Enzo Maresca to consider huge Chelsea change vs Brentford after £70m summer transfer decision

Enzo Maresca (Image: Photo by Alex Davidson - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Enzo Maresca has one really big dilemma for when his Chelsea side travel to Brentford next Saturday.

Of course, a lot lies on whether Cole Palmer is fit enough to feature after the Blues attacker being absent for the last two matches due to a groin injury. If Palmer does not feature, then Joao Pedro may well be asked to go in the No.10 role yet again.

If Palmer is available, then Joao Pedro can go further up. One thing is for sure, though: Chelsea are short of options in the central striker role. Less so now, with Marc Guiu being recalled from his loan spell - that lasted just 26 days - at Sunderland on deadline day.

Guiu was meant to be at the Stadium of Light for the entirety of the 2025/26 campaign to get some first team experience in the Premier League. However, with Liam Delap limping off with a hamstring injury early into the win against Fulham last weekend , Chelsea are set to be without their new No.9 for several weeks .

Recalling Guiu allowed Nicolas Jackson to move on a season-long loan to Bayern Munich. The German champions have paid Chelsea £14.2million for the loan fee, with a £56.2million obligation to buy the Senegalese striker if certain conditions are met. At one point, Chelsea were reluctant to let Jackson leave, but Guiu returning to Stamford Bridge allowed the club to cash in on the striker.

In Guiu, though, presents an exciting option for the Blues. Whether or not he is trusted to start games in the Premier League remains to be seen, with the 19-year-old striker featuring just 16 times last season - with only seven of them coming from the start. And, crucially, none of them came in the league.

Now, however, seems like the perfect time for Guiu, who was signed from Barcelona for around £5million last summer, to be given a run in the first team. If it's not now, then it begs the question: when?

From Guiu's perspective, this is an enormous opportunity to prove himself on the biggest stage. The former Barcelona striker has bags of potential but to date, he hasn't been given a real chance to demonstrate that. During the Conference League league phase last season, Guiu scored six goals - including a hat-trick in the home win over Shamrock Rovers.

Speaking earlier this year, it was easy to see the admiration Maresca had for Guiu. "Marc is improving a lot, to be honest," Maresca said. "He is doing fantastic. Day after day he is more ready for that kind of game."

There are a couple of more unorthodox options for Maresca as well, including playing one of Tyrique George or Pedro Neto as the No.9. Both have been used as the central striker under the Chelsea head coach, including in the win against Fulham where George was brought on early for the injured Delap.