Chelsea ended the weekend in fourth place in the Premier League as their impressive form under Enzo Maresca continued against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Despite going a goal down after just a few minutes, Cole Palmer was on hand to score four first-half goals in a 4-2 win at Stamford Bridge. The three points moved them above Aston Villa and into the final Champions League position.
Having picked up 13 points from their opening six games, the Blues are one point behind Arsenal and Manchester City and just two behind leaders Liverpool. It has led to faint whispers that the club could challenge for the title at the end of the season.
Maresca and his side concentration will now be back on the Europa Conference League. The club kick off their campaign against Gent at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night, before facing Nottingham Forest in the Premier League next Sunday.
As preparations for those games go on, there has been talk around the club on various subjects. football.london have taken a look at some of the latest and given our own thoughts on the situation.
£85m transfer demand sent
Chelsea will have to pay the £85 million release clause for Viktor Gyokeres if they wish to sign the striker from Sporting CP this summer, with the former Coventry City man continuing to catch the eye with his goalscoring this season.
Maresca and his side concentration will now be back on the Europa Conference League. The club kick off their campaign against Gent at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night, before facing Nottingham Forest in the Premier League next Sunday.
As preparations for those games go on, there has been talk around the club on various subjects. football.london have taken a look at some of the latest and given our own thoughts on the situation.
£85m transfer demand sent
Chelsea will have to pay the £85 million release clause for Viktor Gyokeres if they wish to sign the striker from Sporting CP this summer, with the former Coventry City man continuing to catch the eye with his goalscoring this season.
After scoring 43 goals last season in his debut campaign for the club, the Swede has already netted 10 goals so far this season. The Mirror now reports that Sporting will not entertain accepting a figure below the player’s release clause.
Both Chelsea and Arsenal have been credited with an interest. Gyokeres has been named as a potential option for the Blues if they continue their search for a striker when the window opens, alongside Victor Osimhen, whom the club tried to sign in the summer.
FL says: Nicolas Jackson’s performances so far this season mean that the need for striking reinforcements is not what it was during the summer transfer window. The Chelsea striker has impressed under Enzo Maresca.
But Gyokeres’ numbers can’t be ignored. He has experience in English football, albeit in the Championship, and Chelsea have shown that they are not afraid to splash the cash to bring in a player who could make a difference.
Depending on the position Chelsea find themselves in in January, signing Gyokeres could potentially make the difference in their aims at the end of the campaign.
Chelsea sent title message
While talk is on who the club could bring in at the top end of the pitch, Chelsea have been told by pundit Jamie O’Hara that it’s at the other end of the pitch that could impact the club’s potential chances for the Premier League title.
The Blues came out as 4-2 winners against Brighton on Saturday, but a mistake by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez did lead to one of the Seagulls’ goals. It’s that position that could be crucial, according to O’Hara.
He said on TalkSPORT: “They are the real deal, Chelsea. I don’t care what anyone says. Everyone was digging them out. It looks like they have got it right. What a squad they have got. I think they can challenge for the title. I am telling you they can fight for the title. They are that good.
“The only issue they have got is Robert Sanchez and the back four. That’s where I think they might come unstuck. If they are going to win the league, they are going to win it by winning 4-3s, 4-2s. But they are going forward frightening. And their bench is frightening. It’s just the goalkeeper looks like he is going to let them down. The amount of times he looks like he is going to give the ball away every time he gets it.”
