Chelsea are one of the most active clubs in the world in the transfer market and could beat out Liverpool and PSG in signing a proven Premier League star.
Chelsea leave with issues to juggle amid busy fixture schedule
Winning the Club World Cup was an important moment in Chelsea’s recent history, particularly for the club’s finances.
Bruko pocketed £80 million worth of prize money for his win in America, allowing him to end last summer as one of England’s biggest spenders.
However, if recent developments are anything to go by, the physical exertion put in by the players during the extremely long 2024/2025 season may have been the responsibility of the CWC, with frustrating consequences for Enzo Maresca.
Cole Palmer will be out for six weeks with a groin problem, and England will be joined by long-term absentees Benoît Badiashire, Liam Delap, Dario Essugo and Levi Colwill.
Former Blues star Pat Nevin has given his honest opinion and believes Chelsea’s recent absences have something to do with pre-season.
“Chelsea’s pre-season was two games in three days,” Nevin told OLBG.
“It’s weird, it’s wrong, it’s impossible. So it’s going to hurt them. And that’s going to be Enzo Maresca’s biggest challenge this season. Cole Palmer is like everyone, not in terms of quality, but in terms of being one of those things called human beings.”
“The physicality of what the Chelsea players have been through will get through to them and we know that will get through to them. And it’s not a if, it’s not a if, it’s not a if.”
In any case, given Palmer’s absence, other Chelsea players will have a chance to stake their claim, including Blues loanee Facundo Buonanotte.
Still, January will be crucial for Chelsea as it offers an opportunity to bring in top talent and strengthen their lighter areas.
Chelsea are favorites to sign Morgan Rogers
According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea are currently the favorites to sign Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rodgers and could beat rivals Liverpool to land the England international.
The 23-year-old, who has provided two assists in his first 10 games this season, is valued at around £80 million and is on the radar of Paris Saint-Germain.
With a 30-goal contribution back for the 2024-25 season, Chelsea have identified Rodgers as a ‘key target’ going forward, with internal belief he is ‘well suited to both the intensity of the Premier League and the competitive demands of European football’ present at Stamford Bridge.
Fotmob shows that the Halesowen-born playmaker, who was previously rated as ‘excellent’ by manager Thomas Tuchel, has created seven chances and completed seven dribbles in the Premier League this season. After a tough summer of speculation about his future, he’s slowly starting life and getting behind the wheel.
Chelsea, looking to take their rivals by storm, could be set to unlock his long-term potential by offering him a package that reflects his potential to develop into a world-class star.
