Liverpool are the latest club to show an interest in RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, although the 21-year-old Slovenia striker is believed to prefer a move to London, with Arsenal and Chelsea keen. (TBR Football), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesMarc Cucurella says Chelsea's game against Copenhagen in the Conference League on Thursday is a chance to show the squad is ready to compete for trophies after a downturn in form.
The Blues travel to Denmark for the first leg of their last-16 tie, before the return leg at Stamford Bridge on 13 March.
"I think in December it looked like we were the best players and the best team in the league. Now it looks like we are not the worst but one of the worst teams," Cucurella said.
"In football this can happen. We are young, we have a new manager, new ideas - just for six months - and we know the expectations are really high.
"We play good football. Sometimes we can improve these last results but, in general, we are doing good.
"Now we need to do the last effort, with the last part of the season. It is a good moment to show we are ready to fight for big things."
Holly Bacon
BBC Sport journalist
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Conference League last-16 game at Copenhagen (kick-off 17:45 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Cole Palmer, Trevoh Chalobah and January recruit Mathis Amougou all come into the Conference League squad. Benoit Badiashile has also travelled.
On squad fitness, Maresca said: "Trev [Chalobah] fortunately for us was not something serious so he is OK. Benoit [Badiashile] is back training with us in the past week, 10 days. Wes [Fofana] is not in the squad but he is back. Romeo [Lavia] has started to train with us in the past few days. Slowly, slowly we start to have all of the players back and it is important for the final rush of the season."
He also added that Robert Sanchez will start in goal.
On Palmer being in the squad: "Since we started, all the decisions we took are trying to protect players. Now we have Premier League games and Conference League games that are all important. We will change players in the squad so we decided to add, for instance, Cole for the final part of the season. For sure, if he's in the squad he can play minutes."
Maresca added: "Cole gets excited even to play training sessions, so he's always happy to play games. It was planned [to add him at this stage]. For the first six months of the season, we tried to give him more rest - him, Wes, Romeo. Unfortunately, the other two got injuries but the plan was exactly this plan."
On whether Palmer just needs one goal to kickstart his form: "In terms of numbers, for sure - goals and assists. I'm happy with the way Cole was, even in the last game, even Villa away when he had two great chances. I know in some moments he wasn't going to score always. It's normal."
The Chelsea boss was asked about his approach: "From now on, all the Conference League and all the Premier League games are important, so we are going to take one by one until the end and try to win as many games as possible."
Maresca was also complimentary about his opponents: "They play very nice football. You can see a team who always want to try to control the game. They don't change the way they want to play. You can see the clear idea."
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Let's talk about Ibrahim Rabbaj and his performances in Chelsea's academy.
There have been multiple reports about the 16-year-old forward's goals record, which, along with his playing style, is leading to comparisons with superstar Lionel Messi.
A statistic of 50 goals and 60 assists in 42 games across various academy levels -circulating on social media - is difficult to verify.
That stat may even be unhelpful, given it does not clarify whether it includes small-sided games or shorter matches, which are common at that level, and official data is not available until under-18 level.
What is undeniable is Rabbaj, now playing above his age group and a youth international, passes the eye test.
Within 23 minutes of his first start in the U18s Premier League, Rabbaj scored twice at Leicester last month.
Another undeniable truth about Rabbaj is that England and Morocco have been battling for his international future.
And Chelsea still have to wait nearly a year to sign Rabbaj, who turns 17 in January 2026, to his first professional deal.
Image source, Getty ImagesRabbaj's father, Mohammed, grew up playing football and was in the academy of Moroccan powerhouse Raja Casablanca, before moving to Spain and starting his family.
They spent a brief period living in Leicester before returning to Morocco, where they remained with their six children until Ibrahim's gifts sparked a final family move.
Such was the young Rabbaj's talent - at the age of two, playing with a small, size-two football - the family decided to move back to England, to Ashford in Kent, almost entirely to give their son access to the Premier League academy system.
There are videos on social media of Rabbaj, external training in a local park with his father and football-obsessed brother. Eventually, Rabbaj had trials at Arsenal before joining Charlton Athletic's pre-academy.
Rabbaj then played at Crystal Palace until the age of 11, when Chelsea signed him.
One challenge in Rabbaj's journey was a year of not playing football because of an issue with his registration. Another was his small stature.
But his obvious technical gifts shone through as England and Morocco both called him up to their various age groups, up to under-17 level.
Rabbaj has recently chosen Morocco after a series of trips to the country's state-of-the-art training base in Casablanca.
A pathway has been presented to highlight how Rabbaj could be a key player by the 2030 World Cup, which will partly take place in Morocco. Meanwhile, comparisons have been made with Hakim Ziyech's and Brahim Diaz's choices to reject the Netherlands and Spain respectively.
Rabbaj speaks with a Moroccan Arabic dialect. In Arabic, there is the word "maktub", which means "it is written". Given the sense of anticipation around him, many feel Rabbaj destiny is to reach the top.
Borussia Dortmund are preparing for the departure of English winger Jamie Gittens, 20, with Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham all interested. (Sky Germany - in German), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Brighton's Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, 22, is on Chelsea's radar for a potential summer move. (GiveMeSport, external)
Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column
Will Faulks
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesThere can be no doubting that the grand project at Chelsea has been shaken by a couple of months of bad results, but the media briefings have been widespread since last week's win with a very clear message.
The ownership and sporting structure are behind Enzo Maresca and happy with their decision to give Mauricio Pochettino the boot last summer.
It is a good time to send a message like that.
After crushing a Southampton team who look like they will end the season as one of the worst Premier League teams ever, Chelsea have a game to come against a Leicester side who are not much better - plus two legs in the Conference League against a Copenhagen team who operate on a fraction of the Blues' budget.
All of that follows a free weekend which has given players time to rest and recover, as well as handing Maresca another extended spell on the training ground to continue to adapt his team to coping without Nicolas Jackson leading the line.
For those upstairs at the club, this is the time to back the coach and paint a picture of unity. Spinning last Tuesday's win into a run of four victories in a row would restore a lot of confidence, regardless of the opposition, and keep the team's progress towards a European trophy and a top-four place on course.
Some fans will have doubts no matter what the results of this upcoming run are, and a lot more stock will be put in the results of the subsequent games against Arsenal and Tottenham.
But for Maresca and his squad, the here and now is what matters, and ending their bleak post-Christmas struggles with a string of wins would be invaluable.
Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external
Chelsea are still attempting to secure the signature of Gremio's 16-year-old Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Mec. (TBR Football), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column, external
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesSerbia international Djordje Petrovic was sent to RC Strasbourg on loan in August due to concerns about his ability to play out from the back as manager Enzo Maresca increased those demands on his goalkeepers.
Playing under English manager Liam Rosenior in Ligue 1 was sold to an initially reluctant Petrovic as a way of improving those ball-playing skills.
Sources at Strasbourg and close to Petrovic believe the loan move has been productive and allowed him to develop his footwork, which was lacking following spells at MLS with New England Revolution and in Serbian football.
It has set up the chance for Petrovic to either return to Chelsea or possibly move to another big club, with sources close to the keeper believing £25m could be a possible valuation, although it could also potentially be high enough to deter suitors.
UK-based agency Unique Sports Group have poached Petrovic from his long-time agent ahead of the summer negotiations that will decide his future.
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea remain resolute that they will not sign a goalkeeper in 2025 despite criticism for both Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen.
Jorgensen took Sanchez's place as the number one goalkeeper for Premier League matches after a series of errors from the Spain international.
But Jorgensen also made a mistake that cost Chelsea the match at the end of the the 2-1 away defeat to Aston Villa.
Chelsea believe that through their two goalkeepers, as well as loanee Djordje Petrovic, currently excelling at partner club Strasbourg, will be enough options to see them into the coming 2025-26 season.
They also believe that Genk goalkeeper Mike Penders, 19, is a top talent as he prepares to join for £17 million on 1 July.
Of course, Chelsea are not planning to carry all four goalkeepers simultaneously next season and will continue to assess their options as to who stays, is sold or loaned out again next season.
For now, former Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli will remain as a capable third choice back-up and is part of the leadership as one of the longest-serving members of the squad.
Ross Mooring
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesRealistically, with so many teams around us, a top five finish and likely Champions League football for next season is a coin flip at this stage.
Defensive issues - both in terms of individual mistakes and a general vulnerability to allowing opposition chances - and a misfiring attack with multiple players out until towards the end of the season mean that the margins for gaining enough points to outcompete our fellow contenders are small.
Success however, is ultimately measured in trophies and the club has a great chance to add the Europa Conference League to the trophy cabinet, especially with Fiorentina and Real Betis in the other half of the knockout draw. Winning the Club World Cup is probably a reach given the strength of the other European heavyweights involved.
However the league plays out, just as much of a worry will be if the team continues to have problems cohesively moving the ball up the pitch and controlling games and fails to get back to the form that briefly saw the club within reach of Liverpool in December.
Regardless of how the season plays out, one of the biggest hopes is that several players show themselves to be important pieces for the future. This includes the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Jadon Sancho and Wesley Fofana, as well as Noni Madueke and Nicholas Jackson upon their returns. If they do not, that adds even more positions to the summer transfer target list.
Find more from Ross Mooring at Chelsea Fancast, external
Image source, Getty ImagesAs we approach the crunch stage of the 2024-25 Premier League season, it only feels right to address what would be a good outcome for Chelsea from here onwards and what my biggest fear for Enzo Maresca's side is too.
Chelsea have a recent history of being very successful and because of that the new owner is like 'off you pop' to managers if he deems them to be underachieving.
There were protests by fans in the past week about how the club is being run, so qualifying for the Champions League with their young team would be a success but it will be a disappointment if they do not.
A big success would be if they are not still having to fight for that place right at the end of the season as well because only recently they were in title race talks.
And fans want to be competing for titles and big cups right now. They almost expect to be winning the Conference League, as opposed to hoping that they do, because they look like the best team in that competition.
They have to make it to the final and win it. Yes, the fans will celebrate but probably not in the same way as they would have it was a bigger honour.
Away from results is the conversation around Cole Palmer's form, which I think in the main is talked about too simplistically.
It is not like they have to give the ball to Palmer whenever they are attacking - it is just that the position he tends to find himself playing in is very important to their style of play.
The expectation should be on Palmer to score goals, alongside input from everyone else. Their worst case scenario is that their other players also have a dip in form at the same time.
When Chelsea are at their best, it is because of the way they attack. It's free-flowing and fun to watch because of the speed of their wingers, attacking midfielders and forwards.
If they cannot find that attacking excitement anymore and they become a bit stale because Palmer is still out of form and others have not stepped up, then that would be the worst possible end to the season.
Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford
Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has shrugged off criticism from the club's fans, saying it is "par for the course" and something he can accept as long as things at Stamford Bridge are "trending in the right direction".
The American billionaire formed part of a consortium to takeover the Blues in May 2022.
Fans gathered to protest the club's ownership on Tuesday night, prior to their 4-0 home win against Southampton, with seismic spending and inconsistent performances on the pitch forming the basis of much of the frustration.
Boehly was asked about receiving criticism from fans at the FT Business of Football Conference in London, to which he replied: "I think it is just par for the course.
"The reality is that the sooner you learn you can't keep everyone happy all the time, then freedom comes from that.
"You are just trying to execute a plan, but you recognise things aren't linear. As long as you are trending in the right direction, then you feel better. I think the trend is in the right direction and that's the thing that matters.
"In June, it will be three years - and it isn't a lot of time. As a 60-year-old, especially in an industry with so little downtime, it's a whirling dervish of activity when you step on.
"It's a steep learning curve, but I think that's a good thing."
On Chelsea's recent form, Boehly added: "December was peak but, eight weeks out, things are a little different now.
"If you look at the foundations being built, new management team, new academy leadership, sporting director leadership and player mindset. All that's there and now it is about cultivating the development of the team.
"You are always going to try to get better."
Chelsea remain keen on the possibility of signing Borussia Dortmund and Germany winger Karim Adeyemi, who is valued at 45m euros (£37.1m). (CaughtOffside), external
The Premier League could be forced to have two separate transfer windows this summer because of disruption caused by the Club World Cup. (Guardian), external
Scott Read
BBC Radio Lancashire reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesHad you been at Molineux for Bashir Humphreys' Burnley debut at Wolves in the League Cup in August, you would be forgiven for being uncertain of his strongest position.
He played left-back, right-back and centre-half in the same game, and he did not look out of place in any of them. However, it is at left-back where he has found his place in what could turn into a record-breaking defensive season.
In the Clarets' sequence of 12 consecutive Championship clean sheets, Humphreys has started eight times. Crucially, during this run, he has started all three games against promotion rivals - away to Sheffield United on Boxing Day, and at home against Sunderland and Leeds United.
He has also been preferred at left-back in both Lancashire derbies - away games at Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End - a sign of the trust he has gained from manager Scott Parker.
During this run he also scored the second goal of his professional career, finding himself at the edge of the penalty area and finishing confidently against Hull.
When I asked Humphreys about that goal he said: "I'll be honest, I can't really remember what happened," but he did have clearer thoughts on how his game has developed since that versatile display at Wolves. He added: "At that time I felt like I was playing out of position at full-back but now I feel comfortable there.
"There has been a lot of growth for me. I feel like I've got more confidence in that position and it's about experiencing things in game."
Humphreys is looking to become the second-successive left-back on loan from Chelsea to win promotion at Turf Moor, following Ian Maatsen's successful season under Vincent Kompany.
And, just like Maatsen, if the Blues decide they do not need him, he will not be short of suitors.
Chelsea are poised to hold discussions with the representatives of River Plate's Ian Subiabre over a potential move for the 18-year-old Argentine winger. (Give Me Sport), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer believes Cole Palmer's relaxed attitude will help him to find his shooting boots again in no time.
The 22-year-old remains Chelsea's top scorer in the Premier League this season but has not scored in his past seven appearances.
"With Cole Palmer, we see it time and time again that nothing fazes him," said Schwarzer on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "It's like: 'OK it didn't work. I didn't have a good game. I didn't take my chances. So what? On to the next one'.
"That's the thing about him and that's why I'm not concerned because he's so good a player and has such good quality, so it'll come."
Ex-Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison added: "All he needs is one goal. Once he gets one, he will be back on it again.
"Even the best players can suffer what he's going through at the moment, but do you know what I like about him? He still gets in there.
"It's when you start hiding and not getting in there that there is a problem. But he still wants to get in there and create chances. Once he gets one, he'll go on a good run again."
Image source, Getty ImagesEnzo Fernandez may still have a little way to go before he justifies his price tag of £106m, but his performances this season have certainly started to show glimmers of why Chelsea paid such big money for his services.
According to Squawka, external, he became the first player to create five or more chances, win over five duels and win possession more than five times in a Premier League game multiple times this season.
As well as doing so against Southampton, he also produced those stats in the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth last month.
His touch map highlights just how big of an impact he had on the game, with his 79 touches showing him just about everywhere on the pitch.
