Alonso explains the MacPhee hire
Xabi Alonso wants set pieces to stop being a weakness. Chelsea hired Austin MacPhee from Aston Villa as set-piece coach, and Alonso addressed it directly (9). "Best possible specialists", that is his framing for the staff additions aimed at closing the gap at the top (9).
Your team finished 10th last season. Alonso brings in a specialist because the small margins are where Chelsea have bled points, and the new season starts Monday at Fulham.
Napoli ask about Jackson
Nicolas Jackson is back on Napoli's radar. The Serie A club have asked for information as Chelsea race to sell the striker before the window closes (3). Badiashile is already on his way there, and now Jackson could follow.
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Deivid Washington to Strasbourg
Another loan to the BlueCo network looks likely. Chelsea are working on a Deivid Washington exit, with Strasbourg on the table as his destination (11).
Ownership reshuffle on the cards
Todd Boehly and Mark Walter are open to selling their stakes to majority owners Clearlake Capital (8). Walter controls 12.7% through BlueCo and faces investigations into allegedly fraudulent loans. Boehly joining him in talks with Clearlake would concentrate power further.
Zubimendi available
Arsenal are willing to sell Martin Zubimendi, and Chelsea are among the interested clubs along with Real Madrid (5). Midfield depth behind Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia remains a live question this window.
Boca's Aranda: €17m could unlock him
Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City are all chasing Tomás Aranda (10). The Boca Juniors youngster has a release clause near €17m, and that figure could settle it.
The academy rebrand is happening
The U21 and U19 names are gone. Chelsea are renaming those age groups 'Cobham Next Gen' from the 2026/27 season (12) (13). The fan group response has been loud and hostile, with protests threatened over the rebrand (13).
Fan-reaktioner
Badiashile arriving in Rome for his Napoli medicals has fans watching the exodus closely, and the Jackson-to-Napoli link is being met with a shrug by supporters who remember this same rumour from a year ago. The bigger talking points are the ownership mess and the academy rebrand, and one optimistic thread pushes back by pointing to The Athletic ranking Chelsea third and Alonso's arrival as a sign the scattergun era might be over (Mark Walters and his deals).
