Chelsea

Chelsea are closing in on a €37 million deal to sign Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile, sources have told ESPN.

Chelsea signed [Kalidou Koulibaly](https://www.espn.com.au/football/player/_/id/150312/Kalidou-Koulibaly) and [Wesley Fofana](https://www.espn.com.au/football/player/_/id/270190/Wesley-Fofana) but it remains to be seen whether this is Thiago Silva's final season at Stamford Bridge. [Andreas Christensen](https://www.espn.com.au/football/player/_/id/186430/Andreas-Christensen) and [Antonio Rudiger](https://www.espn.com.au/football/player/_/id/169438/Antonio-Rüdiger) on free transfers last summer. [RB Leipzig](/football/team?id=11420)'s [Josko Gvardiol](https://www.espn.com.au/football/player/_/id/299910/Josko-Gvardiol), who had been the club's top defensive target but the two clubs have so far not been able to agree a fee. [Chelsea](/football/team?id=363) are closing in on a €37 million deal to sign [Monaco](/football/team?id=174) defender [Benoit Badiashile](https://www.espn.com.au/football/player/_/id/282585/Benoit-Badiashile), sources have told ESPN. [France](/football/team?id=478) at senior level, although he missed out on a place in Didier Deschamps' World Cup finals squad in Qatar. [Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)](/espnplus/schedule/_/type/upcoming/categoryId/119cfa41-71d4-39bf-a790-6273a52b0259/channel/ESPN_PLUS)

Chelsea have spent £274m on new players, yet somehow contrived to make their team worse. Is it owner Todd Boehly or manager Graham Potter to blame?

They also are prepared to trigger 21-year-old [Enzo Fernandez](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/285450/Enzo-Fernández)'s £106m release clause at [Benfica](/football/team?id=1929) after the [Argentina](/football/team?id=202) midfielder starred at the World Cup. Potter has been hired to coach the team and leave the player recruitment to others, so he will have to work with what he has and what those above him believe he needs. That left Chelsea without a recognised goal scorer until the last-minute decision to sign 33-year-old [Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/122260/Pierre-Emerick-Aubameyang) for £10m from Barcelona at the end of the summer transfer window. Under Boehly, Chelsea have overpaid for the majority of their signings, and none of them have yet done enough to justify the outlay. Potter will inevitably pay the price if Chelsea don't learn that lesson, but he won't be solely responsible if it doesn't work out for him at Stamford Bridge. [RB Leipzig](/football/team?id=11420) technical director Christopher Vivell to a similar role at Chelsea should bring expertise to the football department, but in the immediate term, Potter is still having to deal with the hand he has been dealt by Boehly: an imbalanced squad which is overloaded with defenders and desperately short of goal scorers. Boehly was also helpless to stop the defenders leaving the club, but the new owner did sanction the loan departure of £97.5m striker [Romelu Lukaku](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/139437/Romelu-Lukaku) to Inter Milan and [Timo Werner](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/191088/Timo-Werner)'s £25m permanent return to RB Leipzig. The old Chelsea of Roman Abramovich, which saw managers hired and fired as often as they won big trophies, had apparently been consigned to the past. And that isn't far from the reality. [Manchester United](/football/team?id=360), will be under no illusions that his fate will always be directly linked to results on the pitch. When Potter arrived from Brighton as the successor to the sacked Thomas Tuchel in September, the Chelsea hierarchy, led by co-owner Boehly, sold him their vision of a new Chelsea. That is some achievement by the club's new owners, a consortium led by Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly.

Chelsea were lucky to leave City Ground with a point as the visitors struggled to deal with the physicality of Nottingham Forest in a 1-1 draw.

[Cesar Azpilicueta](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/97770/César-Azpilicueta), 5 -- Put in a great block to deny [Morgan Gibbs-White](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/243396/Morgan-Gibbs-White) and had a shot of his own from range deflected wide. [Kepa Arrizabalaga](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/169532/Kepa-Arrizabalaga), 7 -- Stood up well to save Johnson's shot after the [Wales](/football/team?id=578) international had broken through. Made a fairly comfortable save to deny [Taiwo Awoniyi](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/194686/Taiwo-Awoniyi), then denied Johnson again moments later. Struggled in the second half as he couldn't keep up with Johnson when he ran behind, then got booked for a foul on [Renan Lodi](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/245858/Renan-Lodi). [Raheem Sterling](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/156366/Raheem-Sterling) opened the scoring in the 16th minute, after a ball contested by [Willy Boly](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/152349/Willy-Boly) and [Kai Havertz](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/231182/Kai-Havertz) came back off the woodwork and fell to the feet of the [England](/football/team?id=448) international to tap in, although the Blues were unable to build on that momentum. Hit a weak shot from a promising position and was outjumped by Boly for the equaliser. Was dispossessed by Boly then gave away a free kick on the edge of his own box as he faded out of the game. Made a great block to deny Gibbs-White. [Serge Aurier](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/143576/Serge-Aurier) equalised shortly after the hour mark, and the visitors were forced to settle for a point, which leaves them eighth in the [Premier League](/football/league/_/name/eng.1) table. His triple change shifted the momentum again, but it wasn't enough to earn a winner. There were periods when it was far too easy for the hosts to break forward and get behind Chelsea's defence, with the second half being especially concerning as Forest eventually got level. Chelsea built up some lovely passages of play from the very beginning, even if they didn't always lead to goal-scoring opportunities.

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku said he is hoping to put his injuries behind him and return to form in a bid to discuss a permanent move from Chelsea.

"He has the respect of all the players, he has won everything. "For me Henry is the next coach of Belgium. "I want to stay here and do things right.

Graham Potter described Chelsea's performance as "not good enough" after a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest – as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink warned the Blues face ...

As it happened, the striker failed to get his head on a cross from Hakim Ziyech. "He's had a lot of injuries and you need to give him time. It would be a mistake for us to worry about what can happen in five months' time. "Our performance level wasn't good enough, I don't think, to take the three points," Potter said. Chelsea need to be in the Champions League. Ex-Blues striker Hasselbaink told Sky Sports: "I think they are too far from the top four.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST are investigating homophobic chanting by fans during Sunday's Premier League game against Chelsea. Chelsea's official LGBTQ+ supporters ...

We have a problem and an issue when our own fans think this type of chant is acceptable and it makes us question how welcome we actually are at our own club. “Along with racist slurs we have reconfirmed that homophobic chants are unacceptable and could be subject to prosecution if there is sufficient evidence after a police investigation. Money from shares contributes directly to keep our paper thriving. The matter will be investigated.” “We continue to work closely with the CPS, as well as the UK Football Policing Unit, in relation to the use of this term.” An FA statement at the time read: “The FA strongly condemns the use of the term ‘rent boy’ and we are determined to drive it out of our game.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Chelsea invested heavily in the summer of 2022 – bringing in the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Wesley Fofana and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – ...

It’s normal and it’s a part of modern-day football that we have to deal with.” WHAT THEY SAID: Potter could do without any distractions at this stage, as Chelsea scratch around for consistency, and has said of the rumours that continue to rage around his squad: “It’s part of the season that we all have to deal with so I won’t complain about it. Potter is said to be in the hunt for another centre-half and forward, as he looks to put his own stamp on a squad inherited from Thomas Tuchel, while the likes of Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and [Jorginho are seeing possible exits mooted](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/jorginho-hoping-napoli-return-chelsea-contract-expires/blt56fe10603542aa49).

Chelsea dropped more points in their quest to climb back up the Premier League standings as Serge Aurier earned Nottingham Forest a 1-1 draw with Graham ...

"We're in control of our destiny and we have to keep building." They nearly broke the deadlock in just the second minute as Mason Mount fired over from a good position. The second half we didn't control it well enough."

World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez is facing disciplinary action at Benfica after missing two training sessions with the club.

Fernandez [has agreed a move to Chelsea](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/chelsea-fernandez-very-inclined-leave-benfica-january-manager-exit-admission/bltc99fb59608057ce1), with the Blues preparing a huge offer for the 21-year-old. The midfielder is yet to return and looks set to be sanctioned by the Portuguese side. Fernandez returned to Argentina to spend New Year's Eve in his homeland after Benfica's defeat to Braga on December 30.

Enzo Fernandez has risked angering Benfica after defying orders not to travel home for New Year, with the star 'increasing unlikely' to remain at the club ...

There are no exceptions to that.' The club have recognised the World Cup winner’s head has been turned by the attraction of moving to London in a lucrative deal. ‘Happy New Year everyone and stay positive from now on.’ Enzo Fernandez may have played his last Benfica game as Chelsea push to sign the star [Chelsea](/sport/teampages/chelsea.html) seek to sign the World Cup winner. - Chelsea have made a 'substantial offer' to sign the 21-year-old World Cup star

Chelsea lost more ground in the race for the top four as they dropped points in a entertaining draw with Nottingham Forest to start 2023.

Forest showed excellent grit and determination to stay in the game, [ and drew level an hour in courtesy of a poacher's finish from Serge Aurier](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/aurier-volleys-nottingham-forest-level-against-chelsea/blt3bf8e976ce0367c1). The attacker caused Kalidou Koulibaly all sorts of problems today, however, providing a constant threat to the right hand side of Chelsea's defence. [Willy Boly scorpion kicked the ball onto his own bar for Raheem Sterling to tap in](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/watch-sterling-tap-in-gives-chelsea-lead-nottingham-forest/blt8a8fddb030aed9c0).

Chelsea are understood to have made a £112million offer to Benfica for Enzo Fernandez. Portuguese sources say the fee would be paid in three instalments of ...

Enzo Fernandez may leave Portuguese side Benfica as Chelsea increase their offer to £112m [Chelsea](/sport/teampages/chelsea.html) are understood to have made a £112million offer to Benfica for Enzo Fernandez. - Chelsea have made a £112m offer to sign Enzo Fernandez from Benfica

Chelsea are closing in on World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez after talks with Benfica progressed swiftly over a €127m deal for the midfielder.

[already agreed to move to Chelsea](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/chelsea-fernandez-very-inclined-leave-benfica-january-manager-exit-admission/bltc99fb59608057ce1), and it's now just left for the two clubs to complete the deal. The Blues are set to pay for Fernandez in three instalments of around €40m and only "final details" now need to be agreed between the two sides. Benfica aim to replace Fernandez by bringing in Racing Club's Carlos Alcaraz.