals and providing 10 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions.

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Chelsea had a £25m obligation to buy Sancho, but the transaction included an option for the club to send him back for £5m. In the end, the Blues decided against signing him on a permanent deal.

It has led to Chelsea needing another left winger, with Mykhailo Mudryk still unavailable. Pedro Neto and Tyrique George can both feature there, but the Blues would prefer to sign another this summer.

Jamie Gittens of Borussia Dortmund has emerged as Chelsea's top target, with the 20-year-old said to be keen on a move to west London. Out-of-favour Manchester United forward Alejandro Garnacho and Athletic Club de Bilbao's Nico Williams are among the others the Blues like.

When asked about Chelsea's decision not to sign Sancho, Maresca said on Sunday: "Jadon is not with us. So for sure that is a position that probably we need to do something.

"Also because, Misha [Mudryk] is not with us. At this moment we have Noni [Madueke], Pedro [Neto] and Ty [George] as proper wingers. So for sure something is going to happen."

The Blues are expected to rekindle their interest in Gittens now the transfer window is back open, having had a £42m bid rejected before the Club World Cup.

Elsewhere, Chelsea made an approach for Mike Maignan last week but Maresca still has faith in Robert Sanchez, who has been linked with a move away from the Blues.

"Robert is the number one, we have Filip as number two," Maresca said.

"[Mike] Penders joins us in the next few weeks to analyse, judge him and take a final decision. Then for Maignan or different players, I don't think it's worth talking about them."

Chelsea face MLS side LAFC in their Club World Cup opener on Monday night. The Blues then face Brazilian outfit Flamengo on Friday before entertaining Tunisian team ES Tunis five days later.