Chelsea

You've read the previews.

You've disagreed with the pundits.

But what's the one thing, either good or bad, that nobody seems to be talking about for Chelsea?

Give us your take here, external

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport football statistician

Last season’s head coach Mauricio Pochettino pointed out that Chelsea were the fourth-best side in the Premier League on expected goal difference, a metric which measures how effective teams are at creating chances at one end and limiting them at the other.

The league-high 12 penalties they were awarded certainly helped that. If you exclude spotkicks, they drop to fifth-best below Newcastle. However, the fact it was better than both Aston Villa and Spurs even without penalties suggests there’s something for new boss Enzo Maresca to work with.

However, the Italian has a job on his hands with the defence as 11 teams conceded fewer goals and 13 faced fewer shots last season – a travesty for a club with the defensive legacy of Chelsea.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United and other Championship clubs are weighing up a move for Chelsea defender Bashir Humphreys before deadline day.

The Blues are believed to prefer the outright sale of the 21-year-old centre-back, who has been training with the club's loan group at Cobham before a potential move.

Chelsea could open up to a loan move at a later stage should they fail to find clubs meeting their valuation.

But, amid interest from the Bundesliga, an overseas loan is expected to be blocked, with Fifa rules now limiting clubs to six temporary moves abroad.

It is also understood that Leeds are not prioritising a centre-back signing at this stage of the transfer window, but could line up a move for Humphreys if a player in his position is sold.

Humphreys has had two productive loan spells. He was at Paderborn in Bundesliga 2, before going to Swansea City last season and playing 26 games at Championship level.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Conor Gallagher's £33m move to Atletico Madrid was halted because Chelsea's £34.5m deal to sign striker Samu Omorodion collapsed over personal terms on Sunday.

The Spanish club need to make one major sale to fund their move for Gallagher after signing Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez for £81.5m on Monday.

Gallagher's move is not considered off but remains under threat of a collapse.

An alternative deal for Chelsea to sign forward Joao Felix from Atletico could salvage Gallagher's move - but a fee must first be agreed.

Felix is ready to return to Stamford Bridge after spending six months on loan at the Blues in 2023.

However, if a fee cannot be agreed for Felix, then Gallagher's transfer will likely be called off.

Chelsea want to make the sale to avoid losing Gallagher on a free transfer with just 11 months left on his current contract.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC World Service introduces you to the five bosses who will be making their managerial debuts in the Premier League this season in a special podcast on BBC Sounds.

Sportsworld’s John Bennett is joined by former Leicester City winger and BBC Radio Leicester summariser Matt Piper to discuss Chelsea's new head coach Enzo Maresca.

"The [Leicester] players all bought into it," said Piper. "They loved the manager's tactics, but I think it stifles freedom a little bit.

"I don't think you get expression on the ball from certain players as much because it's a system that relies on everyone understanding what their job is in the team and how the mechanics of it work.

"It worked super well for Leicester. They got caught out a few times because it's a system where you attack with five and you defend the transition with five but it worked really well for him last season.

"There's no doubt the system works and if he gets the Chelsea players playing to the level in the Premier League as what Leicester achieved, and they get the understanding of what he wants, I think they'll have a good season."

Listen to Introducing The Premier League’s New Managers on BBC Sounds

Brentford are holding out for at least £60m for 28-year-old striker Ivan Toney, who is being monitored by Chelsea and Manchester United. (Independent), external

Chelsea want to hand Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson a two-year extension that would commit him to the club until 2033. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Napoli and RB Leipzig are leading the race to sign 20-year-old Atletico Madrid forward Samu Omorodion, after his move to Chelsea collapsed. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

We asked for your views on the news that Cole Palmer has agreed a new two-year contract extension at Chelsea, committing his future to Stamford Bridge through to 2033.

Here are some of your comments:

Karen: Delighted that Palmer is signed until 2033. We have let too many talented youngsters go in the past.

David: The only good thing we have done this transfer window. He brings class, calmness and accuracy. He is in a league of his own at Chelsea. Bring in Joao Felix and, with Neto, I'd forgive the club for selling Gallagher - but not for a lot of untried players.

Nivek: The first action of a positive nature we, as a club, have done for ages. Stability is what we need. The team will benefit from not looking over their shoulders all the time.

Rob: If he stays at the same level then I'd happily keep him until he retires. He's or best player. I can only assume we have added two more years to ensure more chance of selling for a fee one day, but it also means you are stuck with the player for a long time should they get a serious injury etc.

Charlie: Was there a need for a two-year extension? He was already here until 2031. Seems as if the owners are making it up as they go along, to be honest.

Geoff: Palmer is an awesome player, so well worth it. You don't want to lose a player like him - that would be devastating.

Chief Soccer Correspondent for the New York Times Rory Smith has been speaking on the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club about the money Chelsea are spending and the consequences it could have.

He said he believes Chelsea's "fundamentally stupid" transfer business could be "destabilising to football as a whole," and Chris Sutton spoke about how strange the club now seems.

You can listen to them both on BBC Sounds

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Cole Palmer has signed a two-year contract extension on an already seven-year deal at Chelsea until 2033.

All that is left is to announce the deal later in the week. It rewards an incredible debut season with improved terms.

Chelsea fans - how are you feeling about this news?

Let us know your thoughts, external

Will Faulks
Fan writer

Where will you finish in the league and why?

Chelsea will finish this season in much the same position as they did last season - in mid-table, pushing for Europe but never looking likely to break into the top four. It could well go in much the same pattern as their last campaign too, with a dreadful start gradually turning around as the new manager gets his ideas across.

Who is the best signing or has he not signed yet and who should it be?

Countless players have been signed and not one really looks like a huge upgrade to the regular first team. There is still no convincing top-tier goalkeeper, striker, defensive midfielder or centre-back. None of the elite experience we desperately needed has been added - in fact, yet more established players have been sold.

What do you want from your manager this season?

Keeping his job beyond Christmas would be a good start, keeping it into a second season would deserve some sort of prize. He has got a huge job on his hands, trying to implement a very specific style of play on a young and inexperienced group of players, without any credit in the bank with the fans or much belief he can do it.

Who will be the breakout star in your squad?

Romeo Lavia has had a great pre-season and could change this team's whole dynamic if he can stay fit. It is a similar story for Christopher Nkunku. We would love to see Levi Colwill play regularly and develop too - but this defence looks like it is going to struggle.

What is your one major concern?

That the new owners are tearing the heart out of the club in order to make a profit - and not even doing a very good job at that.

Will Faulks can be found at Chelsea News, external

Former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott says Chelsea are "signing that many good players that they just will not get a chance" to play consistently for the Blues.

Reflecting on the revolving transfer door at Stamford Bridge, Walcott told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club: "I am worried Romeo Lavia will just be one of those Chelsea players that is sent out on loan and you don't hear much about."

The midfielder signed from Southampton last summer, where he played alongside Walcott, and made 30 Premier League appearances in the last campaign.

But will the arrival of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall change that?

Listen to the Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea plan to recall midfielder Conor Gallagher to London later on Tuesday as a deal is worked out with Atletico Madrid.

The La Liga club need to raise funds by selling a player before completing the £34m move for the 24-year-old, who has spent much of the past week living in a hotel in Madrid.

The limits of the Spanish club's spending power are partly down to the £81.5m outlay to sign Julian Alvarez from Manchester City, which was completed on Monday.

Gallagher is believed to want the move to Atletico and has both completed a medical and signed the paperwork on a new contract.

But after striker Samu Omorodion's move going the other way collapsed, it has left Gallagher in limbo.

There are new talks for Chelsea to re-sign forward Joao Felix instead, but negotiations could take time and are fraught with uncertainty as both clubs push for a favourable price.

Felix spent six months on loan at Chelsea in 2023 and scored four goals in 20 matches during his brief spell in England.

There is also a small chance that Chelsea's talks to sign Omorodion could be revived or a major player sale to another club could help Gallagher's move to go through.

Image source, Reuters

Manchester City trio Erling Haaland, Rodri and Phil Foden are on the six-man shortlist for the Professional Footballers' Assocation Player of the Year award for 2023-24.

They helped City win a fourth successive Premier League title, with Haaland ending as the division's top scorer and Foden's contribution earning him the Football Writers' Association player of the year award in May.

Norway striker Haaland won the PFA award in 2022-23.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, Chelsea forward Cole Palmer and Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins complete the shortlist for the PFA prize, with the winner being announced on 20 August.

The nominees are:

• Phil Foden (Manchester City)

• Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

• Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)

• Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

• Rodri (Manchester City)

• Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

Napoli have made an offer worth 25m euros (£21.4m) plus 5m euros (£4.3m) in bonuses for Chelsea's Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, 31. (Gianluca di Marzio - in Italian), external

Crystal Palace are monitoring the situation of Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, 20, and will look to make an offer if the Englishman becomes available. (South London Press), external

Newcastle are set to target Chelsea's 22-year-old English winger Noni Madueke if Eddie Howe's side sell Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron, 30, to Charlotte FC. (ipaper), external

Aston Villa, Fulham and Crystal Palace are all in the race to sign Chelsea's 25-year-old English centre-back Trevoh Chalobah. (Football Insider), external

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

After a long summer break, BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club is back in action this evening.

Tune in as the panel cover all the major talking points from the summer and look ahead to Premier League football returning at the weekend.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

BBC Sport's experts have been considering which young players may become big names this season.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport's Nizaar Kinsella gives his verdict on Josh Acheampong:

The 18-year-old defender made his Chelsea debut last season against Tottenham and was one of just two youngsters on tour in the United States from the academy.

He is an outstanding athlete who can play centre-back or right-back.

See who else our experts picked here

Image source, Getty Images

The curtain opens on the 2024-25 Premier League season in just a matter of days, so why not take a look at how all 20 clubs performed in pre-season?

The games have been spread across the globe, from Tokyo and New York to Crawley and Preston.

See the results here

Image source, Getty Images

The six-player shortlist for the PFA Young Player of the Year award have been announced.

Chelsea's Cole Palmer, 22, is the favourite after enjoying an excellent Premier League season, scoring 22 goals and providing 11 assists.

Bukayo Saka, also 22, of Arsenal makes the list after another fine season and standout performances for England during their run to the Euro 2024 final.

Representing Manchester United on the shortlist are Kobbie Mainoo, 19, and Alejandro Garnacho, 20 - the team's FA Cup final goalscorers.

They are joined by Michael Olise, 22, who moved from Crystal Palace to Bayern Munich this summer, and Brighton and Hove Albion's Joao Pedro, 22, who scored 20 goals in all competitions.

Shortlist for Men's PFA Young Player of the Year

Cole Palmer

Bukayo Saka

Kobbie Mainoo

Alejandro Garnacho

Michael Olise

Joao Pedro

The winners will be announced at the PFA Awards ceremony in Manchester on August 20.

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's pre-season friendly between Chelsea and Inter Milan.

Here are some of your comments:

Jason: While you can appreciate why the new manager wants to improve things, you cannot watch us without feeling we have not moved forward in a whole year. This policy of buying youngsters to secure a bright future is admirable but how long do we have to watch these substandard performances as we have during this whole preseason schedule?

Matthew: Good performance. That was a good showing from us. We still create multiple chances, but can’t score them. Enzo, Ugochukwu, Nkunku, Gusto, Palmer, Veiga and Marc Guiu were some of the standouts for me, but, the whole side had a good performance overall. I just hope we are ready for next Sunday. It was also good to see Neto being paraded around.

Andy: I thought we played reasonably well. Typical going a goal down but good to keep fighting and get the equaliser. Palmer looked good on his return and it would have been nice to have four or five Premier League games under our belt before facing City next week, but I would be satisfied if we can avoid defeat.

Robert: I am afraid for the forthcoming season, as we have not covered the deficiencies exploited by many teams last season. We look good on the ball and have the majority of possession but cannot convert our chances. We have just splashed out north of £50m on Neto, but do we need another winger?

Nick: A good performance against a strong Inter side, whose keeper was MOTM. Defenders didn't make any significant mistakes - though, unlike most Premier League teams, Inter didn't press them hard. Guiu made a very good impression and was unlucky not to score. Please, Chelsea, don't buy another striker - Guiu, Jackson, Nkunku and Palmer can bring us the goals.