Chelsea

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Our Chelsea reporter Nizaar Kinsella has been answering your questions. In the first part, he discusses the Blues' potential January transfer plans.

Tim asked: Why do you think there is no noise about us going back for Marc Guehi? Surely it makes perfect sense to try to get him in January given the ongoing injury problems we have at the back?

There seems to be such reluctance from the board to actually buy the players we need but yet have absolutely no qualms about spending big money on attackers like Jamie Gittens etc.

Nizaar answered: All bets are off after Liverpool's deadline day move collapsed. Every top club in Europe is likely to try their luck with Guehi, who has less than a year left on his Crystal Palace deal.

We know the hierarchy at Chelsea is aware of his qualities. However, I doubt injuries will factor in at this stage - given Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo are due back after the international break.

It would then be a case of whether Chelsea's project appeals to Guehi, if they make an offer and whether he is the profile needed compared with others already on the books. I am not expecting to hear anything on this soon.

Chelsea explored signing defenders before Levi Colwill's injury in the summer, most notably Dean Huijsen, but were happy to just add Jorrel Hato from Ajax, with a view to giving academy graduate Josh Acheampong further chances.

They also have other young players coming through, including Mamadou Sarr and Aaron Anselmino, who is currently on loan at Dortmund, and their future pathway is also being factored in.

Haris asked: Are Chelsea looking for a new goalkeeper in January?

Nizaar answered: Chelsea have money to spend in January but are currently happy with their squad and would only sign a player capable of taking the club to the next level.

They explored a potential market opportunity to sign Mike Maignan, but saw AC Milan's £25m price as too high for a player with a year left on his contract and walked away.

Of course, that price will probably come down in January, but the Blues are broadly happy with the form of Robert Sanchez, who won the Golden Glove at the Club World Cup, and are not expected to return to the market.

Youngster Mike Penders is also at the club, with his future chances another factor to consider.

Come back to this page later on Monday for part two of the Q&A with Nizaar, which will focus on progress towards a new stadium.

Chelsea are interested in signing Barcelona's Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo, 26, but are unlikely to make a move for him in the January window. (Football Insider, external)

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Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Chelsea's lack of front of shirt sponsor and the future of Mykhailo Mudryk have been the subjects of questions sent in via our 'Ask about Chelsea' form.

The Blues are currently the only Premier League side without a matchday shirt sponsor, while Ukraine forward Mudryk could face a lengthy ban, external after being charged by the Football Association with violating its anti-doping rules.

What is the latest on Chelsea's shirt sponsorship?

There remains an ongoing competitive process for the front-of-shirt sponsor with Chelsea believed to have had offers but focused on aligning with the right long-term partner.

The club is aiming to strike a deal worth £60m-£65m per season following qualification for the Champions League and winning the revamped Fifa Club World Cup.

Multiple potential partners are believed to be in the frame but beyond that we don't know a lot else about who it may be or when they might announce it.

I am, however, surprised no sponsor has yet been announced.

There have been some reports that the 74 charges hanging over the club may be deterring final sign-off on a deal - given, in theory, a significant points deduction could be part of a punishment.

I would also say that in the advertising industry there is some sympathy that Chelsea are chasing the biggest possible deal and taking their time, but it is still regarded as a unique situation that one hasn't been signed.

What is the current position with Mudryk?

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk remains provisionally suspended, is training alone and is continuing his legal battle.

The Ukrainian lost his number 10 shirt to Cole Palmer and was charged by the FA over a doping violation.

We await any potential sanctions in a highly confidential process which will be the next step and then any potential appeal. This could potentially drag on for a while.

There has been no update since I first answered this question in early September.

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Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

"Makelele and Kante were an inspiration to me."

Those were the words of Moises Caicedo in an interview with club media, external after completing his then British record move to Chelsea from Brighton.

Alongside an old photo of the midfielder in a kit with N'Golo Kante's name on the back, Caicedo also said: "I can say we share similar qualities, but they [Kante and Claude Makelele] were better. But now I am going to give everything for this club because they did so much for me."

While it has taken a bit more time than most expected, those watching the Blues are starting to see just how good the 23-year-old can be.

It may be early on in the season, but Caicedo has already won more player of the match awards than any other player (three), and has scored three goals from his four shots on target.

Being a defensive midfielder, the Ecuador international may be more inclined to celebrate his topping the Premier League charts for tackles and interceptions - in fact, he is joint-top across Europe's top five leagues with his 18 interceptions.

Chelsea have a strong recent history of players in the holding midfielder role.

Makelele really set the standard - the role is named after him, after all - while Kante brought his own unique style in his seven seasons and, though not strictly the same kind of player, others such as Michael Essien and Ramires are also worthy of mentions.

Arriving at an older age, both Makelele and Kante had the years on Caicedo, but how does Chelsea's latest midfield star currently rank against his idols when they were at Stamford Bridge?

Despite playing a similar position, Makelele and Kante were somewhat different in style.

Makelele was not about about distances, speed and flair - he was about protection, defence and controlling the game.

And while Kante still held these traits of his fellow countryman, the well-used football joke of '70% of the earth is covered by water, the rest by N'Golo Kante', though tongue-in-cheek, did stem from the France international's incredible ability to cover the pitch and be the engine room of the team.

Caicedo's start to life at Chelsea was not easy - perhaps weighed down by his £115m fee - but he has grown into his role and his numbers are following.

When compared per 90 minutes, the similarities between all three midfielders is what stands out.

As expected, Makelele edges it in some of the more defensive stats, like tackles and interceptions, and Kante comes to the fore when it was about winning the ball and moving with it.

Coming out on top for duels attempted, Caicedo shows his fearlessness in competing for the ball, but his ability in using it is really highlighted when it comes to passes.

With 55.7 successful passes per 90 and a passing accuracy of 90.6%, Caicedo came out ahead on those metrics.

Having grown up watching both Chelsea's legendary midfielders, perhaps Caicedo is now growing into a player that shares strengths of both - and that can only be an exciting prospect for Blues supporters.

Who do you think will end up with the greatest Chelsea midfield legacy?

Make your choice here

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Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Former Chelsea chief revenue officer Casper Stylsvig has been appointed sports business executive director of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Stylsvig joined the west London club in November 2023, making the move from AC Milan, where he held the same role.

The executive's exit from Chelsea was confirmed last month. In his new role, which starts in January, Stylsvig will be responsible for the HKJC's global sports portfolio across horse racing and football.

Before Chelsea and AC Milan, Stylsvig held senior roles at Manchester United, Barcelona and Fulham.

Chelsea are looking to strengthen defensively, with Nottingham Forest and Brazil centre-back Murillo, 23, one of the names at the top of their list of targets (Football Insider, external)

Meanwhile, Blues striker Marc Guiu may return to Sunderland during the January transfer window, despite only being recalled from his loan spell at the Stadium of Light in August. (GiveMeSport, external)

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Chelsea got the win they so needed against Liverpool right before heading into the international break, after an edgy September which saw the Blues record two wins, one draw and three losses in all competitions.

Brazilian teenager Estevao Willian's stoppage-time goal was enough to ease any building pressure on head coach Enzo Maresca and his players.

Our fan writer Will Faulks hopes the international break will bring "important breathing room" for the Blues, but BBC Sport football reporter Nizaar Kinsella is still on hand to answer your burning questions.

So send them in below - what do you want to know about Chelsea right now?

Ask your questions here

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We asked you to put yourself in Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca's shoes and suggest how you would replace Cole Palmer, who is set to be on the sidelines until next month with a groin injury.

It is a busy October for the Blues, who will be in Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup action over the next three weeks.

So who is the standout candidate to step up in his absence? Here are some of your thoughts:

Dave: Is there too much drama around this? He's out until November and we're not back until 18 October. While undoubtedly our best attacking player, we have decent cover and should be able to see ourselves through a handful of games without him.

Fossie: Chelsea proved they are not a one-man team against Liverpool. Cole Palmer was sitting in the stands and the team performed admirably. I would like to see Estevao play in the number 10 position, where I think he would be most effective, and that should solve the Palmer absence problem.

James: No Palmer, no problem. We have EsteWOW.

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Ija: Long term we would find it difficult to replace him but until November, and considering the games ahead, we can manage. I would be more afraid of losing Moises Caicedo at the moment.

Rob: Chelsea should look to move Enzo Fernandez into the number 10 spot and bring in either Lavia or Santos next to Caicedo to complete the double pivot. Neto, Joao Pedro and Estevao should also rotate in and out of the number 10 at different points in the game, with all offering slightly different advantages in that position.

Sean: I'm 'happy' about it. Let's give him time to get back to full fitness. I think we are capable of winning these games without him. We have Tottenham on 1 November - we'll need him then!

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Chelsea forward Cole Palmer is expected to be out of action until November, as he continues to recover from a persistent groin injury.

The 23-year-old playmaker and goalscorer has already missed six games this season, making just four appearances in all competitions since the start of the 2025-26 campaign.

Palmer is likely to at least miss games against Nottingham Forest, Ajax, Sunderland and Wolves, so who is ready to step up in his absence and how much of a loss will he be?

If you were Enzo Maresca, how would you replace him?

Let us know your thoughts here

Chelsea will listen to offers for 19-year-old English forward Tyrique George in January. (Football Insider), external

Meanwhile, Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic wants to move to the Premier League in 2026, with the 25-year-old preferring a move to Chelsea or Tottenham. (TBR Football), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea's form with and without Romeo Lavia has been the subject of several questions sent in via our 'Ask about Chelsea' form' after the midfielder impressed in his second appearances of the season as a substitute in Saturday's win over Liverpool.

While Estevao Willian rightly received the plaudits for his match-winning cameo in Saturday's win over Liverpool, the 35 minutes afforded to Romeo Lavia has slightly gone under the radar amid the dramatic finish at Stamford Bridge.

However, the 21-year-old midfielder completed 17 of his 19 attempted passes, with nine completed into the final third.

He completed the only dribble he attempted, won three out of his four duels, won his only aerial duel, and won possession twice.

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Defining whether Chelsea perform better or win more points with Lavia in the side is hard to quantify due to the small sample size.

Since joining the Blues for £58m in the summer of 2023, Lavia has been ravaged by ankle, thigh and hamstring injuries, and been in the matchday squad on just 29% of occasions.

In all competitions, he has made just 25 appearances and started just 15 times - totaling 1,147 minutes across two seasons.

Chelsea have played 82 Premier League matches since Lavia's arrival on 18 August 2023, with the Belgium midfielder featuring in 19 of them.

In those 19 games, the Blues have averaged 1.89 points per game, while in the 63 where he did not feature at all, the team have averaged 1.70 points per game.

However, Lavia has not completed 90 minutes since his switch from Southampton and half of his eight substitute appearances in the Premier League have been for 11 minutes or less.

Coupled with the fact his first season - in which he featured just once in the league - was the troubled campaign under Mauricio Pochettino - this skews the points per game stats without him and make it difficult to pinpoint a direct impact on results.

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What is definite is the respect Lavia commands within the Chelsea camp.

In a recent quick-fire interview posted on social media, external Cole Palmer named him as his 'most underrated player' after previously saying his former Manchester City academy teammate would become "one of the best midfielders in the world, external".

Manager Enzo Maresca said after the win over Liverpool in May, external that "you can see that we are a better team with Romeo".

When fit, he offers press resistance, positional intelligence, and an ability to dictate the tempo of a game which would improve any team.

Blues fans have been robbed of a proper opportunity to see how balanced a midfield of him, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez could look, but perhaps a fully-fit Lavia could make a real difference should he remain available for any consistent period this season.

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea and Scotland winger

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I was at Newcastle then Istanbul last week, so Chelsea v Liverpool at Stamford Bridge could have been quiet in comparison. With the two teams struggling lately, a decent number of key players injured and fans not exactly in love with both their playing styles, they still managed to serve up another breathless and noisy affair.

‌It could have gone either way, but in a season of last-gasp winners, no-one had left before Estevao Willian's stoppage-time winner.

Enzo Maresca's relieved and excited 70-yard sprint to celebrate showed the media pressure has been getting to him after all.

Even with a red card, it was a perfectly understandable reaction. His bold substitutions had worked - bringing on 19-year-old Marc Guiu, 21-year-old Jamie Gittens and the 18-year-old scorer Estevao were big but crucial calls near the end.

‌Maresca's willingness to be more offensive right from the start suggested he had listened to recent complaints about negativity.

Going from 4-2-3-1 to 4-1-4-1 might not sound like a huge change, but that additional forward midfielder contributed to their first goal and the extra attacking freedom raised the belief in his players.

‌Maybe the most pleasing thing was that neither team considered settling for a draw at 1-1. Because of this positivity and openness, the Premier League is as entertaining as it has ever been.

‌A loss for the Blues would have silenced any hopes from their fans. But, now they are back in the conversation for a top-four finish - all because the manager was brave enough to take a few more risks.

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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will not bring outcast France defender Axel Disasi, 27, back into his squad despite a defensive injury crisis. (Sun, external)

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Will Faulks
Fan writer

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A win before the international break is always nice. A win over the reigning champions is even better. Getting both, with a patched-up squad on the back of a couple of weeks of rising tension? That's really special.

Chelsea's win over Liverpool on Saturday brought their best performance of the season and the most raucous Stamford Bridge atmosphere perhaps since the Blues beat Manchester United 4-3 18 months ago. It could not have come at a better time for the team and their manager Enzo Maresca.

The injury crisis that meant they started the fixture eight players and with a makeshift defence only got worse through the course of game. But in two weeks a host of first-team players will be back fit and others will have had a vital restorative rest.

That should mean the team's prospects improving rapidly, especially with Nottingham Forest, Ajax, Sunderland and Wolves up next. Win all four of those and Chelsea will be looking good in three competitions, with the likes of Liam Delap and Cole Palmer back or at least close to a return.

Positive results will, in turn, lift the pressure on Maresca and his players, helping them to play better.

A win against a strong team (albeit one with problems of its own) should not allow anyone to be distracted from the ongoing issues with this side, however. Even in this match, shots and chances from open play were in short supply. The fact that Liverpool were willing to attack suited Chelsea, but the four games after the break will see sides setting up much more defensively.

This fortnight brings important breathing room - but the manager and his staff need to make the most of it if they want to kick on later this month.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, former Premier League defender Connor Coady says he doesn't understand the criticism surrounding Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca.

Having played under Marescsa himself, Coady says his style was "one of the most enjoyable ways to play football," and believes that Chelsea's players are enjoying playing under him as well.

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Crystal Palace plan to offer midfielder Adam Wharton a new contract to try to ward off interest from Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City in the 21-year-old England midfielder. (Mail), external

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Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca couldn't control his celebrations after Estevao Willian's 95th-minute winner against Liverpool, landing himself a second yellow card of the game, a sending off and a one-game suspension.

It is his second touchline ban since becoming a Premier League manager in June 2024. He served his first suspension in April 2025 after picking up a third yellow card of the season while celebrating Pedro Neto's 93rd-minute winner at Fulham.

Several questions have been sent in via our 'Ask about Chelsea' form about the suspension and what it will mean for the club when they travel to Nottingham Forest after the October international break.

Where will Maresca be sitting? Will he be able to make contact with the players during the match? Will he be allowed in the dressing room at half-time?

In short, the Football Association (FA), external sets out where head coaches can or cannot go before, during and after a match when a touchline ban has been issued.

The Italian boss will be required to sit in the directors' box at the City Ground. If there isn't a seat available in the directors' box, he will need to "sit in a stand away from opposition supporters and away from the vicinity of the technical area".

Other restrictions include not being allowed to sit near the club's designated dugout, go near the field of play or shout instructions down to his staff.

Maresca won't be banned from entering Chelsea's dressing room though, as the FA rules state that he is allowed in there before kick-off, at half-time and at full-time.

He will also be able to communicate with his staff "by means of telephone, a runner or any other electronic device such as a radio or mobile phone" during the match.

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Chelsea captain Reece James has withdrawn from the England squad for this month's international fixtures after picking up an injury against Liverpool.

The defender had been named in Thomas Tuchel's original squad for the October internationals against Wales and Latvia.

In his absence, Manchester City midfielder Nico O'Reilly has received his first senior England call-up, moving up from the Under-21s squad.

England face Wales at Wembley on Thursday, 9 October in an Alzheimer's Society International before travelling to Riga to take on Latvia in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, 14 October.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Chelsea and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Chelsea fans

Evan: Honestly one of the best Chelsea performances I've seen in a long time. The last 15 minutes of the game we dominated and deserved to win as we did. Estevao looks brilliant and I'm excited to see him in the future when he is in his prime.

Fossie: A superb win. A stunning performance from Moises Caicedo, and a brilliant goal. It would have been easy for our heads to drop after the equaliser, but Chelsea came back stronger for it. The winner was an excellently crafted goal. Injuries in the back line are a concern, but a bit of time for some recoveries now. Well done Chelsea.

Rod: One of the best performances for years. It proves that it is there, just got to stop the boring wasteful side-and-back passing. Keep playing like this!

Scott: Really controlled performance from Chelsea in the first half - absolute mayhem in the second due to the defensive substitutions. Excellent win and Enzo Maresca deserves credit as he went for it - more of that please.

Liverpool fans

Fraser: People were scapegoating Florian Wirtz for our performances lately - we were actually better when he came on. Wirtz and Alexander Isak are not the problem - the problem is clearly tactical/systematic. I don't think Arne Slot knows what his best starting XI is or how to best utilise them. That, combined with key veterans struggling for form, especially Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate and Alexis Mac Allister. We're too exposed at the back and we're far too slow and cautious going forward. The international break couldn't have come at a better time.

Killian: No point hiding it - that was a dreadful performance. The lads look like they don't know each other. Total faith in Slot and the team to turn it around. I genuinely believe we have an elite squad - we just need to bring it together. YNWA!

Andrew: Time to recognise Salah has passed his peak and let Federico Chiesa have his chance. Overall, too many established players underperforming at the same time and apart from Hugo Ekitike, all the other newcomers have distinctly disappointed. Time for Slot to earn his coin.

Rae: Another desperately nervous performance - Milos Kerkez not yet settled, Conor Bradley trying too hard and Konate out of form. Slot is also trying to force the likes of Wirtz and Isak into an unsuitable formation.