Hello and welcome to today's live Chelsea blog on football.london!
The Blues fell 13 points behind Manchester City on Saturday as they were beaten by Pep Guardiola's side at the Etihad Stadium, leaving a mountain to climb in the title race.
However, Thomas Tuchel has no time to sit around feeling sorry for himself with his side once again in action tonight when they visit Brighton in the Premier League.
Whether they will have any new recruits through the door by then remains to be seen but Chelsea continue to be linked with a number of names in the transfer window.
A left-back appears to be the top priority and a new target has emerged - all the details of which are covered in today's blog.
With that in mind, sit back and let football.london bring you all the latest news and rumours as they happen.
FT: Brighton 1-1 Chelsea
Chelsea suffer another frustrating result on the south coast.
That's just two points from the last 12 available for the Blues - title charge over?
Lukaku's next club
Romelu Lukaku came under fire after his display against Manchester City on Saturday and, coupled with a fractured relationship with Thomas Tuchel, his time at Stamford Bridge could be short lived.
So, where could he end up next? Here are the latest odds from Betfair:
Inter Milan: 5/2
Bayern Munich: 4/1
Real Madrid: 5/1
PSG: 7/1
Newcastle: 8/1
Man City: 10/1
Barcelona: 12/1
Lampard to be interviewed for Everton role
Frank Lampard is set to be interviewed for the vacant Everton manager's job after the sacking of Rafa Benitez.
It would be the Chelsea's legend's first role since being sacked by the Blues just over a year ago but he will be up against Wayne Rooney for the position, according to the report by The Telegraph.
Ronaldo votes for Chelsea duo
The FIFA Best awards took place on Tuesday night and Robert Lewandowski deservedly took home the men's award.
Cristiano Ronaldo's votes will make pleasant reading for Chelsea fans, however, as the Manchester United legend voted both N'Golo Kante and Jorginho inside his top three.
Dest happy in Barcelona
Sergino Dest's agent Michael Reschke insists the USA international is happy where he is in Catalonia.
“Sergino feels good in Barcelona,” he told Ran.
“It’s a great club. That’s why it’s actually rather unlikely at the moment.”
Timo Werner's concerning Antonio Rudiger message and Chelsea's 3 decisions to dictate transfers
Chelsea's season has been surrounded by talk of expiring contracts.
The Blues found themselves in the unusual situation of having four key members of their backline with deals set to run out in the summer of 2022.
Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva all entered Thomas Tuchel's first full term as Chelsea coach with their future up in the air.
Brazilian veteran Silva extended his contract in January but the Blues still await a breakthrough with the rest of the trio.
While chatter has been fairly relaxed over Azpilicueta, the Spaniard's decision is likely to be predicated on where he wants to take his career as opposed to any financial disagreement given his status at the club, whereas drama has surrounded Christensen and Rudiger.
Read more here.
Tuchel unfazed by Azpilicueta future doubts
Cesar Azpilicueta continues to be linked with a move away from Chelsea, with suitors in Spain reportedly ready to offer him a contract back in his homeland.
However, Thomas Tuchel is relaxed about the situation.
“[Azpi] is very calm. He has everything in his own hands. I see no signs we should be worried about it,” the Chelsea head coach said, via Chelsea news.
Who is Ekitike?
We've brought you a fair bit on Hugo Ekitike today, but just who is he?
Find out here.
Ekitike on Mbappe
Chelsea target Hugo Ekitike has previously said that he wants to emulate Kylian Mbappe.
"Over the last few years, he is the player I watch the most, who inspires me, and not necessarily only on the pitch," he told Foot Mercato, via our colleagues at the Chronicle.
"That's what it means to be a top-level player and that's what I aspire to become."
Hazard 'snubs' Newcastle
As per the Daily Mail, Eden Hazard has reportedly snubbed a move to Newcastle United despite the mega-rich Magpies seeing an offer of £33.4million, plus £8.3m in add-ons, accepted by Real Madrid.
More on Ekitike
Chelsea have been told why they should sign the 'next Kylian Mbappe'.
Read the full story here.
Mourinho to Everton?
As relayed by our colleagues at the Echo, reports have suggested that Everton are keeping an eye on former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho at Roma after failing with an approach for Roberto Martinez.
Owner Farhad Moshiri is thought to admire the Roma manager Jose Mourinho.
Read the full story HERE
Ekitike links
Newcastle United’s hopes of signing Reims striker Hugo Ekitike could be dented as Chelsea are making a move to hijack the Magpies.
Foot Mercato, via HITC, claim that Chelsea have made contact with a view to signing Ekitike in a deal that could reach €40million (£33.4million).
Mount's angry eyes
Thomas Tuchel admits Mason Mount was not happy to be left out of the Chelsea side against Manchester City but insists it won't be long until the midfielder regains his untouchable status.
Dembele's 48-hour ultimatum
According to Mundo Deportivo, Ousmane Dembele is still yet to respond to the current contractual offer at Barcelona which has frustrated the club’s higher-ups.
Leading to a 48-hour ultimatum issued to the forward, who must respond to these terms within that time frame.
Emerson transfer complication
Emerson Palmieri has said that he's got Covid which could make Chelsea return a lot slower.
Chelsea given free run to complete £50million transfer amid Man Utd's Haidara and Zakaria talks
Chelsea have been given the free run to sign Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni in the upcoming summer transfer window amid interest from Manchester United and Liverpool.
Liverpool are among other Premier League rivals such as Man United who are tempted to go big on the young Frenchman, as per The Athletic, but the Blues' prolific nature in signing Ligue 1 players over the years could give them the slight advantage here.
In spite of this advantage, the desperate need that Ralf Rangnick has at Man United regarding signing a new midfielder meant that the Red Devils could have scuppered this long-term plan but the Bundesliga expertise on the interim's behalf may have saved the European Champions in this case.
This is because Rangnick and co are targeting Amadou Haidara of RB Leipzig and Denis Zakaria of Borussia Monchengladbach to replace the outgoing Donny Van de Beek but there is still some debate as to whether they will make their midfielder moves this month or in the summer.
"I'm told there is no serious or advanced talks for any midfielder for Manchester United," Fabrizio Romano revealed on the well known YouTube fan channel The United Stand.
"So, they have to make a decision whether or not they want to sign a midfielder in January."
Read the full story here.
Eden Hazard 'dream' over
Newcastle United are in the driving seat to secure the shock signing of Eden Hazard, after reports in Spain claimed a record bid has been accepted.
Fresh reports have claimed that Madrid are seriously thinking of letting Hazard go. One report claimed that he may depart for a mere £23m.
And now Spanish publication Nacional claims that Newcastle have made a €40m (£33m) offer plus another €10m (£8.3m) in ‘variables’ to attempt to bring Hazard back to the Premier League from Real.
Furthermore, the €50m (£41.3m) offer from Newcastle ‘met the expectations’ of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who accepted their offer.
However, Newcastle still have some work to do to convince Hazard into the switch. He’s long been reported as having no interest in the move to Tyneside.
Hazard rejecting the Toon himself may be the only hope left if Chelsea fans are going to get their desires of seeing him don the Blue jersey again in his rich career that has suffered heavily in recent times.
Read all the latest on the Belgian international here.
Kenedy returns, Barkley transfer hint - 3 things spotted in Chelsea training ahead of Brighton
Kenedy returns
Layvin Kurzawa, Lucas Digne and Sergino Dest were a few names that were being linked to a west London move before the transfer window opened but it seems home comforts could be the order of the day.
Despite stuttering in their attempts to recall Emerson Palmieri back from his Lyon amid recent optimism, the European Champions did manage to recall the forgotten man Kenedy back from his loan spell in Brazil with Flamengo.
The indication was initially that he would be sent out straight away on loan but these recent training pictures coupled with Tuchel's recent hint on the situation could prove otherwise.
"We cannot say Kenedy is the solution. He can be a solution. The situation has not changed, we have long-term injuries with the wing-backs.
"We suffered a lot in the midfield from Covid and injuries and now our midfielders are more or less coming back we suffer with our central defenders.
"Nothing has changed but it needs to make sense, it needs to be possible, it needs to make sense on a high level and in quality and personality. We have looked into the market, nothing has changed, we have all options and also the option to say no."
Amid the uncertainty surrounding Kenedy's future, one thing that is for certain is that he could make a surprise appearance against the Seagulls as he was pictured back in Cobham training getting stuck in, with pictures showing the Brazilian hard in battle with the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho and other teammates.
If Emerson was to be recalled back successfully before the January deadline surpasses, football.london understands that the man in question then may be granted another loan spell.
See what else was spotted in training here.
Good morning!
Welcome along to football.london's live coverage of Chelsea on Tuesday.
Keep up to date with all the latest news and transfer news as we build up to the Brighton game tonight.
