Cole Palmer, injury-jinxed midfielder Romeo Lavia and centre back Wesley Fofana have been left out of the 27-strong group to contest this season’s Uefa Conference League.
Chelsea have taken the dramatic step due to load management as Chelsea season could go on until July 2025
Palmer, 22, featured in both legs of the play-off round against Swiss side FC Servette – coming off the bench in the second half both times.
But he will not play in the league stage which comprises six games up to December before the knockout rounds begin next year.
Palmer has withdrawn from the latest England squad due to ongoing issues – believed to be a relatively minor hamstring problem.
Chelsea played their first game of the season on August 18 but will be competing in next summer’s expanded Club World Cup in America.
It runs from June 15 to July 13 and features 32 teams, including Premier League champions Manchester City.
The Europa Conference League final takes place on May 25 in Poland.
Chelsea are concerned at the number of games which could be heaped upon their rising star who played a key role in England’s run to the final of Euro 2024 in the summer.
Fofana missed the whole of last season with a knee injury, while Lavia has suffered with a series of fitness issues since joining Chelsea last summer for £53 million.
There could still be a chance for Lavia, Palmer and Fofana to play in the Conference League this season though.
That’s because Chelsea are able to add three more players to their squad following the initial league phase of the tournament.
So should the London club advance into the latter stages then Maresca may then call the big name trio up to the squad.
Arsenal have released their training footage from Tuesday Raheem Sterling looks incredibly sharp at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.
Sterling joined the Gunners as a late addition on deadline day having been told he was not in the future plans of Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge.
The English man was thrown straight into Arsenal training as Mikel Arteta’s coaching staff look to get their new signing ready to be involved against Tottenham after the international break.
His dribbling looks good, his finishing is impressive and he seems to already be understanding how Mikel Arteta’s team attack.
Arsenal secured a loan deal for Sterling for the remainder of the 2024-25 season with the England international now looking to get some crucial game time and rebuild his confidence after struggling to become a key figure with the Blues.
Sterling is in need of match fitness having not featured at all since pre-season – and Arsenal are now planning to fast-track his progress at their London Colney training facility while the rest of the squad jet off for international duties, according to the Evening Standard.
The report adds that Sterling is eager to get up to speed with how Arsenal play on the training ground, though it shouldn’t take him too long to become accustomed having worked with Arteta when the pair were at Man City together.
It adds that Sterling is still feeling “sharp” after working with performance coach Ben Rosenblatt but will now intensify his training now his future has been resolved and he has a new chapter to look forward to.
When asked about Sterling’s fitness and progress, Arteta said he was keen for the player to get ready for action “as soon as possible”, with the next match being a huge one against Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby on September 15.
He said: “We’ll have to see and speak to him on what he’s been doing and how he’s feeling about it. We have to try to find quick wins to get him up to speed as quick as possible and him understanding what we are looking for from him and the dynamics of the team. We will use this time to do that and as soon as possible, get him involved.”
Raheem Sterling looking sharp in @Arsenal training ⚡️
Sterling made 22 starts in the Premier League for Chelsea last season under Mauricio Pochettino, scoring eight and assisting four, but wasn’t involved in any of Maresca’s matchday squads this season.
The 29-year-old is set to compete with Bukayo Saka for starts on the right flank and the player called his switch to the Emirates “perfect” after always holding out hope that the move could be finalised before the end of the transfer window.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling. It’s really exciting,” Sterling said. “It is one where we kind of left it late, but it’s one I was hoping for.
“Looking at everything, I’m just, like, ‘this is a perfect fit for me’, and I’m super happy that we got it over the line.”
Sterling is one of the most versatile players in the Premier League. He can play anywhere across the frontline and can be equally effective from all three positions.
That will give Arteta a number of options, and after watching his first-ever training session at Arsenal, Gooners are convinced that he is going to be a star this season.
An argument on the pitch following Spain’s Euro 2024 final win over England caused the split between Alvaro Morata and his model wife, according to a report.
The former Chelsea striker, 31, and Alice Campello, 29, separated in mid-August after seven years of marriage, time during which they had four children together.
They have insisted they still love each other and have sought to dismiss any scurrilous rumours – or ‘bulls***’, the phrase Campello deployed – after Morata was accused of being in explicit photographs with another woman.
Lawyers are said to be working on the divorce papers, with the separation mutually agreed.
Morata recently signed for AC Milan in Italy after two years at Atletico Madrid, and recently revealed that he felt compelled to ‘flee’ his homeland.
“I am tired of people saying that I was unfaithful to Alice because I didn’t even go to the national team party so that this type of rumour wouldn’t arise,” Morata told D Corazon on La 1 via AS of reports of potential reasons for their separation.
“Since then I haven’t spoken to anyone out of respect for her and so that this type of news doesn’t arise.
“I am devastated. I have fled Spain because I cannot bear the pressure and criticism any longer.”
On the show, Morata insisted that he and Campello have a “very good relationship because of our four children” but that their break-up is irreversible.
Confirming their break-up, Morata wrote on Instagram: ‘After some time of reflection, Alice and I have made the decision to part ways. A WONDERFUL and RESPECTFUL reciprocal relationship where we have loved and helped each other a lot.
“They have been wonderful years and the result of them is our four children, who are undoubtedly the best thing we have ever done.”
Their fourth child, Bella, was born last year.
According to Alexis Rivas on Vamos a Ver, the couple married under a community property agreement, meaning earnings during the marriage must be divided evenly between the two.
That’s seemingly not an issue for Morata, however, who is reportedly not wanting to fight for anything extra and is willing to give up half of his earnings to Alice.
It is reported that Morata has been struggling with the separation and doesn’t want any issues in the divorce, not demanding any profits from Alice’s business.
Both parties are said to be keen to avoid court.
Alice, meanwhile, explained how post-natal depression has impacted both parties and their decision-making.
Describing how they had mutually decided to end their marriage, Campello said via Marca: ‘We are two young people, we have both been immature when it comes to managing certain situations, there are many children, moments of instability of being from one country to the other.
“My postpartum depressions have influenced and yours, too, which has not allowed us to manage certain situations between us.”
Former Wolves striker Rafa Mir has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, according to The Sun.
The 27-year-old was held last night and failed to show up for training this morning with LaLiga side Valencia, where he is currently on loan from Sevilla.
Police confirmed a LaLiga footballer had been arrested, but denied Spanish media reports a second man was also in custody at present.
Sources close to the ongoing investigation told Spanish radio station Ser that Mir and another man were arrested over an alleged sex crime against two women aged 21 and 25 during a party at the footballer’s home.
It is claimed local police had initially been called to the house to deal with reports of a possible altercation and put an end to the bash before leaving.
A police statement read: “We can confirm a LaLiga footballer has been arrested over an alleged sexual assault.
“No-one else has been arrested at the moment but that may change later.
“The man who has been detained is currently in police custody.”
A source close to the inquiry said: “Under Spanish law police have 72 hours from the time of arrest to hold him in custody before releasing him or handing him over a judge who has the right to question him further before deciding in principle whether to free him on bail or remand him in custody pending an ongoing investigation.
“The arrest took place yesterday evening.”
His club Valencia released a statement on the matter while sources at the club have been quoted as saying they are going to see how the ongoing investigation against Mir develops before taking a decision about his future.
It read: “In relation to the press reports that have appeared regarding the arrest of Valencia CF player Rafa Mir, the vlub is aware of said arrest and, in the absence of details about it, for the moment it can only state that it will cooperate in everything that justice may require.”
Mir won the Under-21 2019 European Championship with Spain and a silver medal with the Olympic team at the 2020 tournament.
He played for Wolves in the Premier League after signing in January 2018 and but only made four appearances for the club and failed to score.
He had loan spells at Las Palmas and Nottingham Forest and has featured in the Champions League for Valencia.
At Forest, he was again unable to find the target in 13 appearances for the East Midlands outfit.
He had more success at Las Palmas, as he scored seven goals in 30 outings.
Mir left Wolves in August 2021 when he signed a six-year contract with Sevilla.
Chelsea failed to sign Victor Osimhen on Deadline Day but have been given fresh hope of a January move after a request from the striker.
Osimhen was the top target for the Blues in the final days of the summer transfer window, but were ultimately unable to agree terms with the player on a move.
As the transfer deadline for Europe’s top league passed without Osimhen finding a new club, the striker faced months in exile at Napoli after being stripped of a squad place.
Galatasaray came calling and Osimhen quickly agreed to the surprise switch, though on two conditions.
According to Sky Sport Italia, Osimhen now has a lower release clause in his Napoli contract, down from €130million (£109.5m) to €75m (£63.2m). Napoli can also extend the striker’s contract to 2027 should he not be sold next summer.
Osimhen also requested a January break clause in the season-long loan move to Turkey should a big European club come in for him. Turkish outlet A Spor report that the break clause can only be triggered by 10 clubs. Galatasaray will not be able to buy Osimhen during his loan spell, but are paying his full salary.
Turkish reporter Kagan Dursun claims the number of clubs is eight and that Osimhen wrote the names of the desired teams on paper, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich all included.
Football Italia speculate that Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain would also be on the list.
Casemiro’s wife has hit back at the criticism of her husband after Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.
The Brazilian midfielder has another game to forget for Erik ten Hag’s side as his two errors led to both of Luis Diaz’s goals in the first half of United’s Premier League clash at Old Trafford.
Casemiro, who joined United in a £70 million deal from Real Madrid two years ago, was then replaced at half time by 20-year-old midfielder Toby Collyer, who was handed his Premier League debut by Ten Hag.
Mohamed Salah scored Liverpool’s first after the break to complete Liverpool’s victory, leaving United with just three points from their opening three Premier League fixtures.
Ten Hag defended Casemiro after United’s loss to Liverpool and the 32-year-old’s wife, Anna Mariana, has also sent a message to critics by posting a photo of her husband’s trophies.
Amongst the vast array of silverware seen in the photo are the five Champions League trophies which Casemiro won during his time at Real Madrid.
When asked about Casemiro’s reaction to being hauled off at half time against Liverpool, Ten Hag said: ‘You know the game and he knows the game. He will go on and we will go on.
“He’s a great player. We will continue this season to improve the team and the players.
“He improved and has shown so often that he is a great character. He has won everything in his career.
“We all have seen great moments from him and him be decisive in midfield. He will show that again and will bounce back.”
Meanwhile, Gary Neville said during his commentary for Sky Sports that Casemiro’s errors on the ball against Liverpool are not related to age or a perceived lack of fitness.
“Casemiro, for a player of such experience, the amount of times he gives the ball away in bad areas,” Neville said.
Napoli are in talks to loan Victor Osimhen to Galatasaray, according to reports in Italy, but would have to share his wages.
The striker is an outcast in Naples after deadline day negotiations with Al-Ahli and Chelsea failed to find an agreement that suited everyone.
The club reiterated via director Giovanni Manna and coach Antonio Conte that Osimhen will not be reintegrated into the squad, because he was the one who originally requested an exit.
The deadline has now passed in Italy and most European markets, but some transfer sessions remain open, most notably in Turkey.
Sky Sport Italia and the Corriere dello Sport, via Football Italia, report that Napoli are now negotiating to loan Osimhen to Galatasaray, but would likely have to share a large part of his €10m per season salary.
An alternative would be for Galatasaray to cover the wages, but not pay anything for the loan fee.
The Turkish transfer window is open until September 13, so there is plenty of time to reach a full agreement and few alternatives now other than to leave the striker in the stands for six months.
Galatasaray are in need of a new centre-forward after ex-Inter hitman Mauro Icardi sustained a serious injury that will keep him out of action for at least a month.
