Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are interested in 19-year-old Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, who has a £55m release clause in his contract. (TBR Football), external
The Blues are preparing a £58.3m (70m euros) summer bid for 21-year-old Atletico Madrid and Spain defender Pablo Barrios. (Fichajes), external
Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty ImagesThe jockeying for position for the all-important Champions League qualifying places is arguably much more interesting that the title race.
Liverpool appear to be cantering effortlessly a good few lengths clear, but Newcastle, after a stumble against Bournemouth, are up moving nicely on the rails with plenty left in the tank.
Bournemouth are also looking healthy as more injured players return to add power for the run in. Arsenal and Manchester City are most likely to make it over the line, even though there have been a few tired outings recently. Rank outsiders Nottingham Forest have not dipped in form at all and if they avoid any new injuries they have as good a chance as any.
Chelsea currently look like the team wobbling most, with only nine points from the past 24 available. This is not good enough form for a place in the winners' paddock.
They need to sort out a settled central defence, that seems to change every single week.
A fit and scoring centre forward would help as the extra weight on Cole Palmer will surely slow him down at some point. This made the release of Joao Felix all the more confusing, as he is Palmer's obvious understudy if the club's big star gets injured.
Worrying times at the Bridge as financially they need Champions League football and they need it soon.
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Will Faulks
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea are out of the FA Cup after a disappointing defeat at Brighton.
They got lucky when Cole Palmer's cross found the net thanks to a mistake from Bart Verbruggen, but even that wasn't enough to get the Blues into gear.
As we have seen so often in recent weeks, they were unable to build on their lead, and equally incapable of controlling the game well enough to hold on to it either.
The slump since Christmas has now gone on for so long that questions about small issues have turned back into the big-picture fears about this whole sporting project that were widespread until a strong run of form in the autumn tempered them for a while.
The most important thing for any team under construction is often a sense of progress and momentum. And with every week, the illusion that this group is coming together into a coherent whole is dissipating.
The bloated squad has been thinned out. The new signings have had time to settle. The youngest and rawest players have had the playing time they needed. The first team is fresh after midweek rests. Enzo Maresca has had eight months to get his tactical ideas across.
What excuses remain for those in charge now?
Sacking Mauricio Pochettino was sold as one step backwards to go two steps forward - but as the games pass the decision looks worse and worse.
There was that crucial sense of progress at the end of last season, but Maresca's early success seemed to ride the momentum of that wave until it expired rather than build on it.
Recent wins over West Ham and Wolves are the only thing preventing this team from returning to a full blown crisis - one that now feels to be closing in inevitably.
Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external
Manchester United are keen on Ipswich 22-year-old striker Liam Delap. (Football Insider), external
Bournemouth's Spain Under-21 defender Dean Huijsen is also interesting Chelsea. (Teamtalk), external
Elsewhere, the Blues are targeting Copenhagen's Sweden Under-21 winger Roony Bardghji. (TBR Football), external
And finally, Chelsea are monitoring Portugal Under-21 midfielder Dario Essugo, who is on loan at Las Palmas from Sporting. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column
Is there something you want to ask about a Premier League club?
Former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha is ready to answer your burning questions and give his thoughts on some of the biggest talking points for a special Q&A.
Submit your questions here and come back on Thursday for his answers
Brighton come from behind to beat Chelsea and go to fifth round
We asked for your views on Brighton's FA Cup match against Chelsea.
Here are some of your comments:
Brighton fans
Matthew: After going down early from an own goal it looked like our confidence was shot from the 7-0 thrashing at Forest, but the team rallied and put in a solid performance over the 90 minutes with great goals. And all of this came despite losing skipper Dunk to injury. It's something positive to build on with the same opponents returning on Friday night for Premier League action.
Pedro: The same players, but a different team… each one took ownership of their position and fought to win the ball. A performance to be proud of, and something we could cheer for. Half the fans, twice the volume!
David: I'm sorry for Verbruggen. Keepers are only human, but if one makes a mistake, it is often a goal whereas an outfield player has others to rectify his mistake. A much improved performance but a long way to go. We need Baleba to stay fit.
Chelsea fans
John: Another inept performance. No tactical change when behind just a change in personnel in the same position. There has to be some form of tactical change because when teams get in front we struggle to break them down because of the system.
Guy: If I hear Maresca talking about us controlling the game after a defeat one more time I'm going to explode. What does he even mean? When you have one shot on target in the entire game, it doesn't seem to me like you're controlling much.
Gary: I thought Chelsea were woeful. I lost count of the backwards and sideways passes we played. Time to think up a 'plan B' for games like these, if the manager can bring himself to do that. Nkunku is not the striker solution.
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesChristopher Nkunku has become a problem that needs solving for Chelsea.
The 27-year-old France international was signed to be a key player at Stamford Bridge but, after an injury-hit first season, he has found his opportunities limited under manager Enzo Maresca.
Before the transfer window opened, there were multiple reports that he was unhappy at only being allowed to start in Conference League and domestic cup matches.
Those reports appeared to be backed up by Nkunku's body language on the pitch in recent months, while further rumours that he was offered in a swap deal for Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho can't have helped.
But Maresca is trying to give Nkunku a bigger role now the January transfer window has closed, and he has said the forward will be an important player between now and the end of the season.
However, Maresca has also said that Nkunku's best position is as a number 10 but, with Cole Palmer the undisputed option for that role, he will have to play elsewhere - and Chelsea are in need of a number nine after injuries to both Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu.
He played up front in Chelsea's 2-1 loss at Amex Stadium on Saturday night where he recorded just 34 touches, 20 fewer than goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, while also failing to register a single shot on goal and having one unsuccessful dribble attempt.
His performance included a bizarre moment where he opted to pass to Cole Palmer, while one-on-one with Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, instead of shooting.
That lack of confidence in front of goal is highlighted by his record of just one goal in 10 matches.
Chelsea need Nkunku to rediscover his form and hit his trademark balloon celebration, but he looks deflated amid confusion around his position and importance to the club.
Barcelona declined an offer to sign Chelsea forward Joao Felix in the January transfer window, before the 25-year-old sealed a loan move to AC Milan until the end of the season. (Sport – in Spanish), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column
Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea have fielded a very different team in most cup matches this season - with their well-documented large squad of expensive talented footballers.
Many times they have changed all 11 players.
But here Maresca altered his approach, making six changes but keeping several first-team players in.
Among the main men to feature was top scorer Cole Palmer, who was starting his first game of the season in any cup competition.
Chelsea only managed seven shots, one on target. And two of them came before the fifth-minute goal.
Now their focus is down to the Premier League - where they sit fourth - and the Uefa Conference League.
Their priority will be getting back into the Champions League, but Europe's tertiary tournament gives them their only chance of winning a first trophy of any note since the Fifa Club World Cup in February 2022.
Image source, PA MediaEnzo Maresca spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Chelsea's defeat against Brighton: "We controlled much better the first half. The second half the only shots they had we conceded a goal from.
"I think the handball is quite clear. In the last two or three days there were many different moments in different games. Without VAR it's complicated.
"We tried to come here and make our game. We had a few chances at 2-1. Now we can focus on the Premier League and Conference League.
"We always try to win the games. But in the same way you have to take the consequence of the result."
Will this affect Friday's game? "I don't think so. Different competition, different game."
Image source, Getty ImagesBrighton have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup in three consecutive seasons for the first time, while Chelsea have failed to progress beyond the fourth round in two of the last three seasons, as many times as in the previous 24 campaigns combined (fourth round eliminations in 2010-11 & 2014-15).
Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?
Have your say on Brighton's performance
What did you make of Chelsea's display?
Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea manager Enzo Maresca has detailed his plan for new midfielder Mathis Amouogu.
The 19-year-old joined on deadline day for £12m from Saint-Etienne and has been picked in Chelsea's Conference League squad ahead of injured duo Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana.
However, Maresca said Chelsea will ease in their inexperienced new signing.
"We didn't sign him thinking he's going to play an important part with us," he said.
"The reason why is because of the age and we need the process. The reason we signed him is because we think he's a good player and in some moment, after a while, we think he can help us.
"Mathis is the same age as Josh, Tyrique, Marc Guiu - born in 2006. He's just 18 or 19. At that age, if they're here it's because we think they're good but they could be better.
"With Mathis, it's more or less the same. We saw he could be a good player but he needs to arrive here, adapt and progress."
Amougou could make his debut at Brighton in the FA Cup later.
Nine Premier League teams are competing in Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round action, and we will bring you every moment.
Leyton Orient v Man City (12:15) - watch on BBC One and listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Coventry v Ipswich
Everton v Bournemouth
Southampton v Burnley
Wigan v Fulham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Birmingham v Newcastle (17:45) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Brighton v Chelsea (20:00) - watch on BBC One and listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
All kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated
Brighton need to bounce back from losing 7-0 to Nottingham Forest, while Chelsea have been very up and down in recent weeks.
Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler is quite an interesting character to watch on the touchline because of how emotional he is during the game.
He has had five yellow cards and a red already this season. He has got to be careful because that kind of indiscipline can rub off on your players.
This game will be tight - I certainly don't see Brighton capitulating the way they did at Forest, but the key thing for them is Yasin Ayari and Carlos Baleba being fit to return in midfield.
Even if they both return, I still feel like Chelsea will find a way of winning the tie. It may go all the way to penalties, but I am going to say Enzo Maresca's side will win it in extra time.
Sutton's prediction: 1-2 after extra time
Image source, Getty ImagesThe fifth-round draw will take place during Monday's episode of The One Show on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Former England winger Theo Walcott, who won the trophy twice while with Arsenal, will conduct the draw at about 19:10 GMT.
There are 16 Premier League teams left in the draw, with Leicester having been beaten by Manchester United on Friday, and Arsenal, Brentford and West Ham exiting in the third round.
Image source, Getty ImagesEarlier, we asked you to name the former Chelsea manager from a series of clues.
The answer was Claudio Ranieri, who was in charge between 2000 and 2004.
