Joao Pedro, James and Caicedo miss training
Joao Pedro, Reece James and Moises Caicedo were all absent from Chelsea's open training at Cobham ahead of the trip to Brentford on Friday (2).
Three starters, one session, two days before a London derby. You sit sixth on 7 points from 4 games, and the squad is thin exactly where it hurts.
Caicedo and James are the spine of this team. Lose either for Friday and the whole setup at the Gtech changes.
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Brentford away on Friday
Chelsea go to Brentford on Friday at 21:00 CEST (NEXT MATCH).
Your last four: a 3–2 win at Fulham on August 24, a 4–3 win at home to Brighton on August 30, a 2–1 defeat at Arsenal on September 6, and a 2–2 draw at home to Hull City on September 12.
Two wins, a loss, a draw. Form reads W W L D.
Bontempo offered at €12m
Chelsea have been offered the chance to sign Santos winger Gabriel Bontempo for around €12m, roughly £10.4m (1).
He is 21 and has six goals and four assists in 42 games for Santos this season (1). Bayern Munich were quoted more than double that.
Half the price for a player Bayern wanted.
Chelsea lead race for JJ Gabriel
Chelsea are reportedly leading the race to sign Manchester United youngster JJ Gabriel after he asked to leave (5).
No fee, no timeline.
Nico Guillén on the radar
Chelsea are showing strong interest in Sevilla's 18-year-old midfielder Nico Guillén, according to reports (4).
One for the future, not for Friday.
Wycombe 2–1 Chelsea U21s
Wycombe beat Chelsea U21s 2–1 in the EFL Trophy, a second straight win for Tom Hounsell's side (7).
Kendry Paez set up Harrison Bettoni for a late consolation from a short-corner routine, an outswinging cross tapped in at the far post.
Chelsea Women climb the WSL rankings
Chelsea's women's side bounced back in the WSL power rankings this week (3).
Manchester City stay top, Manchester United slipped.
Fan reactions
Chelsea fans are split on how Xabi Alonso wants this team to play. One thread questions the three-at-the-back setup with no midfield battle, just long balls and direct counterattacks, and asks whether that is the plan (link).
Cole Palmer is the other talking point: he wants a word with EA over his FC 27 rating, and he got banned by Twitch for streaming the game early (link).
