It's another day in the international break which means plenty of Chelsea chatter! Over the past few days, an investigation from The Guardian uncovered a series of alleged payments 'routed through offshore vehicles' during Roman Abramovich's time at the club.
Those payments came from accounts which belong to the Russian billionaire, with the transactions said to be for the Blues' benefit resulting in some questioning whether the governing bodies were made aware of them.
Elsewhere, Mauricio Pochettino plans to get his squad back fit and firing after they closed out before the two-week break with four points from a possible six against rivals Tottenham and reigning champions Manchester City in what were both incredibly entertaining games.
Now though, the Blues boss will be hoping to have a few new faces for their clash at St. James' Park later this month when Chelsea travel up north to face Newcastle United, a side they're set to meet again in early December for the Carabao Cup quarter-final.
Supporters will also be hoping to see Cole Palmer make his England debut tonight as the Three Lions take on Malta at Wembley Stadium. The Blues youngster was called up to the senior team by Gareth Southgate after James Maddison pulled out with an ankle injury.
With that being said, make sure you keep the blog on lock throughout the day as we bring you all the latest Chelsea news as and when it happens.
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Cole Palmer makes England debut
Chelsea star Cole Palmer made his England debut against Malta tonight, replacing Marcus Rashford in the 60th minute with the Three Lions 1-0 up.
The 21-year-old is the 60th debutant under Gareth Southgate, who called up the youngster after his standout performances for the Blues in recent weeks as James Maddison pulled out of the camp due to injury.
Jamie Carragher delivers damning Chelsea and Everton verdict
Sky Sports pundit and former Premier League star Jamie Carragher believes that Everton's punishment for breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules was harsh considering what other clubs - including Chelsea - have done in the past.
Sean Dyche's side are now set for a relegation battle as the points deduction takes them from 14th down into the drop zone to 19th, now just one point in front of struggling Sheffield United who recorded their first win of the season just two weeks ago. The Toffees are set to appeal the ruling straight away, but the club have faced a financial loss of £372million over the last three years.
It's more than £250million above what the Premier League's guidelines allows clubs to lose in that three-year timeframe, with the Premier League releasing a statement saying: "An independent Commission has imposed an immediate deduction of 10 points on Everton FC for a breach of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSRs).
Premier League drop subtle Chelsea and Man City points deduction hint
The Premier League is facing a new kind of existential challenge in the form of financial control and punishments, a fresh issue to the league from modern football's ever-growing Pandora's Box of problems. It started as early as 2018, when the division commissioned an investigation into Manchester City's finances.
It took roughly five years before there would be a statement made on the situation, with the Premier League making 115 separate allegations against the seven-time champions. The club hit back with their own statement, with an independent commission set to review all of the charges.
Allegations against Chelsea have been somewhat different as new claims continue to be put against the previous ownership regime at the club. Former owner Roman Abramovich spent nearly 20 years at Stamford Bridge before the Russian oligarch was forced to sell up following restrictions placed upon him by the UK Government in 2022 in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Gary Lineker issues Chelsea and Man City sanction warning
Former England striker and pundit Gary Lineker has fired a warning to Chelsea and Manchester City as the two clubs await a potential points deduction after the Premier League's decision to dock Everton ten points this afternoon.
However, as many have pointed out, their breach was significantly less severe than what either Chelsea or Manchester City have been accused of, after a recent investigation into alleged payments made by Chelsea while former owner Roman Abramovich was still in charge. The Blues are accused of using 'offshore vehicles' to route payments that favoured the club without making them known to regulators or governing bodies.
The Russian billionaire, who was forced to sell the club in 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine saw sanctions imposed on his UK assets, is believed to be the owner of those accounts, meaning the Blues could face a similar - or even harsher - penalty to Everton. City are also already under investigation for 115 alleged breaches of FFP from a period starting in 2009 until 2018 with their case set a more complicated matter due to the amount of charges bought against them.
Wesley Fofana issues Chelsea injury update
Chelsea star Wesley Fofana has hinted his injury progress is heading in the right direction amid the international break. The France defender did not travel on Chelsea's pre-season tour of the United States as he received an assessment from a specialist and instead underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery.
Fofana is still in the rehabilitation stage of his recovery and is still expected to be out for a lengthy period having not yet been able to feature for the Blues under Mauricio Pochettino. The 22-year-old has hinted that he has returned to running for the first time however.
The former Leicester City star posted to his Instagram Story an image of feet, wearing football boost and with the phrase 'After [a] long time' and a running emoji alongside a football emoji. Fofana added the phrase: "Alhamdulillah" too.
Can Chelsea and Man City be relegated from Premier League for FFP breaches?
With the news that Premier League rivals Everton were handed a swift 10-point deduction after being found guilty of breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, those at Chelsea and Manchester City are suddenly looking over their shoulders.
While Sean Dyche's side saw a five-place drop from 14th down into the relegation zone, their breach was significantly less than what either the Blues or the Citizens have been accused of meaning the punishment could be more severe. Under Todd Boehly's 18-month reign, the Blues have already spent over £1billion in transfers alone and after a recent investigation into alleged payments made by the club while former owner Roman Abramovich was still in charge, it could be a recipe for disaster.
These payments are reportedly 'routed through offshore vehicles' which belong to the Russian billionaire, who was forced to sell the club in 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine saw sanctions imposed on his UK assets. The transactions are believed to be for Chelsea's benefit, with some questioning whether the governing bodies were made aware of the accounts.
Roony Bardghji on Chelsea rumours
FC Copenhagen starlet Roony Bardghji has admitted that it's 'nice' to be linked with Chelsea, but that he's not thinking about a move to the Premier League just yet.
The 18-year-old scored the winner in their dramatic 4-3 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford in their UEFA CHampions League group stage clash two weeks ago and has been tipped for a move to the English top flight since.
Speaking to Swedish outlet Goteborgs-Posten, he said: It’s nice, it means doing something good. But as I said before, I don’t think about it much. I play at Copenhagen and I’m here with the national team now. But it’s big and I’m glad they’re watching one.
"I have great confidence and believe that I am ready for whatever comes. I don’t mean that I should go now, but I mean that I have the confidence regardless of whether it would be now or later."
Why Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham wait on Man City point deduction
The Premier League is nearing two ground-breaking and historic moments in its history in relation to financial rules and potential punishments, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham all waiting to witness the outcome. In the space of a year, the division has announced two of its first cases of alleged breaches when it comes to profit and sustainability rules.
One of those cases surrounded Everton, a side who were referred to an independent commission in March for alleged breaches spanning the 2021/22 season. It was revealed in mid-November that the ruling had given the Toffees a 10-point deduction with immediate effect.
As a result, the club dropped down to 19th in the Premier League, though there is still an appeal process they can go through to contest such charges. A statement from Everton reads: "Everton Football Club is both shocked and disappointed by the ruling of the Premier League’s commission."
Chelsea given double positional message
Gareth Southgate's explanations for picking Cole Palmer and Conor Gallagher in the most recent England squad go some way to suggesting just how Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino might look with all the attacking tools available. The Blues have been shifting their frontline in search of balance in the absence of Christopher Nkunku so far this season but will soon not have to worry about that.
The Frenchman is set to return shortly after the international break and is expected to provide immediate impetus for Pochettino but just how he fits in remains unclear. Having featured in almost every position from left-winger to striker, false nine to No.10 and right-sided midfielder, the 26-year-old is versatile and extremely flexible.
Without him Pochettino has mixed between using Raheem Sterling on either flank - initially looking sharp from the right but finishing the most recent set of games dominating the left - with Ben Chilwell tasked with playing out of position on occasion when fit as well as integrating Mykhailo Mudryk some more.
Chelsea star targeted for loan move
AC Milan are reportedly chasing Chelsea defender Benoit Badiashile for a loan move in January after the defender made his return to the Blues lineup last month.
He made his comeback against Blackburn Rovers in the Carabao Cup at Stamford Bridge, finding the opener in his first offcial match under Mauricio Pochettino.
But the Serie A club is going after the 22-year-old just 12 months after he arrived at the Blues, hoping to reunite him with the likes of Christian Pulisic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek who left for Italy in the summer.
Chelsea wonderkids help England to top spot
England under-17s secured their route through to the next stage of the World Cup as Group C winners, despite a defeat to Brazil in Jakarta on Friday. The Three Lions side were already through the group stages of the World Cup following wins over Iran and New Caledonia in their opening two matches of the tournament in Indonesia but did not take things lightly against reigning champions Brazil.
Chelsea's Ishe Samuels-Smith dropped to the bench for the occasion, as did Arsenal youngsters Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly but head coach Ryan Garry nevertheless named a strong side.
A closely contested opening half saw Brazil take the lead through Kaua Elias as he took advantage of a rebound in the box to net his fourth goal of the tournament after a hat-trick against New Caledonia to ensure the South American side went in at half-time 1-0 up.
Four strikers to consider
Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino face missing out on the potential signings of Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney as a result of Todd Boehly's multi-million-pound spending.
The Blues owner has spent over £1billion on new players since taking over the football club from Roman Abramovich in 2022. Any possible breach of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations have been swerved courtesy of the long contracts offered to new players.
The influx of thousands available to players means many of the current squad at Stamford Bridge are earning close to £100,000-per-week or more. However, the wage bill paid out by Boehly and Clearlake Capital could have a huge impact on Pochettino's hopes of signing a new striker in January or next summer.
Read the full story, here.
What a points deduction means for Chelsea
The international break has got off to an eventful start for Chelsea. In a week following two of the craziest and most unpredictable games of the season - possibly ever - the Blues have now been handed a massive worry.
It was reported on Wednesday by the Guardian that further questions over Roman Abramovich's tenure had emerged following the uncovering of documents that suggest secret payments were made that may have breached financial fair play rules. It is not the only ongoing investigation around Abramovich.
The Russian oligarch, who sold the club in 2022 to a consortium headed by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital after being sanctioned by the UK government following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine and alleged links between the pair, is also the centre of FIFA's own investigation.
Read the full story, here.
When Chelsea play Everton
The next time Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham play Everton the situation is set to be extremely different. The Toffees have been plunged into 19th place after a shock 10-point deduction from the Premier League was confirmed on Friday, leaving the club back in the relegation zone.
Sean Dyche's side have been found guilty of breaching financial fair play rules after an announcement was made, sending them down the table after a run of form had propelled them away from danger. Everton have revealed their intentions to appeal the punishment after it became the first of its kind in league history but the current state of the league no longer looks pretty for the Merseysiders.
The decision has taken them from 14th place and eight points above the drop zone to being just above Burnley at the foot of the table on goal difference. It also appears to set a precedent ahead of the awaited Manchester City case whilst Chelsea themselves will be sweating after further details of alleged wrongdoings under Roman Abramovich were revealed earlier this week.
Read the full story, here.
What Carragher has said
Jamie Carragher has warned Manchester City that they could be hit with a much bigger punishment than Everton after Sean Dyche's side were found guilty of breaching financial fair play rules. In a statement released on Friday the league confirmed that the club had been docked 10 points.
No Premier League side has been handed a deduction for such reasons before and it could spark a panic across the division. Manchester City themselves were hit earlier this year with charges of over 115 breaches of regulations across a 14-year period dating back to 2009/10 with the possibility for other sanctions including a transfer embargo and large fines.
Former Liverpool defender and current Sky pundit Carragher has sent a strong message to league holders Manchester City. "The PL [Premier League] want a 12-point deduction for Everton for one charge. Man City are going to end up in the National League North if the PL get their way!!" he wrote on X (formally Twitter) in October.
Read the full story, here.
More Everton reaction
Everton have now moved to joint-20th in the Premier League table – ahead of Burnley on goal difference. Chelsea now face an anxious wait after some concerning reports emerged earlier in the week.
Reports earlier in the week raised even more questions about their success under previous owner Roman Abramovich. Following a joint investigation by the Guardian and a group of international outlets including the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) and Germany’s Paper Trail Media, files have been uncovered relating to a series of payments spread out over a decade worth tens of millions of pounds.
Said payments are reportedly 'routed through offshore vehicles', which belong to Abramovich. Such transactions are said to be for Chelsea's benefit and there have been questions asked whether the relevant governing bodies were made aware of the accounts.
Read the full story, here.
Full story on Everton
The Premier League have announced that Everton will receive a ten-point deduction after being found guilty of breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules. Sean Dyche's side currently sit 14th in the table having accrued 14 points.
But a deduction would see them drop down to 19th, level on points with bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United. A statement from the league read: "An independent Commission has imposed an immediate deduction of 10 points on Everton FC for a breach of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSRs)."
Read more, here.
Everton points deduction
An independent Commission has imposed an immediate deduction of 10 points on Everton FC for a breach of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSRs).
More to follow.
More on Gallagher
England have two games left of their Euro 2024 qualifying group and face Malta on Friday night, a game Colwill won't be part of after pulling out of the group due to a shoulder problem. Sterling, however, was simply left out by Southgate for a third time in a row.
Reece James decided against taking the call-up from his country having only just made a return to the starting line-up. One player that simply never misses matches is Conor Gallagher.
The 23-year-old has found himself as a staple for both club and country in the past 12 months with a growing level of importance. Last year he was commonly seen off the bench, starting half the league games in 2022/23 but featuring in all but three games - nobody had more appearances but he still recorded just the ninth most minutes.
Read the full story, here.
Dream behind-closed-doors friendly
The international break is well underway and Chelsea's stars have flown around the world to compete for their national sides. Mauricio Pochettino has fewer numbers to work with in the build up to the Blues' trip to Newcastle United nine days times, as he looks to build on the momentum garnered from defeating Tottenham and drawing with Manchester United.
The pause in Premier League football affords Pochettino time to work with some players who have scarcely seen Cobham's training pitches in the opening months of the season. For example, there is hope that Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia could soon be in contention to feature domestically.
Read the full story, here.
Nkunku scenarios
For the second time in a row Chelsea entered the international break on a high after scoring four goals. Compared to the relative positive that beating Burnley 4-1 was at the end of October the 4-4 draw with Manchester City felt like a coming of age performance from a young team.
The job is not yet done though and even taking four points from six against the top two heading into last weekend won't be enough to let Mauricio Pochettino off if his side slip up in the next run of games. Having come out unscathed from three of the toughest matches of the season so far there are still trips to Newcastle and Old Trafford to contend with either side of hosting Brighton.
This patch of fixtures no longer looks as daunting after firing eight goals in during a week but the inconsistency of this team has fooled many before and will do so again before the end of the season, no doubt. The difference is that this time Christopher Nkunku is gearing up for a debut.
Read the full story, here.
Santos issue
Less than 12 months after signing for Chelsea Andrey Santos could return from what would already be his second loan away from the club. The Brazilian teenager was immediately sent back to South America after arriving as a prodigy from Vasco de Gama in January, much like Malo Gusto and Lyon, but things haven't worked out since.
Santos did feature for the club prominently in pre-season and looked to have forced his way into the squad for the upcoming campaign, especially before Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia signed in mid-August to shake things up. After the Under-20 World Cup over the summer he was one of the hottest properties on the market and now he is somewhat the forgotten man.
Read the full story, here.
Chelsea star issued 'trust' instruction
Former Premier League winger John Barnes has claimed that England manager Gareth Southgate must be trusted over his squad selection decisions after he snubbed Chelsea star Raheem Sterling for the fifth successive time.
The Blues forward, who has undoubtedly been playing his best football since arriving at Stamford Bridge last season, was once again left out of the Three Lions squad as they prepare to face Malta and North Macedonia in their 2024 Euro qualification campaign. It means the star will have to stay at Cobham with manager Mauricio Pochettino once again in order to keep his fitness up over the international break.
He already has five goals and two assists so far this season, including a brace in a 3-0 win over Luton Town back in August and was heavily involved in the 4-1 win over Burnley at Turf Moor. His sharp uptake in form didn't stop there though, as he's now netted twice in his last three appearances including against his former side Manchester City over the weekend in the dramatic 4-4 draw.
Moises Caicedo's dream Chelsea partner given 'humble' instruction
Former Manchester United defender and Ecuador captain Antonio Valencia has warned Chelsea wonderkid Kendry Paez to 'remain humble' ahead of his impending move to the Premier League.
The 16-year-old sensation, who joined Chelsea on a £17.6million deal from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle in the summer, is set to officially move to Stamford Bridge when he turns 18 in May 2025, with his move being blocked by FIFA regulations. Now he's set to start in his fourth consecutive match for his country last night against Venezuela.
Paez became the youngest South American footballer of all time to score a goal in a FIFA World Cup qualifier at 16 years and 161 days when he linked up with Moises Caicedo in Ecuador's 2-1 win over Bolivia back in October, giving supporters a glimpse at the potential future at Stamford Bridge.
Southgate on Gallagher
"Conor Gallagher has got tremendous drive. This week is a classic for me.
"He has come with a bit of a knock from the weekend but he walked through the door saying, ‘It is a bit sore but I will be fine for Friday.’ There was no way he was going home."
Paez warning
Former Manchester United defender and Ecuador captain Antonio Valencia has warned Chelsea wonderkid Kendry Paez to 'remain humble' ahead of his impending move to the Premier League.
The 16-year-old sensation, who joined Chelsea on a £17.6million deal from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle in the summer, is set to officially move to Stamford Bridge when he turns 18 in May 2025, with his move being blocked by FIFA regulations. Now he's set to start in his fourth consecutive match for his country last night against Venezuela.
Paez became the youngest South American footballer of all time to score a goal in a FIFA World Cup qualifier at 16 years and 161 days when he linked up with Moises Caicedo in Ecuador's 2-1 win over Bolivia back in October, giving supporters a glimpse at the potential future at Stamford Bridge.
Read the full story, here.
Morning headlines
Chelsea told Kylian Mbappe contract demands as Blues handed wonderkid transfer advantage
Here's a look at the biggest stories ahead of another busy day for Chelsea.
- Chelsea have been handed a boost in their hopes of landing Gabriel Moscardo this January as Fabrizio Romano claims the midfielder wonderkid is unavailable for Barcelona, due to their financial problems.
PSG star Kylian Mbappe has outlined his contract request if he joins a team on a free transfer this summer, according to a recent report.
Tottenham star Cristian Romero insists there is no issue between himself and Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez on international duty following on from the defender's full-blooded challenge on his compatriot earlier this month
Read the full stories, here.
Latest Chelsea injury news and return dates
With the international break upon us, Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino are finally able to get some rest. After a gruelling schedule which has only exacerbated their injury issues, it appears as though the list of those sat on the sidelines is finally decreasing.
Christopher Nkunku is the main man that supporters and the club themselves are waiting on to return, with the forward back in first team training after recovering from his knee injury. Barring any setbacks, there's potential for a swift return.
Elsewhere, Levi Colwill was forced to withdraw from the England squad with a shoulder injury after being left out of last weekend's incredible 4-4 draw with Manchester City. The Blues will be hoping that he's available for next weekend's Premier League trip to St. James' Park to face high-flying Newcastle United.
Trevoh Chalobah, Carney Chukwuemeka and vice captain Ben Chilwell are those still trying to recover from long-term issues and are unlikely to return anytime soon after the international. With that said, here's a look at the latest injury news and possible return dates for those who are currently sidelined.
Good morning
Hello and welcome to today's Chelsea live blog.
Here's a look at the biggest stories ahead of another huge day.
