Copyright dailystar
Chelsea have yet to truly hit their stride this season despite being crowned champions of the world in the summer. After winning the Conference League and Club World Cup last term, many expected them to build on that success in 2025/26. However, they currently find themselves in sixth place in the Premier League , trailing leaders Liverpool by seven points. Their recent 2-1 loss to Manchester United was a major disappointment, though they managed to bounce back with a win against Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday. Despite the victory, Enzo Maresca's side were far from impressive, having to claw back from a goal down to overcome League One opposition. As Chelsea prepare to host Brighton on Saturday, doubts linger over the quality of their squad and Maresca's ability to extract top performances from his players. Now, we look to delve into two of the latest stories surrounding the west London club. Maresca has delivered the disheartening news that star player Cole Palmer is set for a stint on the sidelines. Palmer was taken off in the first half of the recent defeat to United, and was later seen applying ice to his groin on the bench. The Blues are likely to be without their playmaker for around two to three weeks due to his persistent groin issue, which has hampered his 2025/26 campaign. During his Friday press conference, Maresca explained: "We decided to protect Cole a little bit in terms of not letting his injuries get worse. We decided to rest him for the next two or three weeks before the international break to see if he can recover 100% and be fully fit from the international break. "I don't think he needs surgery. It's a matter of managing his pain in his groin, with the amount of games, it is something that can happen." When asked about the England star’s potential replacement, Maresca singled out Facundo Buonanotte, who is currently on loan from Brighton until the end of the season. The head coach stated: "Buonanotte can play in that position. But it depends a little bit on the game, the other team and how they defend. It depends." That could be seen as huge pressure to place on the 20-year-old Argentine, who played his first full 90 minutes in the 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Lincoln City in midweek. But it may also be a sign of Maresca’s faith in the player, who impressed by scoring the winner and his first goal for the club in that outing. Unfortunately, the youngster is ineligible to face his parent club Brighton this weekend. Robert Sanchez’s red card against Manchester United and Filip Jorgensen’s poor display against Lincoln City have done little to alleviate concerns over Chelsea’s goalkeeper position. But the Blues are reportedly now eying up a move for Mike Maignan. France's first-choice goalkeeper was strongly linked with a move to the west London club during the summer transfer window, but Chelsea couldn't agree on a fee with AC Milan. However, the 30-year-old is in the final year of his contract at the San Siro, which means he could be snapped up for a bargain price in January or signed as a free agent next summer. TBR claims that despite United's interest in Maignan, Chelsea are further ahead in their talks with the highly-rated keeper, who is said to be specifically keen on a move to Stamford Bridge. It remains to be seen whether Chelsea will hold out until next summer for the experienced shot-stopper or try to secure his signature in January.
