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OFFICIAL STANCE: ENZO MARESCA PRIORITIZES SQUAD TRIMMING OVER NEW SIGNINGS THIS JANUARY WINDOW

Chelsea eyes a quiet January window, focusing on selling Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi while scouting elite center-backs for 2026.

Official Stance: Enzo Maresca Prioritizes Squad Trimming Over New Signings This January Window
Who Stays and Who Goes in Chelsea’s Mid-Season Squad Rebuild?

Since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took charge at Chelsea in 2022, they've splashed out almost £1.5 billion on players.

They could still use some better centre-backs and forwards. But the Blues did win their first silverware since Roman Abramovich left during the summer, and things are looking up this season.

Chelsea's current owners would rather shake up the team during the summer transfer window than in January.

That doesn't mean they're totally closed off to signing anyone in January. For example, they talked to Antoine Semenyo's agent but decided not to try and get the Bournemouth forward after all.

Top Priority

Chelsea really needs help at centre-back.

They've got Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, and Josh Acheampong, plus Aaron Anselmino and Mamadou Sarr are doing well on loan.

So they have enough bodies, but the quality, besides the injured Levi Colwill, should be better, considering how much Chelsea has spent.

Sources say Chelsea is likely to have a quiet January and might not sign anyone. But they're interested in adding an experienced centre-back, probably next summer.

What Else do They Need

They also need to strengthen the central midfield at some point. Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo shouldn't have to carry the whole load.

They also need to figure out if Robert Sanchez is the goalie for the future. Mike Penders, who's 20 and shining on loan for Strasbourg (Chelsea's sister club), is seen as the natural replacement.

A decision will probably come in the summer, when they're also expected to sign a forward.

Possible Ins

Chelsea isn't in serious talks with anyone right now for January. They decided not to go after Semenyo, so a quiet window is expected.

But their scouts are always watching players. The club has been linked to Konstantinos Karetsas, a Greek kid who plays for Genk, and Djylian N'Guessan, a 17-year-old winger from Saint-Etienne.

Possible Outs

There will be more players leaving than coming in this window.

Raheem Sterling would rather stay in London, but he is not in the first team plans, and he can leave if they find a move that works.

Axel Disasi is also training separately and can leave for good. Chelsea can't loan any more players to foreign clubs because they've already used all six international loan spots.

Big European clubs are watching how much Acheampong plays, and they might want to take him on loan for six months. But Chelsea might not want to let him go. Dario Essugo is in the same situation.

Academy player Shim Mheuka is ready to play more in the first team. They'll consider letting him go on loan.

WHY WAS COLE PALMER SUBBED? THE REAL REASON BEHIND THE STAMFORD BRIDGE BOOS

Fans booed as Cole Palmer was subbed in Chelsea's draw with Bournemouth. Learn why Maresca was absent and what’s next for the Blues.

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Managing Cole Palmer’s return

After Chelsea's 2-2 tie with Bournemouth, assistant coach Willy Caballero defended the choice to sub off Cole Palmer, even though fans at Stamford Bridge were angry about Enzo Maresca's move.

Fans booed, yelling, You don't know what you're doing! when Palmer—who'd been one of the team's better players—was taken out in the 63rd minute. The home team was trying to score and break their bad Premier League streak at the time.

Chelsea has only won one of their last seven league games. Caballero said afterward that head coach Enzo Maresca, who wasn't there for the post-game interviews due to illness, is still a role model for everyone at the club.

Still, the pressure is on the coach after yet another result slipped away. Chelsea has now lost 13 points at home from winning positions.

The mood got especially sour when Palmer, who just came back from an injury, was taken off in the second half.

Every fan wants the best players on the field, Caballero said. We do, too. But Cole is coming back from a long injury. So we have to figure out the best substitutions to win the game while also keeping our players healthy. We need them for the entire season.

Caballero said about Maresca's absence, "He hasn't been feeling well for the past two days." He had a fever two days ago. He did the last two practices because he wanted to get the team ready. But after the game, he went to the locker room and asked me to fill in because he wasn't feeling well.

He's handling it well and is very professional. He puts in a lot of hours every day, even when he wasn't feeling well the last two days. He loves to train and coach. He's a role model for me and the rest of the staff.

Bournemouth took the lead after six minutes when David Brooks scored on his second try after Robert Sanchez made a save. Then, Palmer scored a penalty to tie the game for Chelsea.

Next, Enzo Fernandez put the home team ahead, but the Blues couldn't hold on to their lead again. Justin Kluivert tied the score before halftime after Chelsea failed to handle a long throw-in from Antoine Semenyo.

There's been a lot of talk that this would be Semenyo's last game for Bournemouth before he moves to Manchester City soon. Before leaving the field, he seemed to say goodbye to the fans who had traveled to see the game.

Still, head coach Andoni Iraola was sure he'd play against Arsenal on Saturday.

It's not his last game here with us, he said. I can't say for sure, but I think he'll play.

He needs to rest. We've played two tough games in three days. We have Arsenal at home, so we're getting ready for another one, a tough game against the leaders. He's going to be important for us.

BREAKING: ENZO MARESCA SKIPS MEDIA AS CHELSEA CRISIS DEEPENS! GET THE HEALTH UPDATE

Enzo Maresca missed the post-match media due to a fever after Chelsea's 2-2 draw. Willy Caballero provides an urgent update on his health.

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Chelsea's winless run continues as Maresca falls ill

Enzo Maresca skipped media interviews after Chelsea's 2-2 tie with Bournemouth because he was sick.

The Blues coach was supposed to chat after his team snagged a point against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

But right before he was about to talk about the game, news dropped that Maresca wasn't feeling good.

So, his assistant, Willy Caballero, stepped in to handle things in west London.

Caballero shared an update on Maresca: He's been under the weather for a couple of days, Caballero said. He had a fever two days ago.

After the game, he went to the locker room and asked me to fill in for him since he wasn't feeling well.

Caballero was asked if he'd be in charge against Manchester City on Sunday, like he was against Villa during Maresca's suspension.

"I'm not sure," he said. I just want Enzo to get better. I think he'll be fine in a day or two.

The draw with Bournemouth means Chelsea has only won one of their last seven Premier League games.

Fans were clearly annoyed during the second half when Cole Palmer was subbed out for Joao Pedro.

Palmer just got back to playing regularly after a groin injury, but some Chelsea fans wondered why he was taken out.

About the boos, Caballero said, "Of course, every fan wants their best players on the field, and so do we."

But Cole is coming off a long injury, so we have to figure out the right subs for the game and also look out for our players since we didn't have him for a while.

Chelsea and Bournemouth had a boring 0-0 draw in their previous match earlier in the month.

But the game at Stamford Bridge was totally different, with Bournemouth taking the lead early on through David Brooks.

Palmer leveled the score with a penalty, and then Enzo Fernandez blasted a shot into the top corner to put Chelsea ahead.

But Chelsea failed to defend a long throw for the second time, allowing Justin Kluivert to score for Bournemouth.

After playing City, Chelsea will face their west London rivals Fulham before an FA Cup game away against Charlton Athletic.

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