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Mauricio Pochettino receives huge Chelsea injury boost amid £80m Stamford Bridge renovation deal
Chelsea news with the latest Blues headlines and updates including stories on Benoit Badiashile, Christopher Nkunku, the Stamford Bridge plans and Victor Osimhen
Mauricio Pochettino has been handed a huge injury boost to his Chelsea side ahead of this weekend’s clash with Arsenal.
It’s been a busy international break as far as international breaks go for Chelsea and manager Mauricio Pochettino. Despite not having any matches to prepare for over the last two weeks, there’s been plenty of injury scares and boosts to go around, transfer rumours floating around and a huge step towards progress in the club’s future plans for Stamford Bridge.
But now the Blues boss will have all of his international stars returning this week ahead of their huge London derby clash with rivals Arsenal who sit joint-top-of-the-table. The Blues are currently sat on three straight wins against Brighton, Fulham and Burnley but will want to utilise their red hot form to stop Mikel Arteta’s Gunners in their tracks.
The Spaniard is hoping to deal a hammer blow to his two London rivals simultaneously, with a win over Chelsea away from home potentially leapfrogging them over Tottenham in the league table. With that being said though, here’s your Chelsea morning headlines on Wednesday, October 18.
£80m Stamford Bridge redevelopment plans
Chelsea have purchased the majority of a 1.2 acre site close to Stamford Bridge from the Stoll Foundation. Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions, located in the shadow of the Blues’ famous stadium, confirmed on its X (Twitter) page about the completed deal.
A statement read: “Today we have announced that we have agreed to sell the majority of our Fulham site to the Chelsea FC ownership group following a nine-week resident consultation. This will enable us to establish new properties, better services for veterans and secure Stoll’s financial sustainability.”
The deal has now been completed for an estimated £80million, which will now allow Chelsea to push forward with their plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge in the future. Such a purchase would suggest that the club are leaning towards remaining at Stamford Bridge rather than relocating somewhere else and building a new stadium.
Victor Osimhen race heats up
Chelsea and Arsenal could be set for even more competition in their bid to secure Napoli striker Victor Osimhen’s services in the January transfer window.
The Nigerian international, who has seen his relationship with Napoli dealt some major blows over the past few weeks due to some questionable social media posts, has been the centre of attention in the transfer market, with a saga brewing as we edge closer to the opening of the winter window.
It’s believed that the Blues have had the star on the top of their targets list for some time now, and coupled with rumours that owner Todd Boehly wants to make a statement signing in January to really bolster manager Mauricio Pochettino’s chances of European football next season, Osimhen would be a great asset to go after.
Chelsea injury boost
Chelsea star Christopher Nkunku has hailed teammate and compatriot Benoit Badiashile following the defender’s injury update ahead of his return to the Chelsea senior squad.
It’s possible that the France international will be fit for the clash with Arsenal this weekend although it’ll no doubt be touch-and-go over his inclusion. The star is yet to play under Mauricio Pochettino, having missed all of Chelsea’s first eight league games with his issue but has returned to full-team training in the past few weeks.
Having started ten of his 11 Premier League appearances towards the end of last season, Badiashile cemented his place in the Blues lineup under Frank Lampard, even scoring the goal that spurred on a 3-1 win over Bournemouth towards the final part of the campaign.
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MNU VS CHE: 4-2-3-1 Pochettino strongest possible IX that could help Chelsea defeat Man Utd
Today’s Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford is sure to be exciting. There isn’t a distinct favorite for this forthcoming matchup because both teams have shown inconsistent play this season.
Manchester United hopes to win against Chelsea after suffering an awful defeat to Newcastle United. Chelsea, on the other hand, is hoping to keep up their current winning streak in the Premier League by thrashing Manchester United in their next game.
4-2-3-1 Pochettino predicted starting IX
Goalkeeper: The Spanish international Robert Sanchez is expected to start in goal
Defenders: Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Thiago Silva, and Reece James make up Chelsea’s defense. Reece James is anticipated to start the next game, Despite his red card suspension that kept him out of the match against Brighton.
Midfielders: Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, and Enzo Fernandes are midfielders. As Conor Gallagher is out due to suspension, Cole Palmer will fill in at offensive midfield, with Enzo Fernandes and Moises Caicedo handling additional roles in central and defensive midfield.
Forward: Raheem Sterling, Armando Broja, and Mykhailo Mudryk are the forwards. Nicolas Jackson, who has been struggling, is replaced by Armando Broja, with Raheem Sterling on the right wing and Mykhailo Mudryk in his standard left wing position.
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Confirmed Chelsea line up vs Newcastle: Lesley Ugochukwu replaces Moises Caicedo as Palmer start with Gallagher in Midfield #NEWCHE
Mauricio Pochettino makes two changes to his Chelsea team for today’s game at Newcastle.
Benoit Badiashile comes in for his compatriot Axel Disasi in the heart of defence, while Lesley Ugochukwu replaces Moises Caicedo.
Otherwise, it is the same starting XI that began the 4-4 draw against Manchester City prior to the international break
That means Reece James, Thiago Silva and Marc Cucurella join Badiashile at the back, ahead of Robert Sanchez. Enzo Fernandezand Conor Gallagher continue in midfield, with Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer supplying the width in attack, either side of Nicolas Jackson.
Caicedo and Levi Colwill, who was injured during the recent break, are among those named on the bench.
Alexander Isak returns for Newcastle after injury, but there is no Sean Longstaff.
Chelsea: Sanchez; James (c), Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Cucurella, Enzo, Ugochukwu, Gallagher, Palmer, Jackson, Sterling
Subs: Petrovic, Colwill, Disasi, Maatsen, Caicedo, Matos, Madueke, Mudryk, Broja
Newcastle: Pope, Livramento, Lascelles (c), Schar, Trippier, Guimaraes, Miley, Almiron, Joelinton, Isak, Gordon
Subs: Dubravka, Gillespie, Karius, Dummett, Ritchie, Diallo, Murphy, Ndiweni, Parkinson
Referee Simon Hooper
Reece James just returned to action for Chelsea this season after recovering from an injury that kept him on the sidelines for weeks but the synergy between the Chelsea Skipper and Cole Palmer has emerged as a pivotal factor in Chelsea’s recent impressive performance.
Their relationship on the pitch showcases a dynamic partnership that has been significantly impacting the team’s overall performance.
One key element of this collaboration is the strategic placement of Cole Palmer in the middle, operating behind the striker.
This positioning capitalizes on Palmer’s unique skill set, acknowledging that he may not possess the blistering pace or sheer physicality to excel in isolated one-on-one situations with defenders.
Instead, Palmer’s strength lies in his ability to receive the ball on the half-turn, exhibiting clever passes that ignite the team’s attacking prowess.
Palmer’s fluid style, characterized by his adept use of pockets and floating movements, creates a symbiotic relationship with Reece James.
James, a versatile right-back, benefits from Palmer’s strategic play by having the freedom to occupy the wing.
This tactical understanding not only maximizes Palmer’s strengths but also amplifies James’s impact on the game.
What becomes evident in this partnership is Palmer essentially playing as a number 10, operating in a role that aligns with his capabilities and enhances the team’s attacking dynamics.
By strategically placing Palmer in a central position, Chelsea leverages his playmaking abilities, allowing him to orchestrate the flow of the game and provide crucial link-up play between the midfield and the strikers.
The tactical harmony between Palmer and James is not just about individual brilliance but also about how their styles complement each other seamlessly.
Palmer’s intelligent movements and distribution empower James to venture forward with confidence, creating a fluid and dynamic attacking unit for Chelsea
MNU VS CHE: 4-2-3-1 Pochettino strongest possible IX that could help Chelsea defeat Man Utd
Confirmed Chelsea line up vs Newcastle: Lesley Ugochukwu replaces Moises Caicedo as Palmer start with Gallagher in Midfield #NEWCHE
How Palmer and Reece James Have Complemented Each Other in Chelsea’s Lineup This Season
Chelsea eye double £156m transfer swoop as Todd Boehly faces Saudi Arabia questioning
