With Casemiro leaving after his contract expired on 30 June and Manuel Ugarte expected to be sold, United went into the summer with England’s Kobbie Mainoo as their only recognised central midfielder and with the stated aim of addressing the situation as a matter of priority.

Since then, events have taken a turn.

Ugarte sustained what the 25-year-old described as “the most serious injury a footballer can face” on World Cup duty for Uruguay against Spain.

United are yet to confirm the extent of Ugarte’s knee ligament damage. However, it is thought Ugarte suffered cruciate damage that would sideline him for the rest of 2026 at least and rule out any chance of him being sold.

In the transfer market, United have encountered more issues.

On 25 June, Manchester City agreed a club record £116m deal with Nottingham Forest for England international Elliot Anderson. He had been United’s number one midfield target.

Then, on 2 July, Tottenham paid a club record £85m for West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes. United had pushed hard to sign the Portuguese and genuinely thought he was a player they could attain.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Manchester United have agreed a £35m deal with Atalanta for Brazil midfielder Ederson

However, once Spurs made their interest in Fernandes known, West Ham, under new direction through co-chair Daniel Kretinsky, were able to stick to a valuation in excess of £80m.

United would have been willing to pay £85m – albeit including add-ons – but ultimately felt if they had offered that sum, Spurs would have immediately gone to £90m. It is this kind of situation they are keen to avoid.

United have agreed a £35m deal with Serie A outfit Atalanta for Ederson but his late call-up to the Brazil squad means his medical will not happen until Carlo Ancelotti’s side are out of the competition. As with all United’s World Cup players, he will then get a minimum of three weeks off.

It means, unless the position changes, the only midfielder among boss Michael Carrick’s senior group when they return for testing and the pre-season training on 9 July will be Mason Mount, who is viewed as more of an offensive player.

On 18 July, the day before the World Cup final, United play their first friendly fixture, against Wrexham in Helsinki.

Of the eight first-team midfielders listed on United’s website, in addition to Mount, Carrick’s options will be Toby Collyer – who is wanted by Hull – Dan Gore, who spent last season on loan at Rotherham, who were relegated from League One, and twins Jack and Tyler Fletcher. The rest are all still on World Cup duty. Tyler Fletcher was a surprise call-up to Scotland’s squad after impressing in the build-up, but did not play.

United’s Premier League 2 skipper Jacob Devaney impressed in a central midfield role for Scottish Premiership outfit St Mirren in the second half of last season. Jack Moorhouse, who made 14 appearances on loan for Leyton Orient in the first half of the campaign, Jayce Fitzgerald, Sekou Kone and Jim Thwaites are other central midfielders in United’s academy.

With a match against Norwegian side Rosenborg to follow on 24 July, United’s younger players have a chance to impress Carrick.

But it is fair to assume once United hit a run of high-profile pre-season matches, starting with Atletico Madrid in Stockholm on 1 August, Carrick will expect to have had the midfield situation addressed.

What are the options?

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Alex Scott was one of four players called up by England boss Thomas Tuchel to train with the senior squad ahead of the World Cup

Alex Scott (Bournemouth)

The 22-year-old appears to be the current main target. However, Arsenal are also keen on an industrious young player who overcame a difficult first 18 months at the Vitality Stadium injury wise to play a leading role in England’s 2025 European Under-21 Championship triumph. He made 37 league appearances last term as the Cherries finished sixth, their highest ever league position, to claim a Europa League place. The issue is twofold. Premier League champions Arsenal will be formidable competition. And, more importantly, Bournemouth have made it clear Scott, who has two years left on his current contract, is not for sale and they want to tie him down to a long-term contract.

Tyler Adams (Bournemouth)

Adams is one of those players who rarely grabs attention but is a key member of whichever team he plays for. Adams did miss games last season with knee and hamstring problems and, prior to the 2024-25 campaign he needed back surgery. However, he was an integral part of Andoni Iraola’s side last term and has featured for every minute of USA’s World Cup campaign, other than the defeat to Turkey, which was a dead rubber. Like Scott, his Bournemouth contract runs to 2028. Unlike Scott, Bournemouth might be willing to sell Adams for £40-50m.

Andrey Santos (Chelsea)

Had Liam Rosenior remained as Chelsea manager, Santos might not have been for sale. The 22-year-old featured for Rosenior at Strasbourg and made 43 appearances for Chelsea last season. He fits the same kind of profile as Casemiro, albeit with vastly less experience. BBC Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella reported on 3 July “a number of sides are understood to be interested in Santos” and that “those close to Santos seem open to the possibility of a move”. He too could be available for around £50m.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba interrupted Manchester United player Patrick Dorgu’s mixed-zone interview after the two sides played each other in May

Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund)

Nmecha’s is another name being floated around. A former academy player at Manchester City, who was part of the Germany team stunned by Paraguay at the World Cup, Nmecha is well known to United’s director of football Jason Wilcox, who was formerly head of City’s academy. Nmecha did sign a new contract at Borussia Dortmund in March and United sources say there is nothing proactive happening in terms of trying to sign him at this moment.

Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid)

A key part of the France side many predict will win the World Cup this summer. In some senses, Tchouameni would be the most attractive potential signing. He would almost certainly be the most expensive wage-wise at a time when minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to stop paying huge salaries. New boss Jose Mourinho will clearly have a major say in whether Tchouameni stays at the Bernabeu. The current feeling at United is that he will.

Carlos Baleba (Brighton)

The present indication is that there has been a cooling of Manchester United interest in Cameroon international Baleba. However, given he was the subject of concrete interest, which was rebuffed, last summer, presumably all the background work has been done, meaning he could emerge as a genuine target again at relatively short notice. The drawback is Brighton are not weak when it comes to negotiation and there has been no suggestion that despite a dip in form, the transfer fee needed has dropped below £100m.

The 20-year-old spent the second half of last season on Merseyside, with a loan deal and option to buy permanently for £25m.

Everton have renegotiated the upfront fee to £18m with a remaining £6m in add-ons based on European qualification and appearances, while Chelsea have included a 15% sell-on clause.

George made 11 appearances for Everton, starting once, but impressed manager David Moyes, who called him an “excellent boy with an excellent work-rate” at the end of his initial four-month spell at the club.

George, an England Under-21 international who came through Chelsea’s academy, has been available for transfer for the past 12 months, having held talks with RB Leipzig last summer, while a £22m move to Fulham collapsed on transfer deadline day in September 2025.

With the deal now subject to personal terms and a medical, George is poised to become Everton’s second summer arrival following a £16m deal, not including add-ons, to sign Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough.

German attacking midfielder Merlin Rohl has also made his loan move from SC Freiburg permanent following a successful spell last season, while Idrissa Gana Gueye and Seamus Coleman departed at the end of their contracts.

The 21-year-old has signed a six-year deal, with the option of a further year, and becomes the first arrival since Xabi Alonso’s appointment as manager.

Palestra had been the subject of an agreement to rejoin childhood club Inter Milan, but Chelsea moved quickly to surpass their £43m offer and, according to sources in Italy, offered a more substantial wage package.

“A lot of things convinced me to join Chelsea, one of the best clubs in the world,” Palestra said.

“We have so many talented players here, a very strong squad and manager in Xabi.

“He has spoken to me about how he wants us to play, which is exciting, and we can’t wait to compete in the Premier League.”

Palestra spent last season on loan at Cagliari and was named Serie A’s defender of the year.

Chelsea are now prioritising a move for a centre-back, with Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix expected to be their primary target, with a move for Rayo Vallecano full-back Pep Chavarria also in discussion.

Sunderland have rejected an £8m bid from Chelsea for captain Granit Xhaka, who played under Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen.

There are also agreed deals for striker Emmanuel Emegha to join from Strasbourg and winger Geovany Quenda to arrive from Sporting, while Strasbourg midfielder Valentin Barco is expected to complete a move.

The Blues are considering adding a central midfielder and a versatile forward, although much will depend on player sales after they finished 10th in the Premier League last season and failed to qualify for Europe.

Midfielder Enzo Fernandez is keen to leave and is attracting interest from Real Madrid, while Serie A side Como have held talks over a move for Trevoh Chalobah.

A number of players, including Alejandro Garnacho, Liam Delap, Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto and Tosin Adarabioyo, also face uncertain futures.

Who is Marco Palestra?

The move marks a rapid rise for Palestra, who has progressed from Italy’s third tier with Atalanta’s under-23 side to Chelsea in the space of three years.

He made his senior Atalanta debut in the Europa League in December 2023, but it was his loan spell at Cagliari last season that accelerated his development, culminating in his senior debut for Italy during the high-pressure World Cup play-offs.

At Cagliari, Palestra attempted 73 dribbles over distances of more than 5m – the most by any defender in Serie A – with only Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz recording more in the competition.

Palestra’s 70 successful dribbles were the highest of any defender across Europe’s top 10 leagues, while he won 15 fouls in the final third, the joint-most by a defender in Europe’s top five leagues last season, according to Opta data.

No player in Serie A covered more distance at sprinting speed during his loan spell at Cagliari.

It was a campaign in which Palestra went from strength to strength. Former Cagliari sporting director Guido Angelozzi, who signed him last summer, told BBC Sport the club faced strong competition from across Italy and Europe to secure his services.

Angelozzi said they provided Palestra with the “right environment” to compete at a high level under pressure, while also allowing him the freedom to make mistakes. He added that Chelsea, along with other leading European clubs, had sought character references.

He said: “The first thing that struck me was his maturity. He is a very curious young man – always willing to listen, yet with a strong personality.

“He trained with intensity and constantly sought to improve. He is polite, level-headed and very serious about his daily work. These are traits that inevitably translate on to the pitch.”

Chelsea watched Palestra for more than a year. They will know they are signing an attack-minded defender and are encouraged by Palestra’s versatility – he can play at full-back or wing-back and began his career in central midfield.

His arrival may also be the first clue that Alonso will play a back-three system at Stamford Bridge, having used it to great effect when leading Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title in 2024.

Angelozzi added: “As a player, Marco combines technical quality with footballing intelligence. He has a great sense of timing, the ability to read situations and a natural ease in making decisions under pressure – qualities that are rare at his age.

“But what I appreciate most is his willingness to make sacrifices. He is a player who works for the team, accepts tactical instructions and never rests on his laurels.

“Like all young players, he still has room to grow, but the foundation is very solid. If he maintains this mindset, I believe he has all the qualities to build a top-level career.

“Today he is a more complete, mature player and, above all, mentally ready to step up to an even higher level.”

Chelsea will take encouragement from having secured Palestra despite strong interest from Inter Milan, while Atalanta had been keen to retain him and clubs including Juventus, Napoli and Roma were linked with a move over the past six months.

The Switzerland international, 33, who is under contract until 2028, played a key role in helping the Black Cats qualify for Europe last season.

His representatives are understood to have had contact from Stamford Bridge – though sources inside the club have yet to confirm it.

But he is known to be open to a reunion with former manager Xabi Alonso at Chelsea, having won the Bundesliga together with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024.

Personal terms have not been agreed with Chelsea, however.

Sunderland qualified for the Europa League at Chelsea’s expense on the final day of last season and are known to have no financial pressure to sell key players. Sources at the club say they have no intention of letting Xhaka go.

The ex-Arsenal man – who is with Switzerland at the World Cup – missed just four league games for the Wearside club and won plenty of plaudits as he captained Regis Le Bris’ side to a seventh-place finish.

For Chelsea, any successful move would see a radical shift in transfer policy, signing a player who will turn 34 in September, having fielded the youngest team in the Premier League for the past two seasons. They have not selected a player aged 30 or over during that period.

Members of the club’s leadership, including co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali, acknowledge that adjustments are needed to improve their recruitment.

Some of the criticism has centred on a perceived lack of leadership and concerns over dressing-room culture, which is something the former Arsenal captain received widespread praise for helping to build at newly-promoted Sunderland last season.

A move for a midfielder has long been part of Chelsea’s plans this summer, and comes amid growing expectations that Enzo Fernandez could join Real Madrid.

Chelsea have not received a formal approach for the Argentina international and value him at around £120m. However, sources in Spain suggest there is internal support at Real Madrid for a move, including from club president Florentino Perez and new manager Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea are also set to sign Atalanta right-back Marco Palestra, while a number of players — including Alejandro Garnacho, Liam Delap, Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo — face uncertain futures.

Defender Marc Cucurella has already joined Real Madrid.

The Blues want to add at least one central defender to their squad – amid interest in Trevoh Chalobah from Serie A club Como – and Lacroix is emerging as a key target.

Chelsea have already sold Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid this summer for £51.8m, and are set to complete the signing of Atalanta defender Marco Palestra for a fee in excess of £43m.

Chelsea’s next priority is at centre-back and Palace are braced for an offer from their London rivals for France international Lacroix, who is away on international duty at the World Cup.

He has three years left on his contract, is a key player for the Eagles and has been central to the club’s FA Cup and Europa Conference League triumphs.

Palace are keen to offer Lacroix a new contract but it is unclear whether the 26-year-old is ready to engage in talks.

Another option considered by Chelsea is Como centre-back Jacobo Ramon, 21.

Further complicating matters is Como’s interest in Chalobah, as they look to bolster their defence rather than weaken it, with the England international open to a move to Italy.

Ramon is also still linked to former club Real Madrid through various clauses, while the Spanish side have made Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, valued by the Blues at £120m, one of their key targets this summer. Fernandez is known to be keen on the move.

It is all part of a major summer of player sales, defensive departures and improvements for Chelsea before the official arrival of Alonso.

Palestra, who can play on both sides, is set to be first in the door. Fellow full-back Malo Gusto is considering his future at Chelsea, with the club putting a £75m price tag on the Frenchman. He is attracting interest from Manchester City.

There is further doubt on the futures of Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo, as further sales are likely needed to create space in defence, while an attacker and midfielder could also be signed at a later date.

The 23-year-old right-back’s future has come under renewed doubt after Chelsea agreed a deal in principle to sign Atalanta’s Marco Palestra, who plays in the same position, for a fee in excess of £43m.

Gusto was aware his future was uncertain before that move, and sources have told BBC Sport that his representatives have held exploratory talks with multiple clubs, including Manchester City.

However, Chelsea are demanding in excess of £75m for the Frenchman.

City are keen on signing a right-back to compete with Matheus Nunes next season, but sources have told BBC Sport that, while there is interest in Gusto, he is not a leading candidate at this stage of the transfer window.

Any move to Etihad Stadium would mean Gusto reuniting with former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, whom he played under for 18 months before the Italian’s departure from Stamford Bridge in January.

Chelsea need to make significant player sales this summer after finishing 10th in the Premier League last season and missing out on European qualification.

Spain full-back Marc Cucurella joined Real Madrid this summer in a deal worth £52m.

The La Liga club are also interested in midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who they have pushed to the top of their shortlist following Jose Mourinho’s appointment at the Bernabeu.

However, Chelsea value the Argentina international at £120m.

Chelsea intend to strengthen the squad and want at least one centre-back to arrive alongside Palestra.

That has placed a number of futures in doubt, including those of Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana.

Chalobah is attracting interest from Serie A side Como, who qualified for the Champions League with a fourth-place finish under manager Cesc Fabregas.

It is understood Chalobah is open to the move, but the potential cost of the deal is deterring the Italians from making a formal offer.

The 27-year-old is currently with Spain at the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but a deal – worth £47.5m with a further £4.3m in add-ons – has been struck between all parties for a permanent transfer.

Since president Florentino Perez was re-elected and appointed Jose Mourinho as manager, Real are understood to also be targeting Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva and Inter Milan full-back Denzel Dumfries, while France defender Ibrahima Konate is set to join after leaving Liverpool.

Cucurella, who joined Chelsea for £63m from Brighton in 2022, was understood to have been keen to return to Spain, having come through Barcelona’s academy. He had been linked with Atletico Madrid and a move back to Barcelona.

The Catalan also gave an interview during the March international break criticising Chelsea’s hierarchy following Enzo Maresca’s mid-season departure.

He was part of a core group of Spanish-speaking players who were frustrated by the situation and struggled to perform under Maresca’s successor, Liam Rosenior.

Cucurella had two years left on his contract, despite agreeing improved terms without an extension last season, which is likely to have played a part in Chelsea’s decision to accept the offer.

Rosenior was eventually sacked, with Chelsea finishing 10th and failing to qualify for Europe despite the temporary appointment of Calum McFarlane as caretaker manager.

Former Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso has since been appointed as the club’s permanent manager for the 2026-27 campaign.

Guardiola announced on 22 May he would step down as City boss after a trophy laden decade in charge, and Maresca was quickly identified as the leading contender to be his replacement.

Talks are at an advanced stage, with senior figures at both clubs discussing a compensation package for Maresca.

The 46-year-old won the Club World Cup and Conference League during his time at Stamford Bridge but left in January and is keen to take the City job.

Chelsea feel they are due compensation under the terms of Maresca’s departure as he was contracted to the club until 2029 and left just six months ago.

The London club have been exploring their legal options and expect a compensation package to be paid, though it remains unclear both how much that might be, or when it will be resolved.

Maresca was an assistant to Guardiola during City’s Treble-winning 2022-23 campaign and played a key role in the club’s academy prior to joining the first team.

The former West Brom and Juventus midfielder left City in 2023 to manage Leicester, whom he guided to promotion to the Premier League in his only season.

What is holding up the appointment?

Maresca’s final six months at Chelsea were marked by a fractured relationship with the club’s ownership.

Compensation negotiations have been made more complex as Chelsea became aware of City’s potential interest early in October and December.

Chelsea sources also claim they were aware of complaints from Maresca about the transfer policy at Stamford Bridge.

It is not known whether this played any role in Maresca’s departure, but the relationship continued to further deteriorate over a number of issues, including medical staff and team selections.

Despite the tension, Chelsea sources say the hierarchy still respected much of Maresca’s work with the players and he remained popular with the majority of the dressing room.

The club feel the upheaval played a major role in the club’s drop in form after his exit, with them not ending up qualifying for Europe.

Maresca had been open to renewing his contract early in the season amid interest from Serie A side Juventus.

What’s the latest on Anderson?

City last week had an opening bid for midfielder Elliot Anderson rejected by Nottingham Forest.

The 23-year-old England international tops the club’s list of midfield targets following the departure of captain Bernardo Silva, and sources say they are expected to make another bid.

City have long admired Anderson, and they will not be swayed from paying a significant fee which could become a record fee for a British player.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is known to be a tough negotiator and is understood to want more than the £105m Arsenal paid to sign midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham in 2023.

Anderson is currently at the World Cup, but England boss Thomas Tuchel has said squad members will have permission to finalise transfers provided it does not significantly affect the team’s preparations.

BBC Sport has previously reported Anderson is leaning towards a move to City over rivals Manchester United.

The 20-year-old is a graduate of the academy at Stamford Bridge and as reported elsewhere has been given ‘untouchable’ status in terms of his future.

It puts him in the same category as players such as forwards Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer, and midfielder Moises Caicedo.

That is despite the fact the England Under-21s international only made 17 Premier League appearances last season, with nine of those as a substitute.

It remains unclear whether Acheampong, whose Chelsea contract expires in 2029, is looking for a move away from the club.

However, Arsenal, Newcastle and Crystal Palace are known to be monitoring the situation while Bournemouth also retain an interest in Acheampong from last summer.

Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the 24-year-old striker described how impressed he was by Palmer in training when he first arrived at the club.

“He’s very intelligent. He’s magic,” the Brazilian said. “I said to him before, ‘I didn’t think you were that good.’ And he looked at me [with a quizzical expression]. But now, because I play with him, yeah, he’s different.

“I said to him, ‘Why don’t you come to Brazil? Take the number 10 there, mate. No problem.’

“Because in Brazil, we don’t have this guy. If you watch us we play 4-2-4. We don’t have a number 10,” he added.

“Cole is a different guy. Sometimes he’s quiet, but then [snaps fingers]. One second, he’s changed the game. So he’s very good.”

Both Palmer and João Pedro were surprise omissions from their respective World Cup squads, with Carlo Ancelotti opting to include Neymar, and the likes of Morgan Rogers and Noni Madueke forcing their way into Thomas Tuchel’s plans.

Neymar has missed Santos’ last three games and the first Brazil training camp with a bruised right calf, but said this week that he does not expect the injury to affect him at the World Cup.

“[Ancelotti] says he doesn’t want one guy,” João Pedro said of the manager’s approach to picking his squad. “He wants the group. Because he thinks the group has more power than one guy.

“And I think with him there, when he talks, people listen. Because he wins everything. And with the players, he tries to build relationships with everyone.

“He tells you what he wants to do but also gives the freedom for you to play your football, to enjoy [it]. So, I think he’s very good for the team.”

The 25-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Benfica in 2023 for £107m, is under contract until 2032, which is reflected in the potential fee.

The World Cup winner remains part of the club’s planning for next season, but Chelsea would consider offers that meet their valuation.

After scoring 15 goals and providing seven assists last season, Fernandez finished runner-up in Chelsea’s player of the season award.

Javier Pastore, Fernandez’s agent, is exploring potential destinations, notably his preferred option of Real Madrid.

Alternatives include Manchester City – who are expected to appoint former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola’s successor in the coming days – but their priority is signing Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.

Meanwhile, French club Paris St-Germain have downplayed the likelihood of a transfer despite having been linked with a move.

Real are known to be unwilling to pay Chelsea’s asking price unless they are able to raise significant funds in player sales, having also been linked with a move for Manchester City midfielder Rodri.

Senior figures at Stamford Bridge accept they will need to invest in established, Premier League-ready talent for new manager Xabi Alonso after a disappointing season in which Chelsea finished 10th and without a trophy.

The Black Cats became just the fifth team to qualify for Europe via their Premier League position a year after achieving promotion, finishing seventh.

Chelsea, meanwhile, trailed home 10th and failed to qualify for Europe in interim boss Calum McFarlane’s final game in charge.

A first-time volley from defender Trai Hume opened the scoring at the Stadium of Light, catching goalkeeper Robert Sanchez off guard midway through the first half.

Chelsea defender Malo Gusto then turned Brian Brobbey’s wayward shot into his own net in the second half. Although Cole Palmer reduced the deficit with a long-range effort, Sunderland held on.

It was made easier for the home side when Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana got two yellow cards in quick succession in the second half.

They resulted in Chelsea’s eighth red card in the league this season, twice as many dismissals as the next highest club, and their most ever across a single Premier League campaign.

Sunderland were worthy winners, having dominated much of the match despite conceding first-half chances to Palmer and Joao Pedro, while Brobbey and substitute Habib Diarra also missed big opportunities for the hosts.

The hosts leapfrogged not only Chelsea but also Brighton and Brentford, who both failed to win on Sunday, to secure qualification for Europe’s second-tier competition.

With Pep Guardiola expected to leave City after a decade in charge, the first choice to replace him is the Italian who departed Chelsea abruptly earlier this season. Although the terms of that split have never been commented on publicly by either side, the allegation that Maresca had told Chelsea’s ownership that he was in talks with City has not been disputed.

The expectation is that Chelsea will seek compensation from City, with the added threat of disclosure about the terms of Maresca’s departure from Stamford Bridge, and the events in the months leading up to it. Neither club have commented on the situation.

For any action to be brought against City it is understood that a complaint would have to be made by Chelsea to the Premier League, which would then be obliged to investigate under the terms of its own rules.

It is expected that the legal case Chelsea have in that regard will unfold when, as expected, Maresca is appointed by City. That announcement may take some time given the significance of Guardiola’s departure. Maresca, 46, has said nothing in public since his Chelsea departure at a time when the club were fifth. Although Chelsea have not confirmed, it is understood that there was no major compensation payout to the Italian.

Chelsea had started to fall away this season in the final weeks leading up to Maresca’s sacking on January 2. The team were on a run of just one win in seven Premier League games and there were suggestions from inside the club that all was not well. By the end, his position was considered untenable by the club.

It culminated in him skipping post-match media duties following a draw with Bournemouth. Before that run of poor results, Chelsea had been in second place in the Premier League and there remains considerable disquiet at the club that the Maresca departure undermined their season. The arrival of Liam Rosenior as Maresca’s successor did not work out as Chelsea would have wished and the club is currently on its fourth managerial appointment of the season.

City have been obliged to plan at different points over recent years when it looked like Guardiola might be wavering in his future. There have been times in the past when they have looked closely at lining up another assistant of his, Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager currently in pole position to win the Premier League this season.

Maresca is well-known to City Football Group, having been part of the City staff on two occasions – one year in charge of the club’s Under-23s in 2020-2021 and then as a first-team assistant to Guardiola in the 2022-2023 season.

He was appointed by Chelsea as the Championship-winning manager of Leicester City in the summer of 2024. He won the Uefa Conference League in his first season and then the Fifa Club World Cup, having studiously avoided any controversy. The relationship with Chelsea broke down in a relatively short space of time. After the win over Everton on December 13, Maresca said that he had experienced “the worst 48 hours” of his career – interpreted as a direct attack on Chelsea and its BlueCo ownership.

That was later understood to be around the issue of return to play for injured players. Nevertheless, it was interpreted on some sides as deliberately provocative.

Without a win in their last seven Premier League games, Chelsea play Tottenham Hotspur at home on Tuesday night currently out of the European places in 10th position. The club have appointed Xabi Alonso and his coaching team to take over in the summer. City play Bournemouth when only a win will keep the title race alive.

West Ham will need to raise more than £100m if relegated from the Premier League and there is growing interest in Bowen from a host of top sides.

The England winger has registered a combined 21 goals and assists this season and will have a decision to make on his future if Nuno Espírito Santo’s side drop into the Championship.

Bowen has been outstanding for West Ham since joining from Hull in January 2020 and his status as one of the most loved players in the club’s history is not in doubt.

The 29-year-old, who will hope to be included when England name their squad for the World Cup on Friday, scored the winning goal when West Ham beat Fiorentina in the Conference League final in 2020.

Bowen has stayed loyal to West Ham and is thought to be happy in London but relegation could force him to reassess his priorities.

Liverpool have long been admirers of Bowen and could target him as they look to boost their forward options. United are keen to add more depth in attack after qualifying for the Champions League and regard Bowen’s versatility as a big plus. He predominantly plays on the right but can operate as a central striker and United are considering him as an option on the left wing.

Chelsea are another intriguing option. They have focused on signing young players but are keen to add more experience. Their interest in Bowen is not at an advanced stage but they believe he could offer competition on the right and potentially provide cover for their strikers.

It is unclear how much West Ham would want for Bowen, whose contract does not expire until 2030, but they will be under extreme pressure to make sales if relegation is confirmed this week.

There is also interest in Mateus Fernandes, with Arsenal, United and Paris Saint-Germain in for the Portugal midfielder. The Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville will also be up for sale. West Ham made a £104.2m loss in the last financial year and will need to make sales even if they stay up. If Tottenham take a point from either of their final two games, West Ham will go down.

Spurs knew victory would guarantee survival at the expense of West Ham United – and that a point would almost certainly be enough because of their superior goal difference.

Instead, they go into their final game at home to Everton with a two-point advantage over West Ham, but with the door left ajar for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to escape.

Chelsea, who had Calum McFarlane in charge having confirmed Xabi Alonso as their new manager from July, took the lead after 18 minutes when Enzo Fernandez sent a shot swerving beyond Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.

Mathys Tel headed against the post for Spurs in the first half, but otherwise they were strangely lacklustre until late on, Chelsea doubling their lead after 67 minutes, Andrey Santos scoring from close range after Randal Kolo Muani conceded possession cheaply.

Richarlison gave Spurs hope with 16 minutes left, but they could not add the second goal that would have meant so much, ratcheting up the tension before Sunday’s decisive meeting with Everton.

Spurs were furious when they were denied a late penalty after Marc Cucurella was cautioned for dragging down Micky van de Ven at a corner, but it was adjudged that the ball was not yet in play.

Chelsea’s win improves their own chances of European football as they move into eighth position ahead of Brentford on goal difference.

City secured a narrow 1–0 victory over Chelsea in Saturday’s FA Cup clash at Wembley, a match decided in the 72nd minute when Semenyo finished a low cross from Erling Haaland.

While the win delivered another major moment in City’s campaign, the Ghana international was quick to stress the intensity of the contest, insisting Chelsea pushed them far harder than Arsenal did in their Carabao Cup final meeting earlier in the season, which City won 2–1 in March.

Speaking to the BBC, Semenyo pointed to the relentless pressure from the London club as a key factor in the difficulty of the match.

“Chelsea gave us a much tougher game than Arsenal did in the Carabao Cup final. Their intensity, the pressure, the way they kept fighting until the end… it was completely different,” he said.

“There were moments today where we genuinely struggled to control the game because Chelsea kept coming at us again and again. They made it difficult for us.”

Semenyo has enjoyed a strong season across all competitions, scoring 20 goals and providing six assists for Bournemouth and Manchester City combined. His performances have also earned him a nomination for the Premier League Player of the Year award.

City now shift focus back to the Premier League, with an away trip to AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday before concluding their campaign against Aston Villa on Sunday.

The 26-year-old produced the match-winning strike in the 2026 final, improvising with a clever backheel finish in a tightly contested encounter last Saturday to hand City another major trophy.

The triumph marked City’s second silverware in three months, following their Carabao Cup success against Arsenal in March.

Reflecting on the goal, Semenyo admitted the moment felt almost unreal.

“It feels surreal, to be honest. I don’t even have words to describe it,” he said.

The winger revealed the technique was not accidental, but something he had worked on in training.

“[In terms of the goal], it’s happened a couple of times in training. It happened perfectly today.

“It was behind me, and as long as I got contact on it and it was towards goal, I was hoping it would go in.”

He added that the speed of the move left him little time to think, forcing him to rely on instinct inside the box.

“Everything happened so fast. I wanted to get into the box and make sure I was a presence. It came straight to me, and I just had to improvise as quickly as I could.

“I’m happy with the finish and grateful. It was good enough contact, timed perfectly, and Sánchez couldn’t get there.”

Looking back on his journey, the forward said lifting trophies with one of Europe’s top clubs remains a deeply personal milestone.

“As a kid, I always wanted to play for the top teams, competing for trophies and shining. I’m grateful. I just had to keep working hard, and you get your chance.

“I’ve never competed for trophies like this before. Everything is new to me,” he added.

Manchester City now turn their attention back to the Premier League, with an away trip to AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday, before closing their campaign against Aston Villa on Sunday.

The news of Xabi Alonso’s arrival as the club’s manager, which filtered out within the aftermath of Saturday’s 1-0 loss, would have lifted their mood.

The former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss, 44, will be unveiled in pre-season, with his contract beginning on 1 July.

Win or lose at Wembley, Chelsea had already been close to making a decision on Liam Rosenior’s replacement – and keen to avoid creating a distraction for players and staff involved in the showpiece occasion.

There was, therefore, nothing to delay the announcement once the match was over, allowing attention to turn to the future.

Although Alonso, who enjoyed a distinguished playing career and led Leverkusen to league and cup success in Germany, is an exciting appointment for supporters, there is also an acceptance he faces a difficult task.

Chelsea are heading into a turbulent summer as the FA Cup final loss denied them another route into European competition.

Champions League qualification is already out of reach, while a place in the Europa League looks unlikely with the club currently ninth in the Premier League with two games left and probably needing at least a seventh-placed finish.

Conference League football would do little to improve finances or excite fans used to facing Europe’s elite.

There is a realistic chance Chelsea will miss out on Uefa competition altogether. However, sources at the club strongly reject suggestions they would prefer to avoid qualifying for lesser competitions, or be content without European football, despite their settlement with financial regulators following significant spending on transfers.

It leaves Alonso inheriting a team low on confidence, operating under financial constraints and facing wider personnel challenges.

What do Blues see in Alonso?

Chelsea are keen to learn lessons from this season and have been impressed by Alonso’s knowledge, leadership, emotional intelligence and values.

They also value his trophy pedigree and ability to work collaboratively within an established structure.

It’s a very different group of players and structure to the one at Real Madrid, where Alonso’s seven-month tenure ended in January after a falling out with several key players including Kylian Mbappe.

There are not the same Galactico names at Stamford Bridge, but key players like Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez criticised the club during Rosenior’s tenure as he lost large parts of the dressing room, particularly among the Spanish speakers.

It’s something Alonso will have to reflect upon, but sources close to several players have expressed excitement about his appointment.

Perhaps significantly, the Spaniard has been appointed “manager” rather than “head coach” to reflect his seniority within a partnership involving key figures at the club, as they seek to rebuild after a turbulent campaign that led to the departures of Enzo Maresca and Rosenior.

That is not to say Alonso will make every decision.

Chelsea have five sporting directors with defined responsibilities, and player recruitment will be conducted in collaboration with him and those figures, “tweaking” the need to add experience with long-term planning.

There will also need to be alignment on significant outgoings, especially if Chelsea fail to make Europe.

Alonso is known to be excited by the squad, but both parties know it still needs to be improved over the summer, with the Blues known to be targeting a centre-back, midfielder and forward at minimum.

There is also an acknowledgement within the club of past mistakes and it must work with Alonso – a former midfielder with Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich – to become the winning team they, and the fans, expect them to be.

Culture, squad and physical issues need fixing

Chelsea are also facing cultural issues that continue to undermine progress. These were brought into focus by a protest march involving about 200 fans on Wembley Way on Saturday.

There is a growing disconnect between supporters and the club, as well as fans and players. In some cases, there are also divisions within the squad and between players and the wider organisation.

One contributing factor, as influential co-owner Behdad Eghbali has acknowledged, “getting that stability on the manager side is one of the things we haven’t done right yet”.

The hope is someone of Alonso’s status and authority can help address that, reinforcing the club’s ambition and improving communication with both players and supporters.

On the pitch, he will be tasked with improving the team mentally, physically and tactically. Questions have been asked about the squad’s mentality, with accusations of players “downing tools” this term, having the worst disciplinary record in the division, and a poor record in key matches.

That includes a 14-game winless run against Manchester City and seven consecutive defeats in domestic cup finals.

Physically, Chelsea have been outperformed by opponents, having covered less distance than any other team in the Premier League this season, aside from a single exception at Anfield in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool last weekend.

Defensively, problems under Maresca earlier in the campaign evolved into wider issues at both ends of the pitch under Rosenior, whose six-game losing run without scoring ultimately led to his exit.

It was a closely fought match against Pep Guardiola’s side, but interim boss Calum McFarlane was left bemoaning the fact “football can be cruel”, believing his side deserved at least one penalty.

He added: “It’s a really talented group – there’s lots of quality. The fight and heart have been questioned at times, but in the last two performances I don’t think you can question that.”

There is quality, but plenty of work still to be done. Chelsea have a furious fanbase and have gone from Maresca to Rosenior to McFarlane and now Alonso in five months.

The club’s ownership is under scrutiny and Alonso has much to do – it will be a tough task trying to bring it all together.

Eight years ago he was on loan at non-league Bath City, but Semenyo carved his name in Wembley folklore on Saturday with an ingenious flicked finish that will live long in the memory in an otherwise forgetful showpiece against Chelsea.

The 26-year-old joined City from Bournemouth in January and has showcased why the £62.5m paid for him was deemed excellent value in an overinflated market – his 72nd-minute strike sealing a 16th major trophy for boss Pep Guardiola and 20 pieces of silverware overall in his 10 years.

“It has happened a couple of times in training – it happened perfectly today,” Semenyo told BBC Sport. “Everything happened so fast to be honest. It came straight to me and I had to improvise myself as quickly as I could.

“I have never competed for trophies like this before, so everything is new to me. Hopefully, we can finish the job off. It is a good finish, I can’t lie.

“As a kid I have always wanted to be playing for the top teams – it took a long time to get there, but I am grateful.”

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson added on BBC Radio 5 Live: “It was just brilliant from Antoine Semenyo. The timing of the run and the finish is incredible.

“It was either going to take a mistake or a piece of quality to break the deadlock in this game – and it was a moment of sheer quality.

“That, for me, is one of the goals of the season.”

Guardiola told Semenyo to ‘create chaos’

Italian dance group Milky have found themselves back in the charts, flying high with a version of their single Just the Way You Are, having hit the top 10 back in 2002.

And that was the tune belted out from the west section of the national stadium as the City players lifted the trophy amid the pyrotechnics, and fans rejoiced by serenading Semenyo.

The club’s latest hero joined his team-mates in a circle on the pitch at full-time before jumping up and down in delight, knowing his glorious goal will be replayed for years to come, having confirmed a cup double for City this season.

Chelsea’s plan was to sit back, soak up the pressure and look to hit City on the break. It worked for the most part and Guardiola’s side were in need of some inspiration to try to break the deadlock.

Semenyo provided just that to claim the player of the match award and add the FA Cup to the Carabao Cup triumph here in March against Arsenal, helping City become the first side to win 100% of their games across both competitions.

He made an immediate impact when arriving from Bournemouth, after City beat interest from Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham to his signature.

Netting on his debut in a 10-1 third-round trouncing of Exeter, he has been involved in more FA Cup goals than any team-mate this season.

He also did his father’s heritage proud, becoming the first Ghanaian player to score in an FA Cup final as City recovered from heartbreak in losing the past two finals against Crystal Palace and Manchester United.

“The first thing he [Pep Guardiola] said to me when I came was ‘don’t change your game’,” said Semenyo. “He knows we control the game a lot, he still wants me to be me, still create a bit of chaos.”

Guehi enjoys back-to-back glory – ‘but not even one beer’

Legendary United boss Sir Alex Ferguson once remarked that clubs “never get full value” with signings in the January transfer window.

City appear to have disproved that theory with not only the acquisition of Semenyo, but Marc Guehi too after the England defender joined from Crystal Palace for £20m.

“You can spend, I don’t know how much money, and if it works it’s cheap and you can spend less money and if it doesn’t work it is not cheap, it is expensive,” said Guardiola. “That is the tendency for all the clubs to sign players.

“At the end there was an opportunity with a release clause for Antoine and the last six months contract from Crystal Palace for [Guehi]. With Ruben [Dias] and Josko [Gvardiol] and everyone fit, maybe we don’t go for Marc or Antoine, but we had this opportunity and, with the situation, both have been extraordinary.”

Centre-back Guehi is just the fourth player to feature for different winning teams in consecutive FA Cup finals after helping Palace upset City last season.

He was also part of the Eagles side that suffered one of the greatest shocks in the competition, when the holders lost 2-1 in the third round at non-league Macclesfield.

New Football Association rules allowed Guehi to play for City in the competition following his transfer and he told TNT Sports: “To be honest, they are both equally as nice. The one with Palace was a different occasion. It was my first trophy.

“This one, especially after the tough season, they’re both equally amazing.”

Guehi also missed Palace’s celebrations last season as he spent the night in hospital after suffering a fractured eye socket in the match and, incredibly, it seems like he might miss out this time too.

City still remain in the hunt for a domestic treble, sitting two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal with two games left, and a difficult trip to in-form Bournemouth next on Tuesday.

“Not even one beer,” said Guardiola about any post-match partying. “Next Monday after [the final game against] Aston Villa, we are going to celebrate it with the women’s team, the club said that to me [with] some parade in Manchester because we must celebrate with both teams.

“No, no, no – not have time [to celebrate].”

The Wembley win also proved to be a memorable occasion for captain Bernardo Silva and John Stones, who are both leaving the club at the end of the season.

With Guardiola’s future also uncertain, the Spaniard may well end his decade-long tenure in the same magical way next Sunday against Villa.

The 44-year-old Spaniard was available after leaving Real Madrid by mutual consent in January, less than eight months into a three-year contract.

He previously spent three years in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, leading the German club to their first Bundesliga title in 2024, as well as the German Cup.

Confirmation of Alonso’s arrival comes a day after Chelsea lost the FA Cup final to Manchester City.

The Blues hope he will bring stability to the club after they had two permanent managers this season – Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior – while Calum McFarlane is in his second spell as interim boss, a role he will continue for their final two Premier League games.

“Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club,” said Alonso.

“From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition. We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies.

“There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club and it will be my great honour to lead it. Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies.”

Alonso spent five years in the Premier League with Liverpool, helping them win the Champions League in 2005, and also played for Real Sociedad, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

He also made 114 appearances for Spain, winning the 2010 World Cup and the European Championship twice.

The 26-year-old produced a brilliant backheel finish in the second half to hand City a 1-0 victory and secure the FA Cup title after a tense and closely contested final.

Semenyo, who joined Manchester City from AFC Bournemouth in January, has enjoyed a sensational run of form since his arrival and capped it with the biggest goal of his career.

Reacting after the match, Gyan took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to celebrate the striker’s achievement and urge Ghanaians to appreciate his success.

“Every Ghanaian should be proud of this guy,” Gyan posted.

The strike also saw Semenyo make history as the first Ghanaian player to score in an FA Cup final.

With the goal against Chelsea, Semenyo has now scored 20 goals in all competitions this season, setting a new record for the most goals scored by a Ghanaian for a Premier League club in a single campaign.

He surpasses the previous mark of 19 set by Tony Yeboah for Leeds United during the 1995/96 season.

Semenyo’s performances this season have also earned him a nomination for the Premier League Player of the Year award

Alonso, 44, visited London early last week and has accepted the opportunity, with a four-year contract now finalised and an announcement expected imminently.

Alonso was the club’s top target throughout, and the former Real Madrid head coach wanted the Stamford Bridge move.

The Athletic reported on Monday that Chelsea were exploring a deal to appoint Alonso as a permanent successor to Liam Rosenior, with outgoing Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola also a strong contender.

The former midfielder has been out of management since being sacked by Real Madrid in January, just seven months into the three-year deal he signed in the summer.

Alonso had joined the Spanish club after he guided Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title in 2023-24 as part of an unbeaten domestic campaign. Madrid won 10 of Alonso’s first 11 La Liga matches at the helm, including the October 24 Clasico, but fell four points behind eventual winners Barcelona and lost to them in the final of the Supercopa de Espana.

Alonso’s appointment would mark a return to the Premier League after a five-year spell with Liverpool during his playing career, in which he won the Champions League in 2007.

Chelsea parted company with Rosenior on April 23 after less than four months in charge. The former Strasbourg head coach was appointed following Enzo Maresca’s departure in January, but was dismissed after a run of five successive Premier League defeats.

Calum McFarlane was placed in interim charge until the end of the season, and he has overseen a loss to Nottingham Forest and a draw to Liverpool, in addition to guiding the club to the FA Cup final.

The showpiece had largely been a dismal non-event until Semenyo broke the deadlock brilliantly with 18 minutes left.

Erling Haaland, had worked tirelessly with little service, but it was his cross that Semenyo met on the run with a perfect right-foot flick across Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez.

It was out of context with what had gone before, but was enough to secure City victory as they added the FA Cup to the Carabao Cup won against Arsenal, also ending a run of successive final defeats against Manchester United and Crystal Palace.

For Chelsea, it meant the disappointment of a record fourth successive FA Cup final defeat to end their chances of silverware this season.

Alonso is the standout candidate and Chelsea have directly spoken to all of their potential permanent successors to Liam Rosenior, who include Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Fulham’s Marco Silva and Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner.

While Alonso, or any of the coaches who have been considered, will not be given the keys to Stamford Bridge, they will be made an equal partner in the identification and signing of players.

Chelsea co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali recently revealed that the club are ready to evolve and tweak their approach to transfers, with two to three ready-made players to be targeted this summer.

The new head coach will have a big say in who they are and the types of characters and players he believes will push Chelsea forward, with his role likely to be more meaningful than some of his predecessors.

Chelsea have concentrated on their preparations for the FA Cup final against City under interim head coach Calum McFarlane. But the club expect to accelerate the process after the final and make rapid progress in their bid to appoint a new head coach.

A source said: “Things should move quickly after the final. Chelsea ideally want an agreement with somebody within days, whether that be a few days or 10 days. But it shouldn’t be a long process now.”

Alonso is viewed as the standout candidate for the Chelsea post thanks to his superb spell at Bayer Leverkusen, during which he won the Bundesliga, German Cup and German Super Cup. He also had a stellar playing career, winning the Champions League, La Liga and Bundesliga titles as well as the World Cup and European Championship.

It is understood there is no concern within Chelsea over Alonso’s history with Liverpool, who he won the Champions League with, or his short time in charge at Real Madrid that ended with him being sacked. Chelsea do not have a squad full of Galacticos with accompanying egos for Alonso to have to deal with.

Suggestions that top coaches would think twice before taking the Chelsea job have been rejected by the club. They insist the overall quality of the squad remains high and that the size of the club, together with its prime London location, make it an appealing prospect.

Chelsea believe it is critical they get this appointment right following a season of regression on the pitch and the appointment process is being driven by the owners and four of the five-strong football leadership team – Paul Winstanley, Laurence Stewart, Joe Shields and Sam Jewell. It is understood Dave Fallows has been less involved in the process as he fully integrates himself into the club.

How Chelsea’s football leadership team works

Chelsea’s leadership team of Paul Winstanley, Laurence Stewart, Joe Shields, Sam Jewell and Dave Fallows retain the confidence of the club’s BlueCo owners.

The five men have come under fire from critics of Chelsea, but Telegraph Sport understands the club’s owners remain committed to the current structure and its ability to deliver success.

Winstanley, Stewart, Shields, Jewell and Fallows will be at Wembley, along with the owners, and will not find their positions in immediate danger should Chelsea lose the FA Cup final on Saturday and miss out on European qualification.

Chelsea are ninth in the Premier League table, six points behind sixth-placed Bournemouth, with two games to play and may not qualify for Europe at all if they are beaten by Manchester City.

It is not just Chelsea’s players, who, barring a miracle sequence of results, will be hit in the pocket by failure to qualify for the Champions League, with the football leadership team also in line to give up lucrative bonuses.

Telegraph Sport reported that Chelsea players will miss out on pay rises of approximately 20 per cent by failing to qualify for the Champions League and it can now be revealed the same is true of the football leadership team.

Winstanley, Stewart, Shields and Jewell all signed new contracts through to 2031 last summer, but the foursome were not handed pay rises and their deals are, like those of the players, heavily incentivised with performance-based bonuses. Fallows, who worked at Liverpool, has since been added to Chelsea’s leadership team.

Chelsea announced there would be a period of “self-reflection” after sacking former head coach Liam Rosenior and there is internal acknowledgement that mistakes have been made.

But there is no appetite from Chelsea to scapegoat anybody for Rosenior’s demise, amid a sense that the club win as a team and lose as a team, and that the football leadership team must move forwards together.

Winstanley, Stewart, Shields and Jewell are credited internally with making a good appointment in former head coach Enzo Maresca, who won two trophies and qualified for the Champions League with a style of football that suited the squad in his first season in charge.

Unforeseen circumstances, including Maresca informing Chelsea that representatives of City and Juventus had approached him, contributed to the Italian’s exit. That, ultimately, derailed Chelsea’s season and they expect there to be further clarity around Maresca’s departure this summer.

Chelsea believe there is widespread misunderstanding over the roles of Winstanley, Stewart, Shields, Jewell and Fallows, who are often grouped under the umbrella of “sporting directors”. There is also insistence within the club that the reputations of the five men inside football are far more favourable than outside perceptions.

Winstanley and Stewart were announced as co-sporting directors in February 2023, but have since allowed some of their responsibilities and power to be shared out.

Here, Telegraph Sport looks at what each of Chelsea’s football leadership team is responsible for.

Paul Winstanley (co-sporting director)

Contrary to popular opinion, Winstanley is not responsible for the identification of transfer targets. His work centres more around the delivery of targets, through talking to and negotiating with clubs and agents. He is also heavily involved in player sales and the renewal of contracts. As reported by Telegraph Sport, Tottenham Hotspur made checks on Winstanley as part of their search for a new sporting director, but the ex-Brighton man is not expected to leave Chelsea. Winstanley is also involved in player support and football operations, such as performance and medical.

Laurence Stewart (co-sporting director)

Despite his title, Stewart’s role is more akin to a technical director. He is responsible for budget planning and style of play and football philosophy. That has included setting a broad style of football that Chelsea want their academy and first teams to play, so there is continuity throughout the club. Stewart started his football career in analysis, working for City and England at the 2014 World Cup, and that remains an area he works on at Chelsea. Like Winstanley, Stewart’s other responsibilities include medical and the pair share a close working relationship.

Joe Shields (co-director of recruitment and talent)

Another former City man, Shields, is responsible for player identification through scouting and squad planning for the first team and the academy. A number of Chelsea’s recent signings, including Cole Palmer, Tosin Adarabioyo, Roméo Lavia, Jamie Gittens and Liam Delap, have played at former clubs of Shields, who moved from City to Southampton before joining Chelsea. Shields is also said to be involved with the loans department and works closely with Stewart.

Sam Jewell (director of global recruitment)

Co-heading squad identification and scouting, Jewell’s remit extends past Chelsea and to BlueCo’s other club, Strasbourg. There have been several deals between Chelsea and Strasbourg in recent years, with striker Emmanuel Emegha due to move to London from the Ligue 1 club this summer. Jewell works closely with Winstanley, whom he has known for years, and also helps with negotiations with agents.

Dave Fallows (director of development)

The newest member of Chelsea’s football leadership team, Fallows, is integrating himself into the set-up. His responsibilities include data, scouting and background checks on prospective signings, which Chelsea are likely to lean more heavily on this summer. Suggestions that Fallows has been leading the interest in Xabi Alonso through his links with Liverpool, where he spent 12 years, have been played down. Like Stewart and Shields, Fallows has previously worked at City.

How the new head coach will fit in

Chelsea’s next permanent head coach can expect to be made an equal partner in the identification and signing of players, even though he will not be given the final say on everything. He will help to evolve and ultimately deliver the football philosophy of the club and will have a more meaningful role than some of the previous head coaches.

The Spaniard is open to the possibility, but at this stage nothing is decided as the process to hire a permanent successor to Liam Rosenior continues, with outgoing Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola also a strong contender.

Alonso, 44, has been out of management since being sacked by Real Madrid on January 12 and replaced by the club’s reserve team coach, Alvaro Arbeloa.

Alonso was just seven months into the three-year deal he signed when he succeeded Carlo Ancelotti in the summer, and joined the Spanish club having guided Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title in 2023-24.

Chelsea parted company with Rosenior on April 23 after less than four months in charge, having been appointed following Enzo Maresca’s departure in January. Calum McFarlane was placed in interim charge until the end of the season.

The Athletic reported this month that names on the club’s new head coach shortlist included Alonso, Iraola, and Fulham’s Marco Silva.

Madrid won 10 of Alonso’s first 11 La Liga matches at the helm, including the October 24 Clasico against Barcelona. However, they were in second place, four points behind Barca at the time of his sacking, as well as having just lost the Supercopa de España final to Hansi Flick’s side.

Alonso joined Madrid after 18 months in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, during which he guided the Bundesliga club to their first title in 2023-24 with an unbeaten domestic season. They also reached the Europa League final, losing to Atalanta.

The former midfielder spent five years at Madrid as a player between 2009 and 2014, winning five trophies, including one Champions League title, having joined the club from Liverpool. Alonso had a five-year spell in the Premier League with Liverpool and was part of the side that won the Champions League in 2007.

Iraola, meanwhile, confirmed in April that he will leave Bournemouth when his contract expires at the end of this season. He joined the club from Rayo Vallecano to replace Gary O’Neil in June 2023 and has won admirers for the Vitality Stadium club’s attacking and entertaining style of play.

The Blues have had a turbulent few months, sacking head coach Liam Rosenior in April amid a losing run.

Their defeat to Nottingham Forest on Monday under interim head coach Calum McFarlane was their sixth straight league defeat.

It is the first time Chelsea have lost six league games in a row since 1993.

But Caicedo, who signed a new long-term contract until 2033 in April, is confident Chelsea will bounce back. 

“I believe that with this team, we can do a lot of things together,” he told TNT Sports ahead of facing Liverpool on Saturday.

“It made me sign a new contract here because I am convinced, although we are not in a very good moment, we will come back and put Chelsea where it belongs. 

“I am so convinced I am not going to change, because the only way to do it is by believing.”

Chelsea’s poor run of form has seen them slip down to ninth in the Premier League.

It looks unlikely they will qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League, and if their form doesn’t improve, they could miss out on European football altogether.

One recent positive has been Romeo Lavia playing regularly, having suffered several injury setbacks since joining in 2023. 

“He is so good,” says Caicedo about his midfield partner.

“I am so happy to have him again because he helps a lot. He is magnificent with the ball, so I am happy he is playing consistently and helping the team. For sure, he is going to do a lot of things.

“With the ball, he is so good under pressure. Playing with him when we are playing man-to-man, he is one of the best under pressure. It is so good to play with him.”

Despite recent results, Chelsea still has plenty left to play for this season.

They could win the Emirates FA Cup as they face Manchester City in the final on May 16, and face a fight to finish in the European spots in the Premier League.

Next up for the Blues is a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool.

“They are a very tough opponent, and it’s going to be a tough game,” said Caicedo.

“We need everybody together. If we are together, then we can get points.”

On the impact McFarlane has made since replacing Rosenior, Caicedo added: “He is trying to help us in every aspect. We are happy to keep working with him, and everybody is going to work hard until the end of the season.

“He has been close to us, asking us what we want, how we want to play, that kind of thing helps you to improve and also you can perform better. He has been good in terms of that.”

Since joining Chelsea in 2023, Caicedo has helped the club win the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Caicedo said when he signed his new contract that his “dream is to become a Chelsea legend.”

Asked how he plans to earn legendary status with the fans, he said: “I want to show them 100 per cent in every game, I want to give everything to them because they deserve it, at home and away they are supporting us, and that’s important.

“I want to give everything to them. I need to keep working hard, doing everything for this club.”

Amid growing anger from Chelsea’s fans towards the club’s BlueCo ownership, that chant has become the anthem of this campaign.

Monday’s dismal 3-1 defeat by second-string Nottingham Forest in the Premier League means the Blues can no longer finish fifth – and are highly unlikely to meet their minimum pre‑season aim of qualifying for the Champions League.

It appears the moment of reckoning has arrived for BlueCo, who are now the target of an increasingly irate fanbase.

While the Clearlake chant only targets one arm of the ownership, it is part of a wider disconnect between supporters and the club, amid the search for a sixth permanent manager in four years after Liam Rosenior was sacked last month.

There is also a perceived lack of effort from players and dissatisfaction with ticketing policies.

Chelsea’s most recent accounts showed a £262m Premier League-record pre-tax loss and Uefa continues to monitor the club under a settlement agreement from last summer that will regulate spending on players.

It is against that backdrop that BlueCo – the holding company owned by Todd Boehly and his allies, along with majority investor Clearlake – are on trial with supporters.

At the thick end is Not A Project CFC, a fringe but growing fan movement who are calling for major change – and have announced two further protests.

One will take place on Wembley Way before the FA Cup final against Manchester City, and the other urges fans to turn their backs in the 22nd minute (representing the year 2022 when BlueCo bought Chelsea from sanctioned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich) of their final home game against Tottenham.

It is a movement figures inside Chelsea have tried to quell, including director Danny Finkelstein, after a conversation with supporters was leaked in which he said it was “obvious” the Blues were building one of the best teams in the world.

While the picture may seem bleak for Chelsea, who are ninth in the league with just three matches left, with a cup final to come is the situation still salvageable for BlueCo?

Fixing the disconnect

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi (centre) talking to Chelsea recruiters Paul Winstanley (left) and Sam Jewell at Stamford Bridge

Hosting Tottenham head coach Roberto de Zerbi in Chelsea’s directors’ box on Monday, ostensibly to scout his future opponents, went down poorly with sections of the fanbase.

De Zerbi has a long‑standing relationship with Paul Winstanley and Sam Jewell from their time at Brighton, but Chelsea fans want to see their London rivals relegated – particularly with the prospect of inflicting damage themselves in a league match at Stamford Bridge in a fortnight.

It was just one of the missteps that have compounded poor results, leaving fans feeling misunderstood and ignored.

Since the Abramovich era, almost every player, senior executive and most behind-the-scenes football staff in the men’s team have been replaced.

Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea’s second head coach under BlueCo, told The Overlap podcast he left the club because they didn’t match his “vision”. He highlighted how the Blues prefer to look at data rather than human connection and “emotion”.

His replacement Enzo Maresca initially bought into that vision, but did not fully win over match-going supporters, despite claiming the Conference League and Club World Cup, and qualifying for the Champions League with a young squad in his only full season.

He ultimately departed after a dispute encompassing transfers, his salary and what was perceived as medical department meddling in his use of players.

Chelsea’s next permanent boss Liam Rosenior placed importance on culture and building a relationship with supporters, but lost the dressing room before his vision could be fully implemented.

The coaching instability has fed into public concerns from current players Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella, amid increased doubts over their futures.

Fernandez’s agent Javier Pastore says he believes his client is underpaid, but the Argentine signed a nine-year contract until 2032 when he joined – making it difficult to renegotiate his deal, especially with Chelsea only wanting to discuss improved terms in the summer.

“A nine-year contract – it’s absolutely crazy, you don’t want to sign a contract like that,” former England striker Wayne Rooney told BBC Sport.

“Maybe financially if you want security, but you don’t want to tie yourself in for that long. It’s absolute madness.”

Chelsea have incentive-based contracts that include bonuses for Champions League qualification and believe they are broadly in line with the market.

This is reflected in the club having the third-highest wage bill in their latest accounts for the 2024-25 season. However, they have been outbid by rivals on occasion, including in the deal that saw Marc Guehi join Manchester City in January.

Yet, the pace of player trading has left some fans feeling cold. In an excerpt from his column in the CFCUK fanzine, founding editor Dave Johnson said: “Any rapport between the players and the supporters… to my mind at least, is at an all-time low.

“Ask any supporter of a certain age and they will tell you that, from the late 1960s, every player picked for the Chelsea team got their name chanted during the warm-up and they, in turn, responded with an acknowledgement.

“These days though, and much to their detriment, the current crop of players appear wholly detached from the people in the stands.”

Will Chelsea change?

“As the club works to bring stability to the head coach position, we will undertake a process of self‑reflection to make the right long‑term appointment,” said the end of Chelsea’s statement read after Rosenior’s sacking in April.

It points to a more humble tone from when Boehly once proposed a much-ridiculed all-star north‑versus‑south match in the first season.

A week earlier, influential co-owner Behdad Eghbali admitted there was a need to “tweak the plan if it’s not working”.

The Clearlake co‑founder also said sacking Thomas Tuchel in 2022 “didn’t work out”, adding signing leaders and players with Premier League experience would be key to taking the club to the next level.

Figures at Chelsea have explained their aim is to win trophies and, at a minimum, qualify for the Champions League.

It is clear from recent balance sheets that qualifying for Europe’s elite competition helps offset the financial disadvantages of a sub‑40,000‑capacity stadium and weaker commercial revenue than their so‑called ‘big‑six’ rivals.

However, Chelsea aim to improve their fortunes and have gone on record to say they are a committed ownership. In addition, they would not forfeit any opportunity to play in the Europa League or Conference League, despite Uefa’s stricter financial regulations compared with the Premier League.

Chelsea are now embarking on a detailed process to appoint their sixth permanent manager, with Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, Fulham’s Marco Silva and former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso understood to be in contention.

There have been successes in the structure but failing to appoint the right manager has made it hard to win regularly, a core tenet of Chelsea’s identity, but also build a lasting connection with supporters and repair fractured relations.

Monday’s 3-1 home defeat by Nottingham Forest leaves the managerless Blues ninth in the Premier League as their campaign continues to collapse.

Joao Pedro’s stoppage-time overhead kick did save Chelsea the humiliation of losing six matches in a row without scoring for the first time in their history, but it was scant consolation.

The defeat means the Blues have now lost six consecutive league games for the first time since November 1993 – and just the fourth time ever.

It is just the second time they have lost four successive home matches, and the first time since 1978.

Large numbers of home fans piled out of Stamford Bridge long before the final whistle, while those who remained left the home side in no doubt about their anger with loud jeers.

Chelsea, now led by interim boss Calum McFarlane after Liam Rosenior’s dismissal, are an insurmountable 10 points behind fifth-placed Aston Villa – the last spot that guarantees Champions League football – with just three games left.

Should Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth, a sixth-placed finish would be enough, but even Chelsea’s four-point gap to that spot looks tough to bridge given their form.

Ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports: “It’s shocking and it comes from the top, that’s where it starts from. There were five or six really top players on that pitch today and they’ve been beaten by Nottingham Forest’s B team.

“If you think less than 12 months ago [Chelsea] were taking PSG to the cleaners. There’s no connection between the players and the staff, the players and the supporters.

“There’s absolutely nothing there and it looks like a broken football club right now.”

Former Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer added on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Chelsea are running out of excuses now.

“Chelsea did not look like a side who have something so big [the FA Cup final] on the horizon and that is what is so disappointing.

“They were outfought and there was a lack of desire. The players have to start taking responsibility.”

Qualifying for the Champions League was always the target for owners BlueCo this season, so how costly could missing out prove?

What’s the cost?

Whoever Chelsea appoint as their next head coach – with former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola and Fulham’s Marco Silva among those in contention – will have to navigate the forthcoming transfer window astutely.

In their recently published 2024-25 accounts, Chelsea reported a Premier League‑record £262m pre‑tax loss despite bringing in £490.9m in revenue – the club’s second highest ever.

Following their triumph in last year’s Club World Cup and a now rare season in the Champions League, Chelsea are predicting revenues will increase to £700m in next year’s accounts.

However, forward Cole Palmer said in an interview this month that “everything changes” without Champions League football.

Chelsea earned approximately £78.9m in prize money for reaching the last 16 of European club football’s premier competition this season compared to about £15m for winning the Conference League in 2025.

A conservative estimate would suggest those Champions League earnings rise beyond £100m when ticketing, hospitality and sponsorship revenue are included.

Accounts from parent company 22 Holdco Limited show transfer activity is a major factor behind the substantial losses, and the success of the men’s team is a “clear driver” of revenues – while Chelsea are reliant on owner funding and loans to subsidise the club, which has long-term implications.

In the short term, Chelsea are bound by their Uefa settlement agreement after breaching their football earnings and squad cost rules in 2023-24.

The regulations stipulate Chelsea cannot record losses of more than than £52.2m once certain Uefa allowances are applied when filing their accounts at the end of June.

Any loss beyond that threshold would result in a fine of up to £17.4m, while losses exceeding £69.7m would trigger a one‑season ban from European competition, provided they qualify within three seasons following the breach.

That pressure continues into the 2028-29 season, with Uefa constantly monitoring Chelsea’s situation.

“Chelsea have avoided Premier League sanctions through the use of related party transactions [in the past], which involves selling hotels and the women’s team to other companies owned by 22 Holdco,” football finance expert Kieran Maguire told BBC Sport.

“At a group level, these transactions are excluded which helps explain why 22 Holdco, which also owns both the women’s team and Strasbourg, recorded a bigger pre-tax loss of £701m in 2024-25 compared to Chelsea FC Holding’s loss of ‘just’ £262m.

“Such intra-group transactions are allowed in the Premier League cost control rules, but are specifically excluded from Uefa’s rules. This is why Chelsea are under Uefa’s sanctions at present but not from the Premier League.”

Anger grows towards owners

Chelsea may have won the football lottery twice but, this time, the return on investment under owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital is being questioned.

Chants of “we don’t care about Clearlake, they don’t care about us, all we care about is Chelsea FC” are increasingly becoming the anthem of a turbulent season.

Not A Project CFC, a growing but still fringe protest group, are planning two further protests. The first will take place on the steps of Wembley Way before the FA Cup final against Manchester City. A second protest to take place inside Stamford Bridge, where fans are asked to turn their backs in the 22nd minute of the final home game vs Tottenham.

There have also been previous chants of “Roman Abramovich” but those recollections are rose-tinted, particularly towards the end of the Russian oligarch’s reign, where Chelsea were widely regarded as a cup team and had lagged behind their rivals in terms of revenues.

The £490.9m turnover last season was Chelsea’s second highest on record but still lagged well behind their rivals in the so-called ‘big six’. That gap needs to be bridged as debt grows within the parent company.

Inside Chelsea they say debt is part of a highly-structured investment approach, common in elite sport, and there is a long-term plan for sustainability.

Still, Chelsea spent the most on agents’ fees and the third most on both transfers and wages last season, despite a reduction in overall spending following the unprecedented outlay in the early BlueCo years.

The cost remains evident through a league-high ‘amortisation’ bill – where they have spread transfer fees across the length of a contract up to five years – of more than £200m.

What has been squandered by this ownership is the strong Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) position they inherited. More than £1.5bn has been spent on talent, but the return in terms of consistent success in the Premier League has yet to materialise.

Chelsea are looking to add some experience to their squad at the end of the season, but more drastic decisions are not being discussed openly, with mid-campaign decisions to be avoided, especially with an FA Cup final still to come.

Yet, club sources have also stressed that accountability across the organisation is embedded through annual reviews and could draw in anyone at any level should poor performance be identified.

The possibility of star players such as Palmer, Moises Caicedo and Levi Colwill being sold is constantly denied by the club, but some player sales have always been necessary, since Abramovich and into the BlueCo era, to balance the books.

“Chelsea have always been very successful in terms of player sales, which have generated substantially more money for the club than ticket sales over the last decade,” Maguire said.

“The 22 Holdco business model is similar to that of a hedge fund in that signing young players on long-term contracts can be profitable and reduces the chances of players leaving on a Bosman deal for no fee.”

However, everything is threatened, even attracting a new high-profile manager, without Champions League football.

The 35-year-old has been named as an assistant referee for the game at Wembley on 16 May.

Darren England will referee the showpiece event for the first time, having previously being the fourth official at the 2025 final and an assistant referee at the 2015 final.

Tim Wood is the second assistant and Sam Barrott has been chosen as the fourth official.

Video assistant referee (VAR) duties will be taken on by Peter Bankes, assisted by Nick Hopton.

Howson, who is from the Leicestershire & Rutland Football Association, has been part of the Premier League’s Select Group 1 for the last three seasons.

Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) are making efforts to diversify the refereeing pathway.

Farai Hallam, Ruebyn Ricardo and Sam Allison now officiate in the top two divisions of the men’s game.

Paul Howard has progressed through an enhanced training programme to operate regularly as a VAR in the Premier League.

For referee England, this will be a significant milestone on his rehabilitation from his mistake during Tottenham’s game against Liverpool in September 2023.

Acting as the VAR, England incorrectly interpreted the on-field decision which led to a Luis Diaz goal incorrectly being disallowed for offside.

The Sheffield & Hallamshire official did not referee a Premier League game for almost three months after the error, before being eased back into top-flight duty.

The 40-year-old, who was added to Fifa’s list of international referees in 2022, will now get the chance to take charge of the marquee game on the English football calendar.

The Ukraine international, 25, has not played for nearly 18 months after an “adverse finding in a routine urine test” led to his provisional suspension in December 2024.

The FA charged Mudryk in June 2025 but has not disclosed whether the player has been issued with a full ban or if he is still serving a provisional suspension.

“Cas confirms it has received an appeal by Mykhailo Mudryk against the FA, filed on 25 February 2026,” the Switzerland-based court told BBC Sport.

“The parties are currently exchanging written submissions, and a hearing is yet to be scheduled.”

The BBC understands Mudryk came into contact with the cardiovascular medication meldonium, which can increase respiratory capacity and stamina, while on duty with the Ukraine national team in October 2024.

Mudryk, who joined Chelsea for an initial €70m (£61m) in January 2023, has not played a competitive match since November 2024.

In his only public statement, when his provisional suspension began, Mudryk described his “complete shock” and said he had “never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules”.

Mudryk is being represented by Morgan Sports Law, the firm who worked with former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba during his doping case while playing for Juventus, as well as boxer Tyson Fury and cyclist Chris Froome during their respective investigations.

He is understood to want to return to football this year and is keeping fit by training at non-league Uxbridge FC with a private coach, having hired goalkeepers to work with.

Chelsea declined to comment as they wait for the process to run its full course, while the FA and Mudryk’s lawyers have been contacted for further comment.

Chelsea’s 1-0 win against a disappointing Leeds United showed much of the best of a talented group of players – but also some of the worst given their desperate efforts that led to Rosenior being shown the door after only 106 days.

If Rosenior was watching this scrappy semi-final, decided by Enzo Fernandez’s first-half header, he would be right to question where all that fight and determination on show at Wembley were when he was at the helm.

These are the basics any head coach should be able to take as a given, but were absent under Rosenior during a desperate run of five league losses without scoring, a fate that had not befallen Chelsea since 1912.

Here, with an FA Cup final against Manchester City back at Wembley on 16 May as the prize, those qualities miraculously – or perhaps predictably – returned, allowing Chelsea to grind out victory.

Chelsea’s players, and their derided owners BlueCo, now have the opportunity to save a shambolic season with silverware, a trick the club have performed often in the past.

Roman Abramovich’s “hire ’em, fire ’em” strategy inflicted instability on Chelsea, but was also the catalyst for great glory.

In the Abramovich era, which stretched from July 2003 to May 2022, Chelsea won 18 major honours and two Community Shields, contesting 30 finals under 15 managers, including caretakers and interims.

The classic case came in 2012, when caretaker manager Roberto di Matteo won the Champions League and FA Cup after succeeding the sacked Andre Villas-Boas.

Under BlueCo’s leadership, Chelsea have won two major honours – the Conference League and Club World Cup – and have now reached three finals under eight managers, including caretakers and interims.

Now, from the wreckage of a chaotic campaign, Chelsea could perform the feat again – providing the players who have gone missing so often this season show up against Manchester City and play to their capabilities.

It was clear from Rosenior’s latter days that he had lost the faith of the dressing room. A dismal 3-0 loss at Brighton was the final straw for an ownership who desperately wanted the 41-year-old – brought in from another of their clubs, Strasbourg – to succeed as a symbol of their multi-club model.

It is not exactly a glowing reference for Chelsea’s players that the sight of interim head coach Calum McFarlane on the touchline – or indeed anyone who was not Rosenior – prompted an instant uplift in performance and attitude.

McFarlane told BBC Radio 5 Live after the game that the team’s character had been “questioned a lot and rightly so at times” – but not by him.

“I wouldn’t queston their character,” he added. “It’s been questioned because of the results. We’re playing against top teams, you get in a rut. People are reactive to the results.

“That group has massive character.”

Indeed, this was a better day for Chelsea’s much-criticised hierarchy, with co-owner Behdad Eghbali in close proximity at Wembley to England head coach Thomas Tuchel, the first manager to be shown the door under his rule when he was dismissed on the new regime’s 100th day in September 2022.

‘Give a player an inch, they take a mile’

Central to it all was match-winner Fernandez, the game’s outstanding performer. The Argentine’s first half-header, planted firmly past Lucas Perri after 23 minutes, turning out to be the decisive moment.

It ended a run of 498 minutes without a Chelsea goal against Premier League clubs in all competitions. Victory was secured with their first clean sheet against top-flight opposition since 17 January.

This was the same Fernandez recently given a two-match suspension by Chelsea after Rosenior said he had “crossed a line” following their Champions League exit against Paris St-Germain by giving an interview hinting at a departure.

The assumption was that he was fluttering his eyelashes at Real Madrid.

At Wembley, what should be normal service for the World Cup winner was resumed. Fernandez was the inspiration behind Chelsea’s win, not just with his goal but all-round effort.

He took his goal tally this season to 13. The only midfielder to score more for a Premier League club in 2025-26 is Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White with 16.

Former England goalkeeper Rob Green, who had a spell at Stamford Bridge towards the end of his career, reflected on how the Wembley displays of Chelsea and Fernandez contrasted sharply with those produced in Rosenior’s final days.

“They’re a product of the system they are in and in modern-day football,” Green said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“It’s ugly but they have all the power and it was epitomised by Fernandez. He ran the game. It was down to him how they played. That is not healthy for a football club but for Chelsea it gets them to finals.

“Give a player an inch, they take a mile.

“Chelsea do what Chelsea do. They had one big moment in the game, Leeds had three or four, but didn’t take them and that was the difference.”

And what a difference a new face in the technical area makes – especially amid the dysfunction and turbulence that characterises Chelsea.

The Blues were led into the encounter by interim boss Calum McFarlane, with plenty of question marks over their confidence and form following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior earlier in the week.

The players duly responded with a dominant first-half display that saw the Stamford Bridge outfit lead through captain Fernandez’s 23rd-minute header.

Leeds had offered little, but were much-improved following the break, with substitute Anton Stach forcing a stunning save out of Robert Sanchez.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin also saw a header kept out by The Blues goalkeeper, but overall, Daniel Farke’s men could not engineer enough opportunities to keep their dream alive.   

Chelsea will now face Manchester City in the final on Saturday, May 16.

Sources briefed on the injury say that Estevao has suffered a grade four hamstring injury, which would mean the 18-year-old is highly unlikely to feature at the World Cup. The tournament begins on June 11, with Brazil’s opening game against Morocco two days later.

The Athletic reported on April 18 that Estevao would undergo a scan to determine the severity of the issue. That scan was held on Monday afternoon, with some at Chelsea already fearing the worst before it took place.

Estevao sustained the injury during the 1-0 defeat by Manchester United last Saturday. The 18-year-old limped off in the 16th minute of the game at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior confirming after the game that he was in tears in the dressing room.

The injury likely brings an end to Estevao’s debut season at Chelsea. The Premier League side signed the winger from Palmeiras in May 2024, and he joined the club last summer.

In 36 appearances, he has scored eight goals and provided four assists, with three goals coming in seven Champions League games.

He has established himself as a regular member of Brazil’s national team under Carlo Ancelotti. Estevao has earned 11 senior caps and has scored four goals in his last four international appearances.

Following Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea have four Premier League matches remaining this season, as well as an FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United next Sunday. As well as Morocco, Brazil face Haiti and Scotland in Group B.

The 41-year-old replaced Enzo Maresca in January. Ten defeats in 23 matches later, he has gone.

Rosenior arrived with a burgeoning reputation for playing attractive football, having led Ligue 1 Strasbourg into Europe for the first time in eight years during his debut season in France.

So where did it all go wrong at Chelsea?

Rosenior’s tenure ended less than 24 hours after he publicly criticised his players in the wake of Tuesday’s defeat at Brighton – an episode that lay at the heart of what ultimately went wrong for the Englishman.

It was not for a lack of trying. Rosenior often defended his players, sometimes to his own detriment.

His comments about the team “respecting the ball” followed an attempt to justify a pre-match huddle – an idea from his leadership group, rather than Rosenior himself – in which the players encircled referee Paul Tierney before a 1-0 defeat by Newcastle at Stamford Bridge in March.

That episode may ultimately define his tenure. It marked the start of a run of five defeats without scoring, Chelsea’s worst such sequence in 114 years, leading to his exit.

But there were signs in the early days of Rosenior’s short reign that the dressing room were unimpressed with him.

Despite relative success at Strasbourg, the former Hull City boss had never managed in the Premier League.

Views within the squad were mixed, but the Spanish-speaking contingent were particularly unconvinced. That was reflected in comments made by Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez during the March international break, in which both talked up moves to Spain.

Multiple sources told BBC Sport that leadership meetings became increasingly quiet as Rosenior’s tenure began to unravel, with the head coach struggling to generate the level of participation he had hoped for.

Further evidence was provided by team news leaks around both legs of their Champions League last-16 tie against Paris St-Germain, which sources say originated from within the dressing room. A leak before Rosenior’s final match at Brighton remarkably seemed to come from Cucurella’s barber.

There was also footage of players on a near-weekly basis appearing to snub Rosenior’s inexperienced backroom staff, including a recent video that showed Wesley Fofana ignoring assistant James Walker after a home defeat by Manchester United. One player even gave him the nickname “the supply teacher”.

Privately, sources close to several players have confirmed that Rosenior began to lose authority as he attempted to implement more of his own ideas, having initially leaned on Maresca’s blueprint during his first six weeks in charge, amid limited time on the training pitch.

Key tactical decisions also came under scrutiny. One source close to PSG said they felt Rosenior’s approach over the two legs of the tie was too open, allowing the French champions to exploit Chelsea in an 8-2 aggregate win. The decision to start young centre-back Mamadou Sarr at right-back also proved costly in the second leg, with his error leading to an early Khvicha Kvaratskhelia goal as PSG won 3-0 on the night.

In addition, Moises Caicedo was said to be covering too much ground following a shift from a double pivot – two defensive midfielders – to a single pivot.

It was not all negative. Most players were said to regard Rosenior as a thoroughly decent person and he was known, according to one source, to be more popular with English members of the squad. However, injuries to Trevoh Chalobah, Cole Palmer and Reece James later in his spell further complicated matters.

Chelsea decided to act after Brighton

There were glum faces in the directors’ box as Chelsea failed to compete against Brighton, in what one senior source described as a turning point in the club’s stance on Rosenior.

Until then, those responsible for his appointment had hoped he would come good – at least enough to steady the ship until the end of the season.

But, ultimately, it was felt Chelsea would have a better chance without Rosenior in charge for the remaining matches, both in their bid to qualify for European competition and in their pursuit of FA Cup success, with a new voice required.

Unlike Maresca, Rosenior did not retain the same positive relationships within the hierarchy – something reflected in his exit statement, which was 68 words shorter than that of his predecessor.

It was a decision taken to benefit Chelsea in the short term, but one also viewed as potentially aiding the club’s long-term ambitions.

Who next for Chelsea and BlueCo?

Chelsea remain one of European football’s biggest draws – and despite this season’s difficulties, high-profile managers will inevitably be attracted to the vacancy.

Marco Silva, the Fulham manager, is set to be a candidate for the position this summer.

The Portuguese’s deal expires at the end of the season, meaning Chelsea would not have to pay Fulham or negotiate to release him from a contract.

The fact he is represented by agent Jorge Mendes, who has a close relationship with Chelsea’s ownership, would also ease any move for Silva.

That said, sources have told BBC Sport that working within the club’s current model is causing hesitation from coaches who would normally be considered for the role.

For instance, outgoing Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola is of interest to Chelsea’s leadership group – but those close to the Spaniard have indicated he will prioritise stability at his next post – not a trait associated with Chelsea at present.

In addition, the 43-year-old is understood to want to return with his family to Spain after deciding against signing a new Bournemouth deal.

Edin Terzic, who led Borussia Dortmund to a Champions League final in 2024, is under consideration, while former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas is earning rave reviews at Serie A club Como.

Xabi Alonso is out of work, having left Real Madrid earlier this season.

The question is whether any of those names, if approached, would express reservations about working within the Chelsea recruitment model – of bringing in younger players who can develop. And then there is the club’s recent history of dispensing with managers.

That said, Chelsea are understood to be contemplating a change in approach this summer with a view to targeting more experienced signings to complement their young team.

Landing more established talent this summer may be easier said than done.

The club recently posted a £262.4m loss for the 2024-25 season – the highest pre-tax loss in Premier League history.

That, coupled with the prospect of missing out on Champions League football, is expected to restrict spending in this summer’s transfer window.

The club remain confident they can attract the right coach, though they are not in active talks with any candidates and do not expect to appoint a full-time replacement until the end of the season.

They are looking for someone who can win matches and, ultimately, deliver trophies.

Rosenior, 41, took over in January on a deal until June 2032 but leaves fewer than four months later.

Although the club did not intend to review his position until much further down the line, a decline in results have dictated otherwise.

Chelsea have named Calum McFarlane as interim coach until the end of the season, when there will be a stronger market for permanent solutions and a fifth full-time boss under their BlueCo ownership group. McFarlane previously took the role following Enzo Maresca’s departure on New Year’s Day and oversaw the 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

“This has not been a decision the club has taken lightly, however recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season. Everyone at Chelsea FC wishes Liam every success in the future,” a Chelsea statement read.

Tuesday’s defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion made it five straight league losses without a goal scored, which last happened to Chelsea in 1912.

Rosenior heavily criticised himself, the players and their performance in post-match interviews, while the Chelsea hierarchy spent Wednesday considering his future.

They are likely to have been deliberating who would give Chelsea the best chance of winning Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United and then earning qualification for next season’s Champions League.

Rosenior won each of his first four Premier League games at the helm but a 2-2 draw at home to Leeds United on February 10 started a run of nine league matches which brought just one victory and five points.

That run of form has seen Chelsea drop to seventh in the Premier League — seven points off a top-five spot and guaranteed Champions League qualification — and just three points above 12th-place Fulham.

Rosenior also oversaw an 8-2 aggregate defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last-16, and lost in both legs against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

Chelsea have yet to beat a Premier League team in their run to the FA Cup semi-finals. After facing Leeds on Sunday, Chelsea are next in league action at home to Nottingham Forest on May 4, before finishing their campaign against Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland.

Last week, Rosenior received public and private backing from the club’s hierarchy but on Wednesday none was forthcoming from BBC sources.

In addition, a number of players are understood to be unconvinced by the 41-year-old, who moved to Chelsea from their French partner club Strasbourg just over three months ago.

The Brighton defeat was a fifth successive league loss without scoring, their worst run for 114 years.

Fans turned on Rosenior at the Amex Stadium, while the head coach publicly criticised his players after the loss.

He said his his team’s performance in the defeat by Brighton was both “indefensible” and “unacceptable”.

Chelsea are seventh in the Premier League, five points adrift of a top-five spot and Champions League qualification, with four matches remaining.

They face Leeds in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday at 15:00 BST.

Rosenior signed a five-and-a-half-year deal in early January following the departure of Enzo Maresca.

Before the Brighton defeat, Rosenior said he felt “100%” support from the club’s ownership.

Last week, influential co-owner Behdad Eghbali said the hierarchy remain behind Rosenior, adding: “Of course, it’s a results business, but we think he can be successful long term.”

Players frustrations

Rosenior is becoming a point of frustration, according to multiple figures close to Chelsea players.

The extent of that frustration varies. Some describe him as a friendly character who means well, while others enjoyed working with him at his previous club, Strasbourg, part of the same BlueCo ownership group.

Others, notably several Spanish-speaking players, are understood to have preferred working under Maresca. That was reflected in interviews given by Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez.

Decisions to rotate goalkeepers and limit minutes for certain players, including Josh Acheampong, who often features briefly from the bench, have caused some discontent.

Perhaps most concerning is the atmosphere within the leadership group. One source inside Chelsea said senior players are often quiet when invited to give their views during near-daily team meetings.

Rosenior is not the only issue at Chelsea. Players are also concerned about the financial consequences of failing to qualify for the Champions League again while on incentive-based contracts.

Others have broader frustrations, having joined a club they believed would challenge for trophies but which is now consistently falling short.

Chelsea would argue that forward Cole Palmer has publicly reaffirmed his commitment to the club in the past week, while midfielder Moises Caicedo has signed a new contract. Captain Reece James has also recently extended his deal.

Those deals were sorted before this five game losing run.

What do fans think?

Supporters, like the players, have expressed differing views, but the widespread anger among the fan base has been largely directed at the club’s American owners.

A growing but still fringe protest movement, Not A Project CFC, attracted more than 500 fans who marched to Stamford Bridge before Saturday’s defeat by Manchester United.

It harked back to the end of last season, when chanting against the ownership began. Chelsea Supporters’ Trust has also written an open letter to the club highlighting its concerns.

A further Fans’ Forum meeting is scheduled to take place this week.

However, it was only on Tuesday that Rosenior was drawn into the anger, with expletive-laden chants directed towards him from the away end. His predecessors, Maresca and Mauricio Pochettino, also faced similar treatment, but not so early in their tenures.

Goals from Ferdi Kadioglu, Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck lifted Brighton into sixth place, while Chelsea have now lost five consecutive league matches without scoring for the first time since 1912.

Brighton overwhelmed Chelsea in the opening stages of the match.

Kaoru Mitoma almost replicated his goal at Tottenham last weekend, volleying Pascal Gross’ shot first time, only for Robert Sanchez to make the save inside the opening two minutes.

Brighton then scored from the resulting corner when Kadioglu struck a low volley after capitalising on a loose attempted clearance by Jorrel Hato from Gross’ delivery in the third minute.

The chances kept coming for the hosts. Jan Paul van Hecke’s header was saved, Hinshelwood had an effort cleared off the line after a calamitous wayward pass from Sanchez, while Georginio Rutter fired over when from inside the box.

Chelsea were eventually punished again, as Hinshelwood made amends by sweeping home Brighton’s second goal in the 56th minute from Rutter’s pass.

Such was the one-way traffic, Chelsea managed just one attempt of any kind in the opening 40 minutes – a speculative, blocked effort from Trevoh Chalobah on the edge of the box. Chants of “we’ve had a shot” followed from the away supporters after Romeo Lavia fired wide shortly after half-time, before frustration turned towards head coach Rosenior.

There were late attempts from Alejandro Garnacho and fellow substitute Marc Guiu, who both fired wide late on, but Brighton could have scored more in the second half through two saved Kadioglu shots.

And they did get a third when two subsitutes combined down the left, with Maxim de Cuyper feeding Welbeck to fire home his 13th goal of the season into the roof of the net.

It was a memorable night for the in-form Seagulls, who moved above Chelsea into sixth place, while the Blues look increasingly unlikely to qualify for the Champions League and could drop into the bottom half of the table once all fixtures this round have been completed.

The 41-year-old replaced Enzo Maresca, who left on New Year’s Day, but Saturday’s home defeat by Manchester United has left Chelsea seven points behind fifth-placed Liverpool.

That leaves the Blues’ chances of Champions League qualification – the club’s minimum target at the start of the season – in major doubt.

Asked whether he feels he has support from within the club, Rosenior replied: “100%. They’ve been supportive of me in our daily conversations, the sporting directors involved – they’ve been magnificent in their support of me and the team.

“We’re relying on them. We know we need to win games of football in the now.”

Last week, influential co-owner Behdad Eghbali said the hierarchy remain behind Rosenior, adding: “Of course, it’s a results business, but we think he can be successful long term.”

Eghbali also said Chelsea would target more experienced players in the summer and would “tweak the plan if it’s not working”, having built the youngest squad in the Premier League.

On the owner’s comments, Rosenior added: “He wants consistent trophies and consistent success for this club. That’s what we’ve spoken about – in the now, in the summer and how we build.

“We’re all very clear on what we need to do, what we want to do and what we have to do to get this club back to where it should be.”

Fofana apologises, Joao Pedro a doubt

After Saturday’s home defeat by Manchester United, footage went viral on social media of defender Wesley Fofana appearing to ignore attempts by first-team coach Justin Walker, one of Rosenior’s assistants, to speak to him.

Rosenior said the player had apologised for his reaction and the incident would not affect his selection for Tuesday’s trip to Brighton (20:00 BST).

“I’ve spoken to him about it and he’s just disappointed that we’re losing the game,” said Rosenior.

“I do think he could have shown that emotion in a better way and that’s something I’ve spoken to him about, but the optics are not the reality.

“The reality is I’ve got a really good group. Wes apologised for his reaction, but these are young players who are going to make mistakes.”

On Tuesday, Chelsea will be without Estevao Willian, who came off with a hamstring injury on Saturday, while striker Joao Pedro also remains a doubt and will have a late fitness test.

Defender Levi Colwill, who has been out with a long-term knee injury, returned in a behind-closed-doors match on Friday but remains unavailable and is set to play further minutes for Chelsea’s Under-21 side on Saturday.

The 23-year-old England international joined the Blues from Manchester City in 2023 in a £42.5m deal.

Despite spending 13 years at the Etihad, Palmer is a boyhood Manchester United fan.

After 43 goals in his first 97 appearances for Chelsea over his first two seasons at Stamford Bridge, Palmer has managed just 10 this campaign.

It has been suggested that Palmer’s drop in form has been partly influenced by homesickness, which led to reports that Manchester United could try to lure the playmaker to Old Trafford.

But Palmer says there is no truth in links to the Red Devils or that he is homesick in London.

“Everyone just talks,” Palmer told the Guardian.

“When I see it I just laugh. Obviously Manchester is my home. All my family are there, but I don’t miss it.

“Maybe I’ll miss it if I don’t go for three months or something. But then when I get home I think there’s nothing there for me anyway.”

Palmer signed a contract extension with the Blues in 2024, which ties him to the club until 2033.

“I’ve got no plans to move from Chelsea,” Palmer continued.

“We’ve still got a lot to play for. We’ve got the FA Cup semi-final [against Leeds] and if we finish in a Champions League spot it puts us in a good position to sign players that we need.”

Chelsea are sixth in the Premier League and take on third-placed Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday as they bid to finish in the top five and qualify for the Champions League.

While Palmer says doing so will aid the club’s summer transfer business, the midfielder says he and captain Reece James have made it clear to the club that new signings are required regardless.

“We spoke to the owners and they’re sure of the players that are going to do it,” said Palmer.

“Reece won’t sign a six-year contract if he’s not spoken to the owners and the directors.

“Me and Reece spoke a lot, about things we need, players we need to sign and how things need to be. He wouldn’t sign a new contract if he didn’t know what was going on.”

Chelsea’s own hopes of a place at European club football’s top table are in peril as they suffered a fourth Premier League defeat in a row for only the second time this century and were jeered off at the final whistle.

They have failed to score in any of those losses and have not found the net since 4 March.

Yet Chelsea will wonder how they managed to extend that sorry record.

Three times – through Estevao Willian, who went off with his second hamstring injury in a month after 16 minutes, Liam Delap and Wesley Fofana – Liam Rosenior’s side saw chances come back off the woodwork.

The home side had more possession, shots, and shots on target. Their expected goals (xG) was also higher.

But it was the visitors who came away with the points as Bruno Fernandes’ cutback was clinically dispatched by Cunha’s first-time strike.

It was Fernandes’ 18th assist in the league this season, two short of equalling the Premier League record.

United fans celebrated only a second league win at Stamford Bridge since 2002 almost as enthusiastically as they booed Alejandro Garnacho on his first appearance against his old club.

The home supporters broke into a “we want our Chelsea back” chant, although Mason Mount’s introduction for the latter stages gave them someone to jeer as well.

Vivid Seats, an American resale platform in which Boehly is a minority shareholder, has ticket listings for the semi-final clash with Leeds on 26 April at Wembley priced between $200 (£148) and $2,308 (£1,705).

The prices far exceed face value – between £30 and £150 – and the listings have been online since before tickets were made available to Chelsea season ticket holders via the club on Friday morning.

Over 100 ticket listings were displayed on the website, in all four stands of the stadium including areas designated to both Chelsea and Leeds fans, and in hospitality lounges.

Prices are determined by sellers on Vivid Seats, which earns money from each sale.

The ticket listings are not visible for UK customers, meaning the practice does not fall foul of the law, but BBC Sport was easily able to access listings using a simple virtual private network (VPN) and changing our location to the USA.

“When tickets for major matches are appearing on resale platforms at hugely inflated prices, it makes clear that the system simply isn’t working for regular fans,” said Dominic Rosso, chair of Chelsea Supporters Trust (CST).

“You can buy a seat in the same block I got mine for $470 (£346) on Vivid Seats. People are confused and upset that there is this clear conflict of interest.

“Mr. Boehly should be at the forefront of the fight against ticket touting in his role as chairman, but instead he is linked to a company charging eye-watering amounts of money.”

Chelsea, the Football Association, and a representative for Boehly have been contacted for comment.

Why is Boehly’s involvement controversial?

The FA Cup semi-final listings span all four stands, but are not the only Chelsea match for which Vivid Seats is offering tickets.

It has listings for all six of the Blues’ final Premier League games of the season, with prices between $149 (£110) and $4,372 (£3,231).

And tickets are already available for the FA Cup final, priced at $452 (£334) and $4,912 (£3,630).

In practice, resale sites offering tickets at inflated values contributes to ticket touting and leaves genuine fans at risk of missing out altogether on tickets to some events.

CST contacted the Premier League last month to express concerns about Boehly’s involvement with Vivid Seats, asking the league to consider whether the 52-year-old is in breach of competition rules.

In a letter of response, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters wrote: “Whilst we understand the concerns you have raised, based on the information currently available to us we are satisfied that Mr Boehly’s involvement with Vivid Seats does not implicate a breach of Premier League rules and, as a result, we do not intend to take disciplinary action at this stage.”

But the CST was not satisfied with the response.

“The Premier League has effectively acknowledged that its current rules do not address ownership links to secondary ticketing platforms, meaning this situation sits within a gap in the system,” it said in an open letter to the club following Masters’ explanation.

“While there may be no technical breach, that does not make the situation acceptable.”

Last season, Chelsea ejected 1,393 people from Stamford Bridge for possession of touted tickets, while 2,740 accounts linked to touts were cancelled.

More than 350,000 attempted ticket purchases were blocked by their ticketing system.

If somebody trying to enter Stamford Bridge were found to be in possession of a ticket purchased at inflated value from Vivid Seats, they would in theory be refused entry, despite the ticket being purchased from a site in which the club’s own chairman has a financial interest.

“Chelsea have invested a lot in ticket touting and we’ve worked closely with them on it,” Ross added. “They have been cancelling touts’ memberships and fair play to them, they’re taking it seriously.

“But it undermines all that when people are still touting their tickets through a service linked to the chairman.”

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Chelsea have beaten Charlton, Hull, Wrexham and Port Vale to reach the FA Cup semi-final stage

How are resale platforms able to sell football tickets?

Last year, BBC Sport conducted an investigation exposing an enormous black market for tickets in the Premier League.

Re-selling tickets is illegal in the UK, but some companies are able to continue doing so using a loophole in the law.

Only companies based in the UK fall under the scope of the legislation, meaning platforms like Vivid Seats which are based abroad are able to sell tickets at inflated prices.

Vivid Seats and other platforms restrict sales in the UK, but British customers can often get around that by using a VPN service.

Platforms like Vivid Seats often display listings for tickets that haven’t even formally gone on sale yet.

That is because customer orders are accepted and then attempts are made to source the required tickets afterwards, often via season ticket holders or members selling their tickets for more than they paid.

Buyers from resale platforms are then sent the tickets once they are sourced, or are typically given a refund if the order cannot be fulfilled.

Some of the companies still target UK customers using online ads, and use advanced software including ‘bots’ to hoover up tickets from official channels before reselling them at higher prices.

The Ecuador international, 24, had been pushing for improved terms on the back of helping the club win the Conference League and Club World Cup last season.

His previous eight-year contract was signed after his move from Brighton in 2023 for a then British-record £100m deal, rising to £115m, which has since been surpassed by Liverpool’s £125m signing of striker Alexander Isak.

“I am so happy to have extended my contract at Chelsea,” said Caicedo. “I believe in this team, this club and I know we’re going in the right direction. We’ve only just begun together.

“There is still a lot more to achieve, and I’m very hungry to keep improving every day. I want to win more trophies with Chelsea and give everything for this club and for the fans.

“We have enjoyed some great times together already and my dream is to become a Chelsea legend, and I will work as hard as possible to make that happen.”

BBC Sport had reported on Thursday that Caicedo had agreed his new contract.

The deal is the second in a series of renewals designed to reward Chelsea’s top performers, with captain Reece James the first to sign and the club negotiating at least one further agreement before the end of the season.

Chelsea had also agreed a similar pay rise for positive performances to Cole Palmer early last season, showing a willingness to reward star performers, albeit in an incentive-based structure which is adjusted for hitting certain targets like Champions League qualification.

Chelsea regard Caicedo as one of the best midfielders in the world and he is among the club’s captains.

Caicedo was the only player to start every Premier League match last season under former boss Enzo Maresca, while this campaign he has also been ever-present, playing 42 times and scoring five goals from defensive midfield.

Meanwhile, midfielder Enzo Fernandez and defender Levi Colwill are among those known to have discussed potential new contracts in the past six months.

However, Fernandez is returning from a two-game internal ban following comments made during international duty about wanting to live in Spain’s capital, amid continuing links with Real Madrid.

After the ban was announced by head coach Liam Rosenior, Fernandez’s agent Javier Pastore said “[he] deserves much more than he is currently earning,” in a lengthy interview with the Athletic.

Chelsea next face Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday (20:00 BST), with the club sixth in the Premier League and chasing Champions League qualification.

The Ecuador international, 24, had been pushing for improved terms after helping the club win the Conference League and the Club World Cup last season

His previous eight-year contract was signed after his move from Brighton in 2023 in a then British-record £100m deal, rising to £115m, which has since been surpassed by Liverpool’s £125m signing of striker Alexander Isak.

It is understood the new deal runs to 2033.

The deal is the second in a series of renewals designed to reward Chelsea’s top performers, with captain Reece James the first to sign and the club negotiating at least one further agreement before the end of the season.

Chelsea had also agreed a similar pay-rise for positive performances to Cole Palmer early last season, showing a willingness to reward star performers, albeit in an incentive-based structure which is adjusted for hitting certain targets like Champions League qualification.

When asked during the international break whether he would ever be interested in a move to Real Madrid, Caicedo said: “I’m focused on my club right now. I want to be a legend.”

Chelsea regard Caicedo as one of the best midfielders in the world and he is among the club’s captains.

Caicedo was the only player to start every Premier League match last season under former boss Enzo Maresca, while this campaign he has been ever present, playing 42 times and scoring five goals from defensive midfield.

Meanwhile, midfielder Enzo Fernandez and defender Levi Colwill are among those known to have discussed potential new contracts in the past six months.

However, Fernandez is returning from a two-game internal ban following comments made during international duty about wanting to live in Spain’s capital, amid continuing links with Real Madrid.

After the ban was announced by head coach Liam Rosenior, Fernandez’s agent Javier Pastore said “[He] deserves much more than he is currently earning,” in a lengthy interview with the Athletic.

Chelsea next face Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, with the club sixth in the Premier League and chasing Champions League qualification via at least a fifth-place finish.

The England defender, 33, was sent off and conceded a penalty in the 78th minute of the 2-2 draw at Vitality Stadium for pulling down Evanilson in the box.

He was later charged with improper conduct by the Football Association for something he said to fourth official Matt Donohue as he made his way off the pitch.

In addition to a one-match suspension Maguire has also been fined £30,000 by the FA who said in a statement he “acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards the fourth official following his dismissal”.

In the full written reasons Donohue said that “Maguire, as he was leaving the field of play, approached me and shouted ‘You’re a joke. You’re all a ******* joke'”.

Maguire denied in his written submission that he directed the words towards Donohue or any of the other match officials present.

“As I left the field of play following my dismissal I said something along the lines of ‘it is a ******** joke’,” Maguire said.

“I am certain that I did not call the fourth official or any match official, a joke or use any other form of insult.”

Maguire, however, acknowledged in his evidence that acting as he did was inappropriate and he apologised for saying what he did.

The regulatory commission considered an additional two-match suspension but “taking mitigating factors into account” – including Maguire accepting the charge – felt one match was appropriate.

United will also be without centre-back Lisandro Martinez at Stamford Bridge after he was dismissed for violent conduct for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair in Monday’s 2-1 defeat by Leeds, which Maguire missed through suspension.

Michael Carrick said it was “one of the worst” decisions he has seen and the United boss suggested the club will appeal against the Argentine’s red card.

Matthijs de Ligt is also set to miss out against Chelsea as he deals with a long-term back problem.

It leaves Carrick with 19-year-old Ayden Heaven and 20-year-old Leny Yoro as his only recognised central defenders.

United are third in the Premier League, level on points with fourth-placed Aston Villa and three points above Liverpool in fifth with six games left.

A win for Chelsea on Saturday would close the gap between themselves and United to four points and throw the Red Devils’ hopes of Champions League qualification into doubt.

The latest episode came after Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last Sunday.

Semenyo, who completed the full 90 minutes, later shared a post on Instagram celebrating the victory but was met with a racially abusive comment.

Responding to the abuse, he wrote: “It’s started again…”, referencing a previous incident in December 2025 during his spell at AFC Bournemouth, when he was targeted following a 4-2 defeat to Liverpool.

The incident has reignited concerns about the persistent problem of online racism in football, despite ongoing anti-discrimination campaigns across the sport.

The 26-year-old, who joined Manchester City in January 2026, has made a strong impact at the Etihad, scoring 15 league goals so far this season and helping the club to Carabao Cup success.

Pep Guardiola’s side closed the gap on leaders Arsenal to six points, after The Gunners were beaten by Bournemouth in a shock home result on Saturday.

City headed into Sunday’s game at Stamford Bridge with two games in hand over Arsenal and nine points behind, knowing a win would significantly cut the gap before they clash at Etihad Stadium next week.

And City have ramped up the pressure on Mikel Arteta’s team with victory in West London, beating a sorry Chelsea side who suffered a fourth defeat in their last five games.

After a tense first half, in which City were relatively poor, Chelsea came the closest to breaking the deadlock when Marc Cucurella put the ball in the back of the net, only for it to be ruled out for offside.

But following the break, City came out with a point to prove, and just like he had in the League Cup final against Arsenal, Nico O’Reilly popped up with a crucial goal, heading City into the lead from close range.

That sparked a relentless spell for City, who quickly doubled their lead when defender Guehi was picked out by the outstanding Rayan Cherki, before slotting home with a striker’s finish.

Doku made sure of the three points when he outmuscled Moises Caicedo in midfield, before breaking into the box and thumping the ball past the helpless Robert Sanchez.

City (64 points) still have a game in hand over Arsenal (70 points), and can cut the gap to three points when they clash next weekend to set up a thrilling finish to the season.

Meanwhile, Chelsea remain in sixth place and four points off the UEFA Champions League spots.

Fernandez was handed a two-match internal ban by the club last week after he gave an interview during the international break in which he expressed his admiration for the city of Madrid.

The Argentine has repeatedly been linked with a move to La Liga club Real Madrid.

His agent, Javier Pastore, said this week that “we cleared the air” with Chelsea after Fernandez missed last Saturday’s 7-0 FA Cup victory against Port Vale, and had hoped that the ban would be reduced to one match.

However, Rosenior says Fernandez will miss Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Manchester City as Chelsea have decided to stick to their original punishment, despite the Argentine apologising for his comments.

“I had three or four [conversations] with Enzo,” said Rosenior.

“He’s apologised to me, he’s apologised to the club, and we’ll deal with that after a massive game on Sunday.

“It was a serious meeting about something very serious. I’m not questioning Enzo’s character or who he is as a person. We’ve made a sanction, we made a decision – I made a decision – and what I want for Enzo is for him to come here and have an outstanding career.”

Chelsea are sixth in the Premier League, one point behind Liverpool, who occupy the fifth and final Champions League qualification position.

Rosenior insisted he was not “shooting myself in the foot” by suspending Fernandez and said there were “hurdles” to overcome in order for the midfielder to return to action.

“He won’t play on Sunday, but hopefully after that he’ll be a massive part of the group moving forward,” added the Blues boss.

“There are still a few hurdles to be overcome that I won’t go into, but at the same time I want every player really focused on a huge run.”

Asked further what those “hurdles” were, Rosenior said: “There are still things in the air that I won’t speak about now.

“I have a very good relationship with Enzo, as all of us do, but there are still things that need to be cleared before I make a clear statement on the situation.”

The former Strasbourg manager, however, is positive Fernandez will be available for Manchester United’s visit to Stamford Bridge on 18 April.

Rosenior also said Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill all remain unavailable for the game against Pep Guardiola’s men.

Daniel Farke’s side beat Premier League relegation rivals West Ham 4-2 on penalties to progress after a thrilling 2-2 draw on Sunday.

Last year’s beaten finalists Manchester City will take on Championship side Southampton in the other semi-final.

The Saints, whose only FA Cup triumph was back in 1976, stunned Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday to set up the encounter with seven-time winners City.

Leeds last reached the FA Cup last four in 1987, when they were beaten 3-2 by eventual winners Coventry City at Hillsborough, and lifted the trophy for the only time in 1972.

Their meeting with eight-time winners Chelsea will also stir up memories of the 1970 showpiece between the sides, in which the Blues triumphed after a replay at Old Trafford – the first FA Cup final at that time to require one since 1912.

This year’s ties will be played at Wembley on the weekend of 25-26 April.

FA Cup semi-final ties:

• Manchester City v Southampton
• Chelsea v Leeds United

Port Vale sit bottom of League One, 15 points from safety, but they reached the FA Cup last eight for the first time in 72 years by knocking out Premier League Sunderland.

This, however, was a brutal conclusion to their excellent campaign in the competition as Chelsea’s multi-million-pound side ran riot against a team who started with eight free transfers and two loan players.

Chelsea ensured the notion of another giant-killing was extinguished swiftly, starting with a goal after 64 seconds when Jorrel Hato poked home from close range after Vale failed to clear a corner.

Vale, roared on by 6,000 raucous fans in the Shed End, initially responded well to that early shock, but the contest was effectively over in the 25th minute when Joao Pedro turned Kyle John in the area before beating keeper Joe Gauci.

Chelsea increased their lead three minutes before the break when Gauci pushed out Malo Gusto’s cross and Cole Palmer’s follow-up attempt went in off Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel.

It was then a question of damage limitation for Jon Brady’s side, but that was beyond them too, as Tosin Adarabioyo headed Chelsea’s fourth after 57 minutes from Malo Gusto’s cross.

As Vale lost heart and hope, Andrey Santos added Chelsea’s fifth with a far-post header from Estevao Willian’s corner.

Estevao then got on the scoresheet himself eight minutes from time when he scored after Alejandro Garnacho hit the post, the goal being awarded after a lengthy video assistant referee check for offside.

Garnacho completed the rout from the penalty spot in stoppage time.

Chelsea’s emphatic win was significant for head coach Liam Rosenior who can now prepare for a Wembley appearance after a run of four damaging defeats.

This game also followed the decision to impose a two-match suspension on Enzo Fernandez after the midfielder publicly questioned whether he would be at the club next season.

The 34-year-old was treated in hospital in November after he became unwell during physical testing at Brazilian club Sao Paulo’s training centre.

It was determined he had experienced a case of vasovagal syncope, which is a common type of fainting caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure and heart rate.

Oscar, who won 48 caps for his country, has now cancelled his Sao Paulo contract, which had two years left to run.

“I wanted to do more for Sao Paulo, I wanted to play more. I think I had both the footballing ability and the age to play more, but unfortunately this happened,” Oscar said in an announcement posted on social media.

“Now I’m going to retire and continue supporting Sao Paulo, continuing my life as a fan. I’m ending my career here at Sao Paulo, a career that has taken me to many places, practically all over the world.

“I’d like to thank everyone for their constant support, all the Sao Paulo fans who have backed me since my return and during this difficult time I’m going through.”

Oscar signed for Chelsea in July 2012, winning the Europa League in his first season and a Premier League and League Cup double in 2014-15.

He departed for Chinese Super League side Shanghai Port in January 2017, having scored 38 goals in 203 games, leaving a Chelsea squad that went on to seal another Premier League title in May.

He won three Chinese Super League titles with Shanghai Port, before returning to Sao Paulo, the club where he started his career, on a three-year deal in January 2025.