Pressure mounts on Chelsea boss Graham Potter

After a promising start to his tenure at Stamford Bridge, Graham Potter has only been able to muster 6 of 24 available points in the last eight games in the Premier League. The string of results included one solitary win versus newly promoted and struggling Bournemouth and three draws. 

Despite Chelsea’s on-field antics not being appreciably good, new manager Todd Boehly has been gobbling up talent in the transfer market. The American has invested more than 500 million in the aftermath of his acquisition from the infamous Roman Abramovich. 

In rather disappointing sights for those with Chelsea tickets, the Blues are looking down at the bottom half of the table, sitting at 10th behind in form Brentford and Brighton and Hove Albion. With just 25 points of the available 51 in their tally, Chelsea have dropped more points than they have acquired.

With a top 4 slot in the Premier League hardly assured, Chelsea manager Graham Potter will push as hard as he can to make their current UCL campaign count, an endeavour if successful, will ensure Potter an extended stay at the helm of Stamford Bridge. 

The Blues face Dortmund in their round of 16 UEFA Champions League fixtures in February and March. The struggling Dortmund side have as many points as Chelsea in 3 lesser games. BVB and Chelsea will look to stabilise and gain momentum as Champions League action draws closer. Fans with Chelsea tickets will be eagerly anticipating the high-profile encounter. 

Injury news

Graham Potter kept England international Raheem Sterling in the starting lineup, but he was on the ground and looking toward the bench less than two minutes into the game vs City.

During a collision with Man City defender John Stones, Sterling grasped at his hamstring. He then hobbled off and briefly tested the injury on the sidelines.

However, after just five minutes of the encounter at Stamford Bridge, the former Manchester City attacker declared he could no longer play and was replaced by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Pulisic, who was also on the receiving end of a Stones challenge, this time inside the area, quickly joined Sterling in the treatment room.

As with Sterling, Pulisic took some time off the pitch to consider whether or not he felt secure enough to continue but was finally taken off by Potter and replaced with Carney Chukwuemeka, a 19-year-old.

After Mason Mount was forced to leave the game due to an injury, he sustained in practice; the problems are another addition to Potter’s injury list. In concerning news for those with Chelsea tickets, the midfielder developed an issue during training.

Boss Potter declined to comment when asked about Mount before the game, mentioning Chelsea’s lengthy injury list.

He stated: “In yesterday’s exercise, he received a kick. So, as they say, it never rains, but it pours.”

 A definitive date on when the London club will have the services of Reece James, Ben Chilwell and Ngolo Kante has yet to be stated. 

Transfer Watch             

Chelsea has identified seven midfielders as potential transfer targets, according to The Athletic.

Enzo Fernandez, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, and Edson Alvarez are the players whose names are listed in this collection.

Due to the impending departures of Jorginho and Kante, the Blues are looking to strengthen their midfield.

Graham Potter would try to recruit several of them, especially given the ongoing stalemate over Mount’s contract predicament.

Benoit Badiashile’s €38 million, seven-and-a-half-year transfer from Monaco to Chelsea has been finalised.

Badiashile had established himself as Monaco’s indisputable starter and received his first France cap in September 2022.

“We are thrilled to have Benoit join Chelsea. He’s a great young player who, despite his youth, has a tonne of experience and has swiftly built a solid reputation for himself. He will undoubtedly play a significant role in our squad in the coming years, “Todd Boehly, the chairman of Chelsea, and Behdad Egbali, the co-controlling owner, remarked.

When asked about Chelsea’s unsuccessful bid for Enzo Fernández during the press conference, Benfica coach Roger Schmidt reacted angrily.

“Enzo won’t be for sale, please. There is a team that has enticed him and wants him, but they are aware that the only way is a €120 million clause, “said Schmidt.

“They treat the player disrespectfully and drive them insane. They presented themselves as wanting to pay the clause before seeking to negotiate.”

Journalist Jacob Steinberg has claimed that Chelsea is still looking to hijack Mykhaylo Mudryk’s move to Arsenal and are stepping up their attempts.

Arch-rivals Chelsea have emerged as a last-minute rival for the Ukrainian, with numerous sources indicating that Arsenal could win the attempt to sign him.

The Blues are in transfer negotiations with Shakhtar Donetsk and are looking to further up their attempts to hijack the deal.

Fabrice Hawkins, a transfer specialist, claims that Chelsea is interested in acquiring Leeds United’s Illan Meslier.

Several European teams, including the Blues, have expressed interest in the French shot-stopper.

The Stamford Bridge goalkeepers have yet to make much of an impact this summer, so the Blues might hunt for a more secure choice.

Youssoufa Moukoko, a youngster for Borussia Dortmund, is not a player in which Chelsea are particularly interested, according to journalist Florian Plettenberg.

Moukoko is reportedly closer to extending his contract with Borussia Dortmund through the end of the current calendar year, contrary to earlier claims that Chelsea planned to buy him in January for a bargain price.

A number of Premier League clubs are reportedly interested in signing Joao Felix on a loan move, and he is expected to leave Atletico Madrid in January.

According to The Athletic, Atletico Madrid has set an asking price of €21 million (£18.6 million; $22.5 million) for the player, which includes a €15 million loan fee and a €6 million gross salary. Arsenal and Manchester United are both interested in signing the player and Chelsea.

When Jorginho’s deal with the Blues expires at the conclusion of the season, according to Fichajes, Napoli intends to bring him back to his home city.

The article also says that Napoli might need help meeting his pay demands and might decide to withdraw from the transfer later.

Chelsea is considering its alternatives in the middle of the field in light of the Kante and Jorginho contracts. Chelsea is reportedly interested in signing Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram, according to reports in the Daily Mail.

Newcastle will compete with the London Blues for the services of the French midfielder.

Newcastle United, who is now third in the Premier League standings, is trying to strengthen their team and keep up their upward trajectory. In an effort to finish in the top four in their first season after the takeover, the Magpies will reportedly want to sign both James Maddison and Christian Pulisic next month.

Chelsea is rumoured to be interested in Moises Caicedo, a midfielder for Brighton, according to CBS Sports’ Ben Jacobs. The player is reportedly a massive favourite of Blues manager Graham Potter, who wants to sign him to Stamford Bridge.

Any Caicedo trade will depend on how the club’s pursuit of Enzo Fernandez plays out. Since making the first team under Potter, Caicedo has been connected to moves away from Brighton. According to reports, Brighton wants more than £70 million for the midfielder.

With an ever-growing fan base for the London Club, Chelsea tickets are in high demand. Tickets sell out high and fast on official retail sites because of the footballing spectacle these players provide.

In that case, authorised retailers might not be your best option. Exploring trusted reseller sites will help you reliably source Chelsea tickets.