Chelsea’s £5m player has surely just been presented with a golden opportunity in pre-season

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There’s a player on Chelsea’s pre-season tour that may have just been presented with a huge chance to show his quality.

Blues head coach Enzo Maresca is currently getting to know his squad during the club’s pre-season tour in the United States. It was great to see him use 21 different players in Thursday’s 2-2 draw against Wrexham in the first of several friendly matches.

Unfortunately, Nicolas Jackson was one of the few individuals on the trip not involved versus Wrexham.

Respected journalist Simon Phillips recently claimed via Substack that Jackson hasn’t trained yet because of an injury. Apparently, the 23-year-old striker may be lucky to play any games on the pre-season tour as he recovers from a bad ankle problem.

As a result, we think the door may be open for Chelsea youngster Marc Guiu to impress.

• READ MORE: Who is Marc Guiu? Chelsea’s summer signing who scored 33 seconds into Barcelona debut

Marc Guiu has golden opportunity

Chelsea’s options in attack without Jackson look quite depleted. On paper, the alternative striker options on the tour are Guiu, Armando Broja and Christopher Nkunku.

For Guiu, he should see this as a reel opening to force his way into Maresca first-team plans for the upcoming 2024/25 campaign.

Guiu, 18, joined the Blues in this summer transfer window in a £5m deal (BBC) from Barcelona

The teenage centre-forward certainly caught the eye during his first 45 minutes as a Chelsea player this week. Chelsea supporters hailed Guiu’s performance against Wrexham, with many impressed by his quality on and off the ball.

If the Spanish youngster can do well in the upcoming friendlies, there could be an argument to put him in the main squad straight away because there’s not an abundance of strikers at the club.

Have Chelsea signed a gem?

There wasn’t too much hype around Guiu’s addition because he cost a small fee, but fans are already beginning to talk about him early in this summer.

The Barcelona academy product has only played seven competitive first-team games in his career, scoring two goals for the Spanish giants.

It would be a big ask to throw him into the Chelsea squad next season. However, let’s hope he gets this chance to try proven himself over the next few weeks. If successful, joining such a young dressing room should be a real help.

• READ MORE: Blues defender Marc Cucurella shares what he has already said to Marc Guiu