Chelsea

Chelsea have reopened contact with Mike Maignan's representatives after learning that the 30-year-old France goalkeeper does not intend to extend his contract with AC Milan next summer. (Sky Sport - in French), external

Denmark keeper Filip Jorgensen, 23, could be offloaded to make room for the arrival of Maignan or another keeper. (Football Insider), external

Meanwhile, the Blues are keen on Spain striker Samu Aghehowa from Porto, with Arsenal and Tottenham also interested in the 21-year-old. (Caught Offside), external

Finally, Brazil forward Estevao Willian's agent says the 18-year-old was offered to Barcelona before joining Chelsea but the Spanish club's financial situation meant they could not sign him. (Cadena Ser, via Talksport), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Estevao Willian had made just 35 senior starts for Brazilian club Palmeiras when Chelsea agreed to pay an initial £29m. Performances so far suggest the London club have signed a serious talent for what is already a bargain price.

The 18-year-old's start against Barcelona on Tuesday night was just his eighth for the Blues in all competitions since swapping South America for north London in June – and he lit up Stamford Bridge with a moment of individual brilliance in the second half to double Chelsea's lead.

Estevao's brilliant goal has ensured he is already mixing in esteemed company, making him just the third teenager to score in his first three Champions League starts after Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

Estevao had also netted from the penalty spot on his first Champions League start in October's 5-1 win against Ajax, and then scored again on his second start in the 2-2 draw at Qarabag earlier this month.

The teen sensation has now got 11 Brazil caps and scored five goals in his past six club appearances, though he is yet to be fully trusted in the Premier League. He has not started in the league since the 3-1 home defeat by Brighton in September

He has, however, made his mark as a substitute in the top flight, scoring a 95th-minute winner versus Liverpool in October. Some way to score your first goal in the Premier League.

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

In the chaotic three and a half years since the takeover of Chelsea by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, perhaps the most challenging issue for supporters has been establishing a connection between themselves and the playing squad.

The well-documented turnover of players and eye-watering sums paid has made the club feel at times like a conveyor belt. A revolving door. A beauty pageant bootcamp where only the most glittering and shiny are offered a long-term stay.

Now Chelsea feel like a football team. And nights like Tuesday against Barcelona are what creates that connection.

You can feel it around Stamford Bridge.

Reece James has a song. Moises Caicedo has a song. Enzo Fernandez has a song. Marc Cucurella has a song. Estevao Willian has THE song of the moment.

The Fernandez and Caicedo double act feels part of the furniture, while Pedro Neto was lauded for his performance, which emphasised his now-expected consistency.

Even the once-maligned Robert Sanchez's name rang out in the streets of west London post-match, with a new tongue-in-cheek chant referencing his dramatic improvement in standing among Blues fans.

There is now enough continuity in the team whereby the addition of fresh faces brings excitement rather than scepticism. Names have become personalities.

Alejandro Garnacho was given the respect his encouraging start at the club deserves. Jamie Gittens was afforded a cheer as he was introduced, despite a tentative beginning to his Blues career.

Liam Delap's goal felt like it had been willed into existence by the crowd as the striker ended his 11-game drought.

There is no doubt winning the Club World Cup (CWC) kick-started the process of endearing this Enzo Maresca side to a fanbase fully aware that winning trophies is interwoven into the modern DNA of their club.

Seeing Maresca pose with the Conference League and CWC - despite not being the silverware they may crave most - bought a sense of familiarity.

But it is in these wins, like that over Liverpool in October, and seeing what they mean to both players and coaching staff that really forge real connections for those who watch every week.

Next up? Arsenal at home on Sunday.

Nina Hristova
Fan contributor

After a strong performance in the Champions League against Barcelona, Nina Hristova says Marc Cucerella is making a case for being the best left-back in the world.

She cites the Spaniard's offensive and defensive ability, consistency and leadership as reasons why Cucurella has been one of the most "influential" signings under Chelsea's current ownership

Find more from Nina Hristova at Nina's Chelsea Corner, external

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We asked for your views on Chelsea's Champions League win against Barcelona.

Here are some of your comments:

Victor: I had given up hope before the match thinking it was going to be a serious beating but somehow the guys rose to the occasion. Kudos to them all. They all played fantastic football. Special mention for Marc Cucurella as he was just magnificent.

James: A perfect night and performance from the boys. Cucurella as amazing as always while Moises Caicedo is just a beast. I am happy to have witnessed Estevao edge Lamine Yamal in a game. Truly an amazing night. Up Chelsea.

Obiajulu: The boys have gotten a kind of momentum that will give us more silverware this season. They are so fantastic.

Marco: Este-Wow. That's the only way to sum up this match. These are the special nights that we missed at the Bridge in the last few years, though I don't think we will get an easier win against Barcelona. We still need to sort out our away form in Europe, but this win should give the team confidence to have a real go in this competition! Never underestimate Chelsea in Europe - especially when they are the underdogs.

Julian: WOW! JUST WOW! As a Chelsea fan of 50 years, that's the one of the best team performances I've seen past or present. Front to back they were exceptional. An inspired team selection by Enzo Maresca to expose Barcelona's high line. Sensational.

Freddie: What a perfect performance and comfortably our best game of the season so far. Everyone performed incredibly and I loved the drive in the press and how they were chasing down the Barcelona players. Three nil didn't flatter us at all and I cant wait for Palmer and Estevao to be starting in the same team soon.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin has hailed the Blues' "complete" display that "completely and utterly stifled" Barcelona.

Enzo Maresca's side outplayed the Spanish giants in the Champions League, storming to a 3-0 victory even without star attacker Cole Palmer.

"It was a complete performance from Chelsea," Nevin told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "Because Barcelona had that good 10-15 minute period you thought: 'Right, this is a very good team'. But they were just blown away.

"Tactically, they lost as well. The intelligence of a lot of these Chelsea players is just growing and growing. It's a big step forward.

"This is a Barcelona team that have had massive financial problems over the last number of years. They are nowhere near the Barcelona of old.

"That gives you a level of perspective but you have to remember they are still right up there at the top of La Liga. They have got very good players but they were completely and utterly stifled for about 70 minutes of that game.

"It's good to watch Chelsea doing that, growing and getting better.

"It's still a pretty young team, short of being their full selves, and I suspect they will only get better.

"You've got Palmer to come back in as well. This could be good to watch."

Wednesday's back pages are dominated by Chelsea's impressive 3-0 dismantling of Barcelona in the Champions League.

Teenage forward Estevao Willian dominates the headlines after his fine goal and all-round display. The Times focuses on Estevao upstaging fellow young superstar Lamine Yamal while The Telegraph carries the pun 'Stevao wonder'.

'Dream Teen' is the headline in The Star while The Express hails the Brazil international's 'Vao Factor'.

Both also are emblazoned with Estevao sliding on his knees after his second-half strike.

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

There is a quiet confidence about Chelsea this season.

Not since now injured defender Levi Colwill suggested Chelsea could win either the Champions League or Premier League, after the Club World Cup, has anyone at Stamford Bridge publicly hyped their chances of major silverware this season.

However, despite players being publicly reluctant to talk about such success, it is understood that it is a topic behind the scenes in west London.

The entire point of the heavy investment in this squad - more than £1.5bn over three seasons, albeit offset by substantial player sales - is to win trophies.

The project, known as BlueCo, led by an American consortium featuring Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital, has matured and now features young players capable of reaching world-class level.

There are signs that is happening, with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez starring in midfield and Marc Cucurella among the best left-backs in the world.

Estevao is genuinely one of the most exciting young players in the game, and his five goals have helped Chelsea cope without Cole Palmer, who has been sidelined for more than two months.

A run of five wins and a draw since Chelsea's last defeat against Sunderland has built serious momentum going into Arsenal's visit to Stamford Bridge on Sunday - a match pitting first against second in the Premier League, with six points separating the two clubs.

Arsenal may be favourites for the title, but on this form it will be fascinating to see whether Chelsea can put themselves back in the conversation.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca spoke to Amazon Prime after his side's victory against Barcelona: "It is a good win. To be honest, it was no more than that. We knew how important this game was, but they are all important games. When you beat Barcelona, it is always nice so we are happy today.

"We dropped points at Qarabag away, then we won against Benfica and Ajax, then we lost the last one against Bayern Munich. That shows all of these games are complicated.

"Barcelona are a team that feel comfortable when they have the ball. If they don't have the ball, they don't feel comfortable so we tried to keep the ball. Even 11v11, my feeling was very good because the team was playing well.

"The defensive part is always important because you need balance. Fortunately, in the last month, we have started finishing games with clean sheets in the Premier League. It's something you need to do if you want to achieve important things."

On 18-year-old Estevao Willian scoring: "It was a huge night for him, but I think it is also a huge night for the whole club and all the fans. It is a very nice for everyone.

"We will see [if he starts against Arsenal]. For now, it's time for us to recover our energy."

On the value his side took from the Club World Cup: "Winning it was very important for my players in terms of confidence because they realised that they can win games against any team. When you're trying to build a winning mentality, you need to win games."

Goalscorer Estevao also spoke to Amazon Prime: "I don't really have any words to sum up how I'm feeling right now. It really was the perfect night. I'm just grateful to God for everything that has happened for me. Onwards and upwards from here."

On his goal: "It all happened very quickly for me, it sort of happened before I knew it. I just found some space, wiggled my way through and then scored that goal. It was such a special moment for me in my career. I hope to score many more.

"It was definitely the best moment of my career so far. I want to score many more for many years. I'm so grateful that my family were here watching me."

On his connection with the fans: "From the moment I arrived here, I felt such a connection with the fans. I'm just so happy that I could score for them and make them happy. I hope to keep making them happy and score more goals for them."

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Chelsea's performance

Come back on Wednesday for a selection of your replies

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Chelsea make five changes from their 2-0 win at Burnley by drafting in Moises Caicedo, Malo Gusto, Estevao Willian, Wesley Fofana and Alejandro Garnacho.

Enzo Maresca has opted for a strikerless system with Pedro Neto likely to lead the line.

Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford only makes the bench for a Barcelona team featuring star names like Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewanowski.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, W Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, James; Estevao, Fernandez, Garnacho; Neto.

Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Tosin, Hato, Badiashile, Buonanotte, Gittens, George, Guiu, Joao Pedro, Delap.

Barcelona XI: Joan Garcia; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Eric, De Jong; Lamine Yamal, Fermin, Ferran; Lewandowski

Subs: Szczesny, Kochen, Christensen, Gerard Martin, M. Casado, Olmo, Bernal, Dro, Raphinha, Rashford, Roony

There are nine games in the Champions League on Tuesday, including three involving Premier League clubs, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Ajax v Benfica (17:45)

• Galatasaray v Union Saint-Gilloise (17:45)

• Bodo/Glimt v Juventus

• Borussia Dortmund v Villareal

• Chelsea v Barcelona - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Manchester City v Bayer Leverkusen - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Marseille v Newcastle United

• Napoli v Qarabag

• Slavia Prague v Athletic Club

Kick-offs at 20:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Chelsea v Barcelona" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Man City v Bayer Leverkusen", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.

Image source, Getty Images

Cole Palmer will be a "huge miss" for Chelsea when they face Barcelona, but they still have the "resources to be competitive" without him, says former forward Gianfranco Zola.

Palmer is set to miss the Champions League match at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night with a fractured toe, despite wearing a specially adapted boot to help him in training.

The 23-year-old had already been recovering from a groin injury that has kept him out since September.

Despite this, the Blues have been on a good run of recent form with no defeats in their past five games across all competitions.

"He [Palmer] is a huge miss. We know that Cole is such an influential player for the team," Zola told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"But the squad Chelsea have got, they are very competitive. They have young players coming though – Estevao is one those – so they have the resources to be competitive without Cole.

"Of course when Cole is back it will be a team with a different dimension."

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca will be coming up against a side in Barcelona that inspired his own managerial style when Pep Guardiola was in charge, but Zola feels this will make for a interesting match-up.

"It will be one of the key points [Maresca's Guardiola inspiration], but Maresca has also proven he has his own way to play," he added.

"I really like it because, despite being a team that likes to create a lot of chances offensively, in my opinion it is very balanced. It is a team that also defends well.

"It will be interesting because on the other side Barcelona go on the front foot in every game."

Listen to live commentary of Chelsea v Barcelona from 20:00 GMT on BBC Radio 5 Live on BBC Sounds

On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, the panel discuss Chelsea's Champions League game against Barcelona.

The Observer's Rory Smith says that there is an "element of phoney war" around the match. Given both teams will likely progress to the knockout stages regardless of the result, he says the game "ultimately, doesn't matter".

Former Premier League goalkeeper Joe Hart, says Tuesday's match will be helpful for Chelsea to "work out who they are" against one of the biggest teams in Europe.

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

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Every exciting young attacker is rated on a scale from one to Lionel Messi.

The two teenagers perhaps at the upper end of the scale are Lamine Yamal - already a global superstar - and now Chelsea's Estevao Willian.

Yamal, like Argentina legend Messi, emerged from Barcelona's famed La Masia academy.

Estevao was reluctantly crowned 'Messinho' - translated as 'little Messi' - through his performances in Brazil's top flight, and has started brilliantly since joining Chelsea after the summer Club World Cup. He moved after his 18th birthday, having agreed a pre-contract in May 2024 to join from Palmeiras for £29m, rising to £51m with add-ons.

They are now considered the two most valuable teenagers in world football - according to CIES Football Observatory,, external Yamal is valued at a staggering £307.4m, with Estevao second but lagging far behind at £103.8m.

One of the few people capable of comparing the two forwards is Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella.

Cucurella said: "I think both of them are very special players. They have a lot of talent, always want the ball, and take on defenders one-on-one. They are players who can decide games."

You can read the full article here

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea and Scotland winger

Image source, Getty Images

Once again there were groans about players coming back from all over the world to play in the Premier League. I agree with Enzo Maresco that Chelsea's early kick-off at Burnley was a tough ask for many of them, though I can't bring myself to entirely blame those who decide on the fixture timings.

Are clubs still unaware that when they buy players from different continents this is likely to happen? Surely this must be factored into the decisions to buy.

If not, it is either staggering ignorance or astounding arrogance that they think club football is always more important than the international game.

Maybe some clubs do think that way. After all, they might argue that they pay the wages. But that that attitude must be challenged because of the importance and history of international football, especially with a World Cup looming.

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

Will Faulks
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea's win over Burnley was achieved without Moises Caicedo or Cole Palmer having to play a minute, something we have not seen too often in the past couple of seasons.

Without the injured Palmer, the team have had to scratch around for goals and rely on Caicedo's phenomenal form to help them create their own chances as well as to prevent the opposition doing the same.

On the rare occasion they have tried to leave the Ecuador midfielder out of the line-up, they have been forced to bring him on post-haste once it became clear how helpless the team were without him.

Even in this game, as the first half wore on, it felt like things might be going that way. It was a slow start from the Blues and they lacked any control in the middle. Plenty of fans and pundits would have been wondering how long Enzo Maresca could last without turning to his main midfield dynamo.

Fortunately for Chelsea - and for Caicedo's legs - it wasn't necessary. A lovely goal out of nowhere put the Blues ahead and forced Burnley to open up. It was still tense through the second half, until Maresca's team once again struck just as things were about to get really worrying and sealed the win.

It was a game where they just needed to get the job done, and they did that in the end. Andrey Santos played the game as Caicedo's understudy and, while the team weren't totally convincing, he did his bit in attack and in defence to make up for the key man's absence.

With three important points in the bag, all attention turns now to this week's more important tests against Barcelona and Arsenal. Eighteen months into Maresca's reign, we will find out how good this team really are.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external