Galatasaray have no plans to make 25-year-old Victor Osimhen's loan move from Napoli permanent, but Chelsea remain interested in the Nigeria forward. (Teamtalk), external
However, Napoli director Mauro Meluso has confirmed Osimhen is free to leave the club - for the right price - in January. (Metro), external
Galatasaray will look to make Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen's loan move from Napoli permanent, while Chelsea remain interested. However, the 25-year-old will cost £68m in January or £63m next summer. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian, external)
Manchester United have made Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell, 27, a top target for January. (Teamtalk, external)
Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
Former manager Mark Warburton talks to The Football News Show about how managers can deal with mental health struggles while working at a club and what support there is available to them.
Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesCole Palmer's form this season is a continuation of what he produced in his debut campaign at Chelsea following his move from Manchester City.
Since the start of 2023-24, Palmer has either scored or assisted 44 goals, more than anyone else in the Premier League.
While City striker Erling Haaland has scored considerably more goals - with 37 compared to 28 for Palmer - the Chelsea forward has chipped in with over triple the amount of assists - 16 compared to five for Haaland.
Palmer's overall contribution means some in the game believe a team should be built around him.
Former Arsenal, Chelsea and Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas said on the Planet Premier League podcast: "When someone is that special, when someone makes you see and feel that whatever happens in the team he is a game-changer, I believe [you can build a team around them].
"It is fair to say it could be the right thing to do, even if as coaches we hate to say this kind of thing because we want to protect the team and the collective.
"But when you have someone that good and with such an impact on the pitch, I think the team see that themselves and they want Palmer to get on the ball as much as possible.
"When he has the ball, it feels like everything is slow and everything becomes very clear in his eyes. He is able to play any pass at any angle on the pitch. I think it is possible when a player is that special to create a team around him."
Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea forward Noni Madueke says "the sky is the limit" for Cole Palmer but would not be drawn into debate over whether his England team-mate is the best player in the world.
Speaking while on international duty before Thursday's Nations League game against Greece, Madueke said: "Cole Palmer is very unique. He is the type of player who doesn't feel pressure in the most pressurised situations.
"Just his demeanour, as relaxed as he is off the pitch, it works for him on the pitch. He can go on the pitch, play the game, have fun and still deliver.
"Cole is a phenomenal player. In terms of the best player in the world, I don't think I should be the one to say that. The sky's the limit for him."
Madueke believes the positive relationship the two have off the field is benefitting both of them on the pitch.
"We have been playing with each other for a very long time," he added. "We are very good friends off the pitch. We look for each other on the pitch. I’m dynamic and he has a great pass so it just works.
"We just bounce off each other and we have a similar outlook on things. When he does well and I do well, it just makes us want to do more."
Full commentary of England v Greece on BBC Radio 5 Live from 19:45 BST on Thursday
Will Faulks
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea's season is off to a strong start, but a disappointing result before the international break always means a frustrating couple of weeks thinking about what might have been.
This team are far ahead of where we expected they would be at this point, with a new manager and new players fitting in nicely, and they are also doing far better than they were a year ago.
Things are looking up, without question. But a lot of this success is simply down to the exceptionally fit and available squad Enzo Maresca has had available to choose from, especially compared with the chaos of this time last year.
The head coach has been able to switch between a pristine and rested first XI in the league; and a fully rotated B team for midweek cup games so far this season. but that is all about to change.
Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana have picked up suspensions, Nicolas Jackson faces a retrospective ban for violent conduct, and a couple of players look like they have got minor knocks. Then there is the international break, which guarantees fatigue and can often bring more serious fitness problems too.
This abrupt end to their serene start is particularly poorly timed - the fixtures get very nasty over the next couple of months for Chelsea, starting with the trip to Anfield up next for this suddenly weakened squad.
As much as the opening seven games of the season have been positive, the next seven will tell us far more about this side's potential to win things this year.
Those B team regulars who have been having fun against weaker opposition now get to show whether they are cut out for first-team minutes too.
The going has finally got tough - now we find out if Maresca's Chelsea will get going.
Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external
West Ham will price 24-year-old winger Mohammed Kudus out of a move away from the club next summer, despite interest from Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. (Football Insider), external
Image source, Getty ImagesA VAR related question was put to chief football writer Phil McNulty on Monday's Q&A.
@nubiblue on 'X' asked: Is the new improved VAR working? To me it continues to favour certain clubs.
Phil answered: First of all, I don't believe VAR favours certain clubs and quite honestly, I've not noticed too much difference or huge improvement.
Maybe a little less interference but I confess I lost a lot of faith in VAR after initially being a strong advocate.
I would be happy with semi-automated offside and line technology.
Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea boss Enzo Maresca has pointed to his ability to rotate as reason to be believe his side can cope without the suspended Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana for their visit to Liverpool after the international break.
The defensive pair both picked up their fifth yellow cards of the season in Sunday's ill-tempered 1-1 draw at home to Nottingham Forest, meaning Marseca will be without two players who have started all seven league games so far for the trip to Anfield.
"We have 25 first-team players," he said post-match.
"All clubs have around that number. I don't think it's something just for us.
"The way we try to do things is to try to share minutes with all of them. The reason is because they deserve it.
"The ones that played [on Thursday against Gent] did well and probably deserved [to play] again, but there was another 11 that did a fantastic job against Brighton. We try to use all of them in the best way.
"When you have an injury or red card, like now we don't have Wes and Marc, we are going to use some of the guys that today were not in the first 11."
Despite defensive fragilities, Chelsea sit fourth after seven games and are the Premier League's second-highest scorers behind Manchester City with 16.
Maresca added: "When we started the season, to think by the second international break you are fourth and the team is playing in the way we are playing, learning to play different kinds of games, for sure it's something I am very happy.
"Seven games, 14 points, it's important. But for me it's also important to see the way we got 14 points.
"It has been different ways, different kinds of games; home, away, a team like [Forest] that sits back, a difficult team that tries to be aggressive. You use different weapons."
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Chelsea and Nottingham Forest.
Here are some of your comments:
Chelsea fans
Pete: There will be a few complaining that Chelsea still don’t know how to break down low blocks, but Forest beat Liverpool, currently top, at their own ground just weeks ago. And a year or so ago we would have lost this fixture. Progress…
Alan: It was dull. We seem to have a couple of good games and then relax and struggle. Any decent manager would take his defence to one side on Monday and give them an ultimatum, shape up or there's the door. Nothing seems to change. Four players playing four individual games with not one leader between them. Never mind, it may or may not eventually come together.
Stu: Think we would've lost that last season. We are showing more fight and togetherness but need to learn how to break teams down that come to us and sit deep. Fernandez is a worry for me, he does nothing but earns a place in the team every week. A higher power at play?
Beno: Too many yellow cards which will come back to bite us when we play Liverpool. Jackson was rubbish. Noni needs to get his head up in the final third. Too much glory seeking and not enough team ethic from him in midfield in my opinion. Over all a very frustrating afternoon.
Forest fans
Bogey: Forest are a team developing and building. They are loving playing their football. It’s not just a job - they enjoy playing however hard the game. As a fan that’s nice to see. So, trust in Nuno and the team.
Andy: Huge point. Sels has had doubters, and maybe he could have (not should have) saved their goal, but he put all recent criticism to bed by stepping up in key moments. Neither keeper deserved to lose. If we can win at home then Forest will be more than comfortable this season.
Tom: Forest are genuinely looking like nobody's mugs. Nuno is doing a brilliant job, built on security at the back that'd make Cloughie proud. They've more than held on with 10 men on two occasions this year, and look in the right company in the Premier League. Today was a proud day for Forest. Well done lads!
Kris: What a finish! Nail biting stuff at the end, but we kept playing and could have won it with efforts from Williams and Jota. Even going down to 10 and losing Gibbs-White didn’t faze us too much. Chelsea pressed once they had the player advantage but in the end Sanchez was their saviour. You Reds!
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter believes Robert Sanchez, who he managed and coached during his time with the Seagulls, has "all the tools to be a top goalkeeper".
Speaking on Match of the Day 2 following the Blues' 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest, Potter said: "He has got the power, the size, the agility and the speed. He makes the goal look really small. He can just pluck things out of the air effortlessly.
"So his saves against Nottingham Forest don't surprise me. He is still a young goalkeeper, so he is still working on being consistent, but his high-end stuff is world-class.
"It is sometimes about simplifying it with him. The structure Enzo Maresca has put in place will help him.
"He has got a range of pass. He can go long and he can threaten the backline, which is a real asset to have because, as soon as you do that, it changes the defensive structure of the opponent.
"He has got all the tools to be an absolutely top goalkeeper."
Highlights and analysis from Sunday's three Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.
If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.
And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.
Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
Premier League clubs including Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton and Wolves have been monitoring Santos' 18-year-old Brazilian defender Joao Pedro Chermont. (Caught Offside), external
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesEnzo Maresca has played down ill-discipline concerns after Chelsea received six or more yellow cards for the second time this season and will receive a fine of £50,000 after a feisty match with Nottingham Forest.
The Italian manager oversaw a 1-1 draw with Forest as six of his players, including Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella, were booked with the defensive duo now suspended for the match following the international break away at Liverpool.
Chris Wood opened the scoring and Noni Madueke equalised in a hectic second half where James Ward-Prowse was sent off for deliberate handball to cut out a counterattack from Nicolas Jackson.
Then followed a mass altercation involving the majority of both of the two squads, with videos showing Jackson apparently slapping Forest defender Morato.
When asked if ill-discipline is a concern, Maresca said: "It’s something we need to improve but overall, I like the team the way they are fighting. I like the way they are becoming a team in these kinds of things. I don’t see any problems about that.
"For sure, there are things that we can control and do better, for sure no doubt, and probably this is one of the things. But if you ask me about the team spirit, the way they are fighting together, the way they are doing things together, I’m very happy."
He further explained that there are no concerns about losing Cucurella and Fofana for Liverpool in two weeks, adding: "The good news is they are all ready."
Answering whether getting a £50,000 fine, which is double the initial £25,000 fine received after the away match at Bournemouth, is an issue, explaining "I am not going to pay it!"
Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo was himself booked and echoed his counterpart's sentiments: "I was there also. I went there to try to calm it down. It is very hard for the platters to control their emotions. Very hard for us as managers to do that. So many responsibilities. We need the referees to understand."
No team received more bookings than Chelsea in the Premier League last season.
Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea manager Enzo Maresca, speaking to BBC MOTD2: "I think we deserved to win.
"They are a very good team and we knew they would defend well. It was a tough and tricky game, very different to Brighton. We were patient on the ball and created chances.
"Overall the performance was good and I think we deserved to win.
"Their keeper was the best of the game. We created chances and arrived at goal in the way we want to."
On whether he has concerns about home form not matching results on the road: "I don't think so. If you analyse the games, I think Crystal Palace was like today - we created and deserved to win. I don't think there is any reason."
