Malo Gusto is reportedly the next Chelsea player asking for a salary increase after Moises Caicedo put pen to paper

 According to BBC Sport, Malo Gusto is after a salary increase at Chelsea.

The Chelsea full-back is contracted until 2030, earning around £45,000-per-week, but we have already seen Marc Cucurella get an extension this season.

His output has been balanced, contributing two goals and four assists but the highlight for him has been his recovery, as one of the leaders in that stat in the Premier League.

Beyond the numbers, Gusto’s durability has become his most valuable trait. In a season defined by a high injury toll at Chelsea, he has remained available for nearly every big

And as the summer window approaches, it looks as if he wants to be compensated for his efforts.

Chelsea’s ability to finalise new contracts is heavily dictated by stringent Profit and Sustainability Rules and their current wage-to-turnover ratio.

The hierarchy must balance rewarding top performers like Malo Gusto with the financial necessity of clearing high earners off the books to maintain headroom for the 2026/27 transfer budget.

Cole Palmer: “I’ve got NO plans to move club, and when I see it I just laugh”

 There are two sides to Cole Palmer. There is the shy character who can fool you into thinking he has nothing much to say for himself. On the other hand there’s the artist with the ball at his feet. The player with the “Ice Cold” celebration copied by kids in playgrounds everywhere. The improviser who makes the price of a ticket worthwhile.

“I know what you’re saying,” Palmer replies as, on a sunny afternoon at Chelsea’s training ground, we talk about the contrast between his shy conversational style and his ability to make an impact on people when he steps on the pitch. “I don’t really say too much in general but when I’m on a pitch I try to. I feel like it’s two different personalities. Off the pitch it’s quiet. I find it hard to speak to new people. But when I’m on the pitch I feel it just comes freely.”

Chelsea’s No 10 takes a while to open up during our chat. Football is his chosen language. The boy from Wythenshawe admits that he is guarded with new people. Questions about whether the boy from Wythenshawe visualises moves and tried to copy his heroes when he was younger fall flat.

By the end, though, the 23-year-old has warmed up and is nattering away. He is laughing about last summer’s chaotic win against Benfica at the Club World Cup (the game lasted four hours after a delay due to stormy weather in North Carolina) and delivering an update on his views on southern people. He has gone into detail about his injury woes and it feels significant that he has agreed to meet. It is easy to talk during a winning run. It shows character to do it when the world is on your back.

This has been the toughest season of Palmer’s career and it has been a tricky few weeks for Chelsea. Enzo Fernández and Marc Cucurella have questioned the club’s project. There is a fan protest scheduled before Saturday’s game against Manchester United. There is also constant speculation swirling around Palmer, who has repeatedly been linked with a summer move to United, the club he supported as a boy.

But Palmer is here and he is committed. He is by far the biggest name at Chelsea and, having worn the captain’s armband for the first time during the recent FA Cup quarter-final win against Port Vale, he wants to set the record straight on his future.

“You’ve got different [kinds of] captains,” Palmer says. “You’ve got ones who shout and encourage and you’ve got ones that try to lead by example. And I think from what I’ve done since I arrived here, with the amount of goals I’ve scored and assists I’ve done in certain moments, I feel like I can try and set an example with the way I play.”

Palmer is 6ft 1in now but his youth coaches remember a small kid who refused to be intimidated during games. “That’s just the way I play,” he says. “I always want the ball. If you lose the ball, then get on it again and don’t lose it the next time. You can’t hide. You’ve just got to try and enjoy it.”

Palmer smiles when I suggest he never looks nervous on the pitch. “Everyone says that to me. Obviously everyone gets nervous.” The last time he really felt the butterflies, though, was before he made his England debut in November 2023. “I just think it’s just a game,” he says. “It’s not that deep. That’s how I’ve been brought up – to just play and don’t think too much. There’s bigger things than football. Obviously, you get upset and obviously it’s a very emotional game. But when you miss a chance you just shrug it off. It’s happened. You can’t change it.”

What has to change is Chelsea’s form. Knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain last month, they are sixth in the league and there is growing pressure on Liam Rosenior, who was appointed as head coach after Enzo Maresca’s shock departure on New Year’s Day.

“It has been an inconsistent season for whatever reason,” Palmer says. “It’s just about, in my opinion, getting the right players in to help us kick on.”

Chelsea will tweak their model this summer. They have focused heavily on youth under the ownership of Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly but there is a recognition of the need for more readymade talent. Palmer is confident. He and Chelsea’s captain Reece James, who recently signed a new long-term deal, have had constructive discussions with the owners and five sporting directors about summer targets. Moisés Caicedo is also extending his contract to 2033.

“It’s something we’re working on together,” Palmer says. “We’re on the same page. We want to win now and I think if we add right in the summer we can compete for serious trophies next season. I don’t think we’re far off. If you sign the right players in the right positions and the right characters and profiles, I think we have more than enough quality to compete and be more consistent than we’ve shown over this season.

“Bringing a manager in mid-season, you have no pre-season, hardly have time to train. You’re just focusing on games. But the manager is good and when he has a proper pre-season and gets his ideas across properly and the way he wants to play he’s a top coach. If we as players perform to how we should be performing and we get the right players we can, him and us as a group, do some work.”

Palmer shrugs off the stories about him pining for life in the north-west and a move to United. “Everyone just talks,” he says. “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.

“I’ve got no plans to move from Chelsea. 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. We spoke to the owners and they’re sure of the players that are gonna do it. 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.”

Palmer’s deal runs until 2033. In a further sign of his commitment he has recently bought a house in Surrey. Two years ago he told a group of journalists that he found southerners “moody”. His views have changed now. “If you get someone like me who’s from Manchester and you get another person from Manchester, we’ll all just sit in this room and not say anything to each other,” Palmer says. “I like southern people. They just talk and talk and talk to you.” Ever wish they’d stop? “No,” he smiles. “It depends who it is.”

It is easy to forget that Palmer is young. He is something of a reluctant star. There were billboards of him all over New York last summer. He has come to understand why people stare at him in the street but says he is just like anyone else.

The difference is the attention. Everything moved so easily for Palmer after he grew tired of waiting for Pep Guardiola to give him a run at City. He joined Chelsea in September 2023 and found freedom under Mauricio Pochettino. He scored hat-tricks in two consecutive home games, finished his first season in west London with 25 goals in all competitions, was named the PFA Young Player of the Year and grabbed England’s equaliser in their defeat by Spain in the Euro 2024 final.

More followed last season: four goals in one half against Brighton, a virtuoso display against Real Betis in the Conference League final, two brilliant strikes to see off PSG in the Club World Cup final.

The world was at Palmer’s feet, only for his body to let him down. A nagging groin injury restricted him so much it was not until January that he registered his first assist of a stop-start season.

“An injury that hasn’t got a timeframe on it,” Palmer says. “It’s not like a muscle injury where you can say it’ll take eight weeks. When it first came on I came back versus Bayern Munich in September and did it at the end of the game. The 94th minute I tried to cross it. I knew I did something, and then we had United and obviously I tried to play but I couldn’t even run or walk or anything.

“I didn’t know how long I was going to be out for. I went to see a specialist and he said 10 to 12 weeks. Then I was playing when I was injured because I was out for 12 weeks and it was still not better.”

It was new to Palmer. “I’ve never been injured like this before. I’m sat there on the side for over three months. I came back in early December, Leeds away. I came on for 30 minutes, and I couldn’t even sprint. I could just about pass it. I couldn’t play long balls, couldn’t even shoot. But I wanted to play so much. I was trying to play and it was just too strange.” Forcing himself to play did Palmer no favours. “I didn’t know how to manage it,” he says. “That’s probably part of it.”

Palmer often looked like he was playing under a cloud. Thomas Tuchel, England’s head coach, has said the forward’s stride only returned when Chelsea faced Arsenal in early March.

Palmer says it was not until a few weeks ago that he felt free again. “I’m all right now,” he says. “It’s just about finding rhythm and performing again. Because I performed when I first got here. Last season I scored 14 Premier League goals in 20 games. Then the Club World Cup. It’s not just going to disappear. I’ve not lost all my ability. I’ve been injured.”

Even a half-fit Palmer has still hit double figures this season. That decisiveness is why he still looks a good bet to make Tuchel’s squad for the World Cup. Palmer was happy with his level in training during last month’s England camp. He felt he did well as a substitute against Uruguay but accepts that the defeat to Japan was a difficult night.

“It’s just about focusing on these last few weeks,” Palmer says. “Get back to myself that I know pretty well. Work hard and hopefully go away with England.” There were a lot of pictures of Tuchel hugging Palmer during training. “Yeah,” Palmer says. “When I’m happy I play my best.” Chelsea intend to keep him smiling.

Source: The Guardian

Chelsea could reportedly still have a chance of beating Brighton to the potential transfer of FC Koln forward Said El Mala

Chelsea could reportedly still have a chance of beating Brighton to the potential transfer of FC Koln forward Said El Mala.

The talented young German attacker looks like an exciting prospect with a big future ahead of him, and it could be that we’ll be seeing him in the Premier League soon.

According to Christian Falk in his CF Bayern Insider column, Brighton have been working on signing El Mala, but they might struggle to meet Koln’s demands for the 19-year-old.

This could allow Chelsea back into the mix, according to Falk, who says El Mala could cost around €50m.

Discussing El Mala’s future, Falk made it clear that Brighton are still leading the race for his signature, though nothing is done yet and that means Chelsea can’t be ruled out.

“It is TRUE: Brighton are in the lead for Said El Mala,” Falk said. “But it could be that other interested clubs still have a chance in this race, like Newcastle and Chelsea.

“That’s because the Brighton offer was about €35m plus €4m in add-ons, and Cologne want €50m. If they don’t get this money, perhaps they’ll be open to talking with Chelsea again. This could happen.

“At the moment, the way is clear – El Mala looks very likely to be playing Premier League football next season. Now we have to see whether he ends up at Brighton, which is the current plan, or if FC Köln say it won’t work because of the money on the table.”

There could well be doubts about the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens, who have not had anywhere near the kind of impact that the club will have hoped.

El Mala could be an upgrade, and it will be interesting to see if Chelsea can get there ahead of Brighton, though even that might point towards a future move for the west London giants given how much those two clubs have done business in recent times.

Caicedo on new Chelsea contract: 'I am very proud and so happy'

 The broad smile across the face of Moises Caicedo isn’t just for show – it remains long after his contract signing photographs have been taken. 'You cannot imagine how happy I am right now,' says our midfielder, having committed his long-term future to Chelsea.

Less than three years have passed since Caicedo joined the Blues from Brighton and Hove Albion. But the steps taken by the Ecuadorian in that time have been significant.

He has developed into one of the game's finest midfielders, one who combines finesse, poise and intelligence with the ball with a determination and relentlessness without it. 

The 24-year-old has also become a leader within the squad. He has captained Chelsea on several occasions, most recently last weekend against Manchester City, and has become a reference point for aspiring youngsters within the game.

Yet Caicedo is a humble star. He often guides a conversation to the collective achievements of the Blues rather than focusing on his own successes, and that remains the case even when discussing what he hopes to still achieve at Stamford Bridge after extending his stay until 2033.

'I feel over the moon [to sign a new contract] because it's a dream to be here,' he says. 'I am really happy with these amazing years [I've already had] here and for what is coming.

'Together with everyone, we are going to bring more trophies to this club. This club deserves everything, which is why we are working hard, and I am working hard, to win those trophies.'

He adds: 'I am so happy with what I am doing here. Every day I’m learning something, and I’m going to try to be better every week because I want to give everything to the fans who come to the stadium to watch us. I am going to give everything for this club.'

Caicedo has made 140 appearances for the Blues since arriving in August 2023, a testament to his reliability, durability and importance within our midfield.

His performances have earned praise from team-mates, opponents and pundits. Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior also stated earlier this month that Caicedo is 'one of the best defensive midfield players, if not the best defensive midfield player, in world football'.

Caicedo takes such praise with his trademark modesty, but insists there is still room for him to grow and improve in the seasons ahead.

'When people talk about me like this, it’s special,' he says. 'I try to take those words and show people on the pitch – that is what I like to do. I don’t talk about myself, so that situation is so good. I get those words and they motivate me even more.

'I think the sky is the limit for me, to be honest. Even if I make mistakes on the pitch, they make me stronger, because in life, in everything you do, you will make mistakes and learn from them.

'Every day in training or when I'm playing, I learn something and take that into the other games. So I am really happy with what I am doing and what I am going to do going forward.'

Caicedo's leadership qualities have come to the fore over the past two seasons. He first captained the Blues in a UEFA Conference League qualifier against Servette at the start of the 2024/25 campaign and has worn the armband several times since.

He is a player who leads by example, on and off the pitch, and he does not take his role within the Chelsea squad lightly.

'It means a lot [to captain the side],' he says. 'Thinking about the armband...I enjoyed that moment because it’s not easy to earn the armband. 'Being here was a dream for me; I always prayed for these moments. Now I am enjoying them because it’s so special for my family back in Ecuador and me. I am very proud of myself and so happy.'

Caicedo has lifted two pieces of silverware during his time at Stamford Bridge. He scored in the final of the UEFA Conference League to ensure the Blues defeated Real Betis and completed our trophy haul, before then adding the FIFA Club World Cup.

There have been personal accolades along the way, too. He won our 2024 Goal of the Season award for an outstanding halfway-line strike against Bournemouth and, 12 months later, claimed the 2025 Players' Player of the Season award in addition to being voted supporters' Player of the Season.

Caicedo's relationship with the Chelsea faithful is one he hugely values. It pushes him on before and during games and has helped him through challenging moments during his time at Stamford Bridge.

'Before the start of games, when my name is called and they clap and shout, it’s so special for me,' he explains. 'I love them because in every moment, even in the bad moments, they are with us.

'For sure, we want to give everything to them and show that appreciation on the pitch. I try to do that in every game and I promise I’m going to give everything along with my team-mates. For sure, we will give everything to bring a trophy [the FA Cup] this season and do even better next season.'

Training gallery: Final touches before Man United

 The Chelsea players trained at Cobham on Friday morning in the last session prior to this weekend’s huge Premier League fixture against Manchester United.

The Blues go into the game at Stamford Bridge knowing three points will keep us right in the hunt for a Champions League place, and the squad worked hard at our training base to ensure they are in the best possible position to achieve a precious victory.

Trevoh Chalobah was among those on the grass, with Liam Rosenior saying in his pre-match media conference the defender was ‘very, very close’ to a return to action after injury.

Also pictured being put through his paces was Moises Caicedo, who, it was announced today, has signed a new contract with the club until 2033.

You can enjoy the best pictures from the session below, and make sure to stay tuned to the Chelsea Official App and website for all the coverage of our vital meeting with Manchester United…

Moises Caicedo signs new Chelsea contract!

 Chelsea is delighted to announce Moises Caicedo has signed a new contract with the club until 2033.

After joining the Blues in August 2023, Moises has established himself as a key figure in our men’s squad and one of the world’s standout midfield players.

He has made 140 appearances for the Blues and played key roles in our UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup triumphs.

‘I am so happy to have extended my contract at Chelsea,’ Caicedo said. ‘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.’

Moi made his switch to Stamford Bridge from Brighton & Hove Albion ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Approaching the end of his third season as a Blue, he has cemented himself as a leader within our men’s squad and a consistent and impressive performer on the pitch.

He has netted eight goals across his 140 Chelsea appearances, one of which was voted our 2024 Goal of the Season.

Moi’s performances during the 2024/25 campaign helped us claim two trophies and he was named our Player of the Season by supporters and our Players’ Player of the Season.

This term, Moi has worn the captain’s armband on several occasions, most recently in last weekend's game against Manchester City.

We are delighted that Moi will be extending his stay with us and look forward to the next chapter in his Chelsea career.

Congratulations, Moi!

Valentin Barco and Emanuel Emegha play a part in Strasbourg’s win over Mainz

 Strasbourg’s remarkable 4–0 comeback victory over Mainz in the Europa Conference League quarter-final on Thursday night saw Chelsea-bound Valentin Barco and the returning Emanuel Emegha shine.

Strasbourg’s recent European heroics have served as an audition for Valentin Barco and Emanuel Emegha, two BlueCo prospects who appear increasingly ready for the bright lights of Chelsea.

Barco has been the breakout in France this season; moving away from his traditional defensive roots, he has reinvented himself as a creative midfielder.

Emegha, meanwhile, has endured a testing campaign defined more by the treatment table than the score, yet his brief, explosive cameos offered some promise for his move to Chelsea.

As both players prepare to swap the Meinau for Stamford Bridge this summer, it remains to be seen as to whether buying more of the younger generation will pay off.

Valentin Barco was the architect of the 4–0 turnaround, winning a crucial second-half penalty. Meanwhile, Emanuel Emegha, despite seeing his initial spot-kick saved, showed resilience to head home the fourth, completing a historic comeback that booked Strasbourg’s European semi-final spot.

French outlet Maxifoot have given a review of Strasbourg’s win over Mainz, hailing Barco for his display, while Emegha wasn’t given a rating.

Valentin Barco (8.5): The Argentine midfielder delivered a match of extraordinary character. Injured in the ankle in the second half, the playmaker continued on one leg to direct the game, provoke and win the penalty. Always able to break lines despite the pain, the Albiceleste set the tempo and set an example in self-sacrifice. A memorable, almost heroic performance, despite this yellow card that will make him miss the first leg against Rayo Vallecano.

Emegha (not rated), who missed his penalty before scoring the fourth goal to capsize the Meinau for good.

Emanuel Emegha had two shots on target, one big chance missed, one tackle, one clearance, won one duel and lost five, as well as just nine touches in 32 minutes.

On the other hand, Barco was a standout. The midfielder had four out of four successful dribbles, 83 touches (most in the match), 44 out of 57 accurate passes, four tackles, three blocks, three recoveries, one clearance, 13 duels won and five lost.

All stats via FotMob.

Julian Nagelsmann’s camp approach Chelsea

 A report from TeamTalk states that Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City have all been approached by intermediaries and made aware of Nagelsmann’s situation.

As it stands, all of Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal are yet to follow up on that interest, and as things stand, it’s expected that all three clubs plan to stand by their respective managers.

His camp insists that Nagelsmann remains fully focused on leading Germany into the upcoming World Cup finals, but he would be open to the right project beyond that, with England viewed as most likely.

Ben Jacobs has already shared why the Chelsea owners haven’t considered Nagelsmann for a position at Stamford Bridge up until this point.

“And I know that when Nagelsmann was on the Chelsea shortlist, there were two issues why he didn’t advance.

“The first was that when they asked about his kind of conduct, and I appreciate there’s two sides to every story, so this is just Chelsea’s perspective, but when they asked about his conduct and how he managed the dressing room and what the players thought of him on a personal level, on a tactical level, on a managerial level, they didn’t get great references and they thought that he might be a risk in terms of fit.

“Then the second thing about Julian Nagelsmann and this is where Chelsea’s perspective is different from those close to Nagelsmann. So Chelsea argue that Nagelsmann said, ‘I don’t want to be part of a process. I don’t want anything thorough. I don’t want to wait. I don’t want to be interviewed five times. I just want you to either offer me the job or not because my CV, my talent speaks for itself.

“So Nagelsmann was not prepared to wait and entertain a competitive thorough process at least when Chelsea came calling.”

History: Chelsea was the first club ever to wear a Jersey number in Premier League football

The first use of numbered jerseys (or "shirt numbers") in English football occurred in the late 1920s, with Chelsea conducting the earliest documented trial in 1927 and both Chelsea and Arsenal debuting them in competitive Football League matches on the same day in 1928.**

This innovation addressed a practical problem: helping spectators, journalists, and officials identify players more easily amid growing crowds and faster play, especially when teams fielded lesser-known players. Prior to physical numbers on shirts, match programmes already listed players by position (typically 1–11 in the standard 2-3-5 formation), but this was of limited help during live matches.

### 1927: Chelsea's Pioneering Trial

The earliest recorded experiment with numbered jerseys in English football took place in 1927, when Chelsea trialled them in a match (likely a pre-season or trial game involving younger or lesser-known players). Chelsea manager David Calderhead explained the purpose to the *Dublin Evening Mail* (August 16, 1927): “We really did it to assist the spectators to follow some of the young and comparatively unknown players who took part in the trial yesterday.” He noted that the idea was appreciated by spectators but emphasized it was not intended for radio broadcasts.

Arsenal manager Herbert Chapman (often credited in popular accounts with driving the change) publicly supported the concept, stating it would aid strangers in the crowd. However, other managers were sceptical: Tottenham’s Billy Minter called it “unnecessary,” comparing players to “jockeys,” while West Ham’s Sydney King said it made footballers “look too much like horses and jockeys.” Chelsea were unsure about seeking formal FA approval at the time.

This 1927 trial predates any competitive league use and marks Chelsea as the first English club to test numbered jerseys in a match setting.

### August 25, 1928: The Competitive Debut (Arsenal and Chelsea)

The first use of numbered jerseys in English Football League matches came on the opening day of the 1928–29 season. Two London clubs independently introduced the innovation simultaneously:

- **Arsenal** (away at Sheffield Wednesday/The Wednesday): Players wore numbers 1–11, assigned by position in the classic 2-3-5 formation (1 = goalkeeper; 2/3 = full-backs; 4/5/6 = half-backs; 7–11 = forwards). Arsenal lost 3–2.

- **Chelsea** (home vs Swansea Town at Stamford Bridge): Outfield players wore numbers 2–11 (goalkeeper without a number, setting an early tradition). Chelsea won 4–0 in front of 35,000 spectators. Large black numbers on white squares made identification straightforward.

Contemporary media reacted positively. The *Daily Express* noted spectators could “give credit for each bit of good work to the correct individual,” while the *Daily Mirror* declared “NUMBERED JERSEYS A SUCCESS” and predicted the scheme had “come to stay,” crediting London clubs with providing the lead.

These were the first instances in European football (earlier uses existed elsewhere, e.g., New Zealand’s Nelson FC in 1911 and U.S. teams in 1924). Chelsea and Arsenal are jointly recognised as the first English clubs to wear numbers in competitive league play.

### 1930s: Experiments and Gradual Adoption

Numbered shirts remained experimental and optional for several years:

- **1933 FA Cup Final** (Everton vs Manchester City, April 29): The first major match where *both* teams wore numbers. Everton used 1–11; Manchester City used 12–22. This was a landmark for high-profile visibility.

- Everton then wore numbered shirts in a league match the following week (May 6, 1933, vs Wolverhampton Wanderers).

- Arsenal conducted another high-profile experiment on December 4, 1933, in a friendly against FC Vienna (essentially the full Austrian national side, which they won 4–2 at Highbury).

The Football League Management Committee rejected mandatory numbering proposals in 1933 and 1934.

### 1939: Mandatory Numbering

On June 5, 1939, the Football League ruled that all clubs must number players 1–11 (by position) for the 1939–40 season. The outbreak of World War II curtailed the season after just three rounds, but numbering became standard post-war (fully implemented in the 1946–47 season).

Numbers initially reflected the 2-3-5 (pyramid) or emerging W-M formation, with fixed positional meanings (e.g., No. 9 = centre-forward, No. 5 = centre-half). This system persisted for decades, though tactical shifts gradually loosened the link between number and position.

### Post-War to Modern Era (1940s–1990s)

- Shirt numbers became a permanent fixture, aiding referees, fans, and (later) television audiences.

- England’s national team first wore numbers officially in 1937 (vs Norway) and used them regularly thereafter, though club-level adoption preceded international use.

- In 1993, the FA introduced **permanent squad numbers** (abandoning strict 1–11 per match). The first high-profile instance was the 1993 League Cup Final—ironically, Arsenal vs Sheffield Wednesday again. Squad numbers (1–99, unique per player for the season) and players’ names on shirts became compulsory in the Premier League for 1993–94 and across the Football League by 1999–2000. This shift was driven by merchandising, TV, and global broadcasting.

### Legacy

What began as a simple spectator aid in Chelsea’s 1927 trial and the dual 1928 debuts revolutionised football identification worldwide. The 1–11 positional system left a cultural imprint (e.g., iconic No. 7 wingers, No. 9 strikers, No. 10 playmakers), even as modern squad numbers allow greater flexibility and personal branding.

No single club can claim sole “first” status in every context—Chelsea pioneered the trial, while Arsenal and Chelsea jointly launched competitive use—but their 1928 innovations are the clear origin point for numbered jerseys in English professional football. The change was pragmatic, widely praised, and enduring.

Alejandro Garnacho’s spell at Stamford Bridge could be coming to a premature end as Chelsea are reportedly open to sanctioning a sale this summer.

Alejandro Garnacho’s spell at Stamford Bridge could be coming to a premature end as Chelsea are reportedly open to sanctioning a sale this summer. Despite joining the Blues in a high-profile £40 million move from Manchester United only last September, the Argentine is seeing his future called into question, having yet to win over new head coach Liam Rosenior.

Rosenior is believed to have significant "reservations" about Garnacho’s role within his squad, according to The Sun. Since taking over the reins on January 6, Rosenior has afforded the 21-year-old only four Premier League starts, frequently preferring Pedro Neto on the left flank.

When questioned about the young winger's development last month, Rosenior struck a cautious tone, stating: "He’s got huge ability and potential. For any young player, the biggest thing to be challenged on is consistency. But he’s shown really good signs. Not just in training, but in meetings, that he’s on a really good track." Despite these public words of encouragement, The Sun states that the internal feeling suggests a summer exit is a distinct possibility.

The statistics reflect a difficult debut campaign for Garnacho in west London. He has started only 21 of Chelsea’s 51 games across all competitions this season, and has scored only eight times, with half of those strikes coming against lower-league opposition in cup ties.

Garnacho has managed just one solitary Premier League goal for Chelsea since his deadline-day move. This lack of top-flight productivity has made it difficult for the winger to justify his £40m price tag, especially as the club looks to streamline their squad ahead of the 2026-27 season. With Jamie Gittens currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, Garnacho has failed to seize the opportunity to cement his place.

Source: Goal

Behdad Eghbali has told Chelsea supporters that owners BlueCo are learning from their mistakes and are committed to bringing consistent success back to Stamford Bridge.

Behdad Eghbali has told Chelsea supporters that owners BlueCo are learning from their mistakes and are committed to bringing consistent success back to Stamford Bridge.

Disaffected fans will stage a protest march ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, organised by NotAProjectCFC and incorporating supporter representatives of BlueCo sister club Strasbourg in an attempt to mobilise opposition to the consortium led by Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly.

In the final stretch of the fourth season since they acquired the club from Roman Abramovich for £2.3billion in June 2022, Chelsea are sliding down the Premier League table under head coach Liam Rosenior and face the prospect of missing out on Champions League qualification with a youthful squad assembled at historically vast expense.

Speaking at CAA’s World Congress of Sports conference in Los Angeles on Thursday, Clearlake co-founder Eghbali admitted that BlueCo are still looking to improve their ownership strategy, but reiterated that they care about maintaining Chelsea’s modern standards of consistently competing for the biggest trophies.

“For the fans, we care,” he said. “We want the club to be successful. We’re focused on delivering that on-pitch performance. I think six months ago everyone was super-happy. Results have been mixed, disappointing more recently. There’s a full reflection on what we can do better, what we can improve on.

“There is a plan. We reflect on the plan. We try to improve the plan and tweak the plan if it’s not working. The message is we’re committed.

“Can this be successful without winning? The answer is no. We’ve got to win. And it doesn’t mean you’re going to win every game, it doesn’t mean you don’t make mistakes, that you don’t have downturns, but ultimately the objective, and especially the objective that a club like Chelsea is you’ve got to win, you’ve got to win trophies, and you’ve got to win consistently again.

“We were fortunate enough to do so last year. We’ve had a bit of an up and down year this year, but the objective hasn’t changed.”

A huge reason for the downturn in Chelsea’s season was the abrupt departure of head coach Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day. “Our policy has been no in-season changes,” Eghbali added.

“You certainly review and hold not only the manager, but the management team, the sporting team, accountable, but typically in the summers, not in season.

“It’s not a change we wanted to make. It’s a change that had a bit of a negative impact in the season, when you’re changing systems and personnel, and it’s one we’ve got to fight our way out of.

“We still have six matches in the Premier League, and an FA Cup semi final coming up. So hopefully the story of this season hasn’t been written yet, and you’ve got a lot to fight for. In my perspective, when you get punched in the face, you’ve got to fight back, you’ve got to stand up and fight. And it’s going to hopefully show a lot about the character of this squad.

“I think the perspective is stability, and frankly, getting that stability on the manager side is one of the things we haven’t done right yet, and it’s something we’re striving to improve on.”

Chelsea replaced Enzo Maresca with Liam Rosenior in JanuaryAdrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images

Maresca’s replacement Rosenior has won just one of his last six matches across all competitions, but Eghbali confirmed the former Strasbourg boss retains the support of the board and sporting leadership.

“On Liam, we had the opportunity to work with him daily for 18 plus months, so we knew what we were getting,” Eghbali said. “We think he has every attribute to be successful here. He got off to a great start. We’ve had a tough past five, six matches, but I think we’re behind Liam. Of course, it’s a results business, but we think he can be successful long term.”

Chelsea’s recent struggles have also drawn more criticism to their heavily youth-oriented recruitment. Eghbali signalled that the club are ready to target players equipped to make an immediate impact in this summer’s transfer market.

“The view was to recruit and build elite players that can, frankly, be together and have that stability in the squad,” Eghbali said. “We’re still in the 40th, 50th minute of that process. But the view is to keep, sign and retain and compensate and extend some of the world’s best players, and ultimately the view was you need, eight, 10, 12, 15 elite players to win and win sustainably, year after year.

“I think we’ve done a few things right, a lot of things right. We’ve got to be better on a few things, to add more ready-made players at this part of the project, to take (it ) to the next level, to be consistent over time.

“We recognise we need balance. We have world champions, we have Champions League winners, we have elite, elite young players. Experience has developed now. The team has been together for two or three years. The objective is to keep your best players, and we’ve done that, and there’s no intention to rebuild every three or four years. You tweak a model, you improve, you learn from mistakes.

“Our goal is to have elite, elite players on the pitch, elite characters off the pitch that our fans can bond with, that will be at the club, that will be club legends for the next 10 or 15 years and beyond. I think, generally, we’ve been fortunate, not in getting everything right, but we do have a core (of) good players, global players. Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Levi Colwill, Estevao Willian, Reece James.

“The view is now that we’re here with a great core base, to add some of that experience, to take the team to the next level and have consistency. That fact is not lost on us, and we’re at a point where we can take that next step, hopefully in the next year and beyond.”

Rosenior: ‘We have to take advantage of this moment’

 Liam Rosenior believes Saturday’s game against Manchester United provides the Blues with an ideal opportunity to make up ground on one of the other teams vying for Champions League qualification.

Chelsea have six league fixtures remaining, starting with the visit of the Reds, who sit three places and seven points above us in the table.

A victory at the Bridge would narrow that gap and provide Rosenior’s side with some much-needed momentum heading into the final few weeks of the season. Our head coach is confident his squad are primed to return to winning ways.

‘We have to take advantage of this moment,’ said Rosenior at his press conference at Cobham on Thursday.

‘We’re running out of time, so we need to show that initiative on Saturday evening. We need to play on the front foot and we need to make up those points, which is definitely still possible.

‘We've had a lot of really strong conversations as a group, and we've had some very, very good training sessions. In this kind of moment, you find out about yourself, you find out about your group, and you actually just have to stay focused on the process, which is the here and now.’

Despite recent results, Rosenior has not lost sight of what his players are capable of. That, coupled with the unity in the group and the preparations he has observed, gives him further hope we can secure three points on Saturday.

He said: ‘You focus on what you can control, which is our performance, which is analysing ourselves, analysing the opposition, working making sure your process is right, and making sure the attitude and the energy and the application to the game is right.

'The team are together. We all know that we want to be successful together. That is not in question. What hasn't changed is we have got some very, very good players who can make the difference. I expect a good performance on Saturday.’

Training gallery: Building towards the weekend

 The hard work continued at Cobham on Thursday as the Blues stepped up preparations to face Manchester United.

Liam Rosenior and his Chelsea squad have been taking advantage of a free midweek in which to prepare for our next Premier League fixture.

With that big game in the race for Champions League qualification on Saturday top of the agenda for this week, the Blues have been hard at work at Cobham as we edge ever closer to the Red Devils' visit to Stamford Bridge.

Here is our pick of the images from Thursday's training session...

Jan Paul van Hecke not interested in renewing contract at Brighton amid Chelsea interest

 It was recently reported that Brighton could let Van Hecke go for £50m, with the 25-year-old leaving them with no choice but to consider a sale.

Van Hecke’s contract expires in 2027, and he has so far turned down every offer of a contract extension that the Seagulls have offered him, according to journalist Sebastien Vidal.

Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are all in the mix for his signature, claims Vidal.

However, Spurs will have absolutely zero chance of landing him if they go on to get relegated, which looks like a strong possibility right now.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side are currently in the relegation zone and have some hard fixtures remaining, including a trip to Stamford Bridge to face their fierce London rivals Chelsea.

Former Chelsea midfielder Jorginho has cast doubt on the clarity of the club’s long-term vision

 His legacy is remembered by the 2021 Champions League triumph, a season so dominant it earned him the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award and a third-place finish in the Ballon d’Or.

A presence in midfield, Jorginho’s ability to dictate tempo and hop-skip penalty technique became Stamford Bridge staples. Beyond the Champions League, he secured the Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup, making 213 appearances and scoring 29 goals.

Chelsea changed ownership in May 2022, followed by his departure to Arsenal in January 2023, which marked the end of a golden era, leaving a void of leadership and composure that the club is still working to replicate.

In an interview with The Times, Jorginho has slammed the Chelsea owners for their current project, putting players on big contracts at a young age.

“It’s quite clear the whole project changed. You can see from the contracts that the players they are bringing in, and they are all players with so much talent.

“But… I think you have two [possible] ways here. ‘I want to get these players [at a] young [age], I want to make them grow together, I want to make them win.

“And then, I’m going to sell them.’ Or ‘I want to take young players, grow them, make them good, and sell them.’ So what’s the actual project? We can’t guess… I just think time will be the answer.”