Ex-Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole (Picture: Getty)

Joe Cole has named the best signing of the season and hailed Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo as the ‘most improved player in the Premier League’.

Caicedo has been one of Chelse…

Ex-Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole (Picture: Getty)

Joe Cole has named the best signing of the season and hailed Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo as the ‘most improved player in the Premier League’.

Caicedo has been one of Chelse…

Moises Caicedo wore a mask in Chelsea’s 1-0 win against Manchester United last Friday (Shutterstock)

Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo is the latest Premier League player to wear a mask after suffering a facial injury.

The Ecuador i…

Moises Caicedo wore a mask in Chelsea’s 1-0 win against Manchester United last Friday (Shutterstock)

Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo is the latest Premier League player to wear a mask after suffering a facial injury.

The Ecuador i…

Chelsea consider two players ‘untouchable’ ahead of the summer transfer window, according to reports.

Despite two hugely important upcoming games, the Blues are already making plans for the summer transfer window.

Enzo Maresca, who will keep him job regardless of Chelsea’s Champions League fate and the outcome of the Europa Conference League final, is keen to strengthen his squad at Stamford Bridge.

A new striker is expected to arrive through the doors at Chelsea following Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku’s struggles this season.

The Blues have also been urged to sign a new centre-back while Maresca could look to sign a new goalkeeper to replace error-prone Robert Sanchez.

A number of departures will also be sanctioned, with the aforementioned Nkunku one of several players linked with summer moves away from west London.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Mykhailo Mudryk, Trevoh Chalobah and loanees Ben Chilwell, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Armando Broja, Carney Chukwuemeka and Raheem Sterling could all be moved on.

Chelsea in fact appear open to offers for most of the squad, though Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo are deemed ‘untouchable’, according to BBC Sport.

Caicedo has been linked with a big-money move for Saudi Arabia but Chelsea have no plans to sell the midfielder, who cost the club over £100m in 2023.

Even Palmer, who is contracted to Chelsea until 2033, was tentatively linked with a move earlier in the season during a wobble which saw the Blues fall out of title contention.

Who have Chelsea signed?

Chelsea have already secured deals for a number of young players, including Brazilian starlet Estevao Willian, Kendry Paez and Dario Essugo.

Willian will arrive at Stamford Bridge following the Club World Cup, which both Chelsea and his current club Palmeiras will feature in.

Andrey Santos will also be recalled from his impressive loan spell with Strasbourg, with Arsenal and PSG reportedly expressing interest in signing him from Chelsea this summer.

Chelsea set for huge finale to 2024-25 season

Chelsea have a huge amount to play for in their final two games of the season as they target Champions League qualification and Europa Conference League glory.

Maresca’s side travel to Nottingham Forest on the final day of the Premier League season sitting fourth, with the top-five all qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Three days later Chelsea travel to Poland to face La Liga side Real Betis in the Europa Conference League final.

Following Chelsea’s important 1-0 win over Manchester United on Friday night, club captain Reece James said: ‘I think that is where the club belongs – in the Champions League and competing in the best competitions.

‘People like to write us off and call us inexperienced, but we played against a very experienced Manchester United team here. We were there and we won the game. We got what we needed to.’

Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella added: ‘It is very important [to get Champions League football].

‘Step by step, we are creating something special and now we only have two games left to achieve that something special.

‘The most important thing is it depends on us, so we have to play the game on Sunday and then we are thinking about the [Conference League] final.

‘This win is a moment to enjoy because we have worked all season for these moments, so now we have ambitions to achieve these things.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

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Chelsea consider two players ‘untouchable’ ahead of the summer transfer window, according to reports.

Despite two hugely important upcoming games, the Blues are already making plans for the summer transfer window.

Enzo Maresca, who will keep him job regardless of Chelsea’s Champions League fate and the outcome of the Europa Conference League final, is keen to strengthen his squad at Stamford Bridge.

A new striker is expected to arrive through the doors at Chelsea following Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku’s struggles this season.

The Blues have also been urged to sign a new centre-back while Maresca could look to sign a new goalkeeper to replace error-prone Robert Sanchez.

A number of departures will also be sanctioned, with the aforementioned Nkunku one of several players linked with summer moves away from west London.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Mykhailo Mudryk, Trevoh Chalobah and loanees Ben Chilwell, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Armando Broja, Carney Chukwuemeka and Raheem Sterling could all be moved on.

Chelsea in fact appear open to offers for most of the squad, though Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo are deemed ‘untouchable’, according to BBC Sport.

Caicedo has been linked with a big-money move for Saudi Arabia but Chelsea have no plans to sell the midfielder, who cost the club over £100m in 2023.

Even Palmer, who is contracted to Chelsea until 2033, was tentatively linked with a move earlier in the season during a wobble which saw the Blues fall out of title contention.

Who have Chelsea signed?

Chelsea have already secured deals for a number of young players, including Brazilian starlet Estevao Willian, Kendry Paez and Dario Essugo.

Willian will arrive at Stamford Bridge following the Club World Cup, which both Chelsea and his current club Palmeiras will feature in.

Andrey Santos will also be recalled from his impressive loan spell with Strasbourg, with Arsenal and PSG reportedly expressing interest in signing him from Chelsea this summer.

Chelsea set for huge finale to 2024-25 season

Chelsea have a huge amount to play for in their final two games of the season as they target Champions League qualification and Europa Conference League glory.

Maresca’s side travel to Nottingham Forest on the final day of the Premier League season sitting fourth, with the top-five all qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Three days later Chelsea travel to Poland to face La Liga side Real Betis in the Europa Conference League final.

Following Chelsea’s important 1-0 win over Manchester United on Friday night, club captain Reece James said: ‘I think that is where the club belongs – in the Champions League and competing in the best competitions.

‘People like to write us off and call us inexperienced, but we played against a very experienced Manchester United team here. We were there and we won the game. We got what we needed to.’

Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella added: ‘It is very important [to get Champions League football].

‘Step by step, we are creating something special and now we only have two games left to achieve that something special.

‘The most important thing is it depends on us, so we have to play the game on Sunday and then we are thinking about the [Conference League] final.

‘This win is a moment to enjoy because we have worked all season for these moments, so now we have ambitions to achieve these things.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Ian Wright has accused Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca of making an ‘unacceptable’ decision at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues conclude the 2024-25 campaign with three crucial games as they look to qualify for the Champions League and win the Europa Conference League.

Chelsea, currently sitting fifth in the final Champions League spot, face Manchester United on Friday night before a Premier League finale against top-five rivals Nottingham Forest.

Maresca then takes his side to Poland on May 28 for Chelsea’s Europa Conference League final against Spanish side Real Betis.

Chelsea suffered a disappointing and potentially damaging defeat to Newcastle United last weekend and Wright said playing Moises Caicedo at right-back against the Magpies was ‘crazy’.

It was not the first time central midfielder Caicedo has slotted in at right-back, with the £100m signing asked to step into midfield when Chelsea are on the ball.

Using inverted, flexible full-backs is not uncommon in the Premier League but Wright has described Chelsea’s tactic as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘very worrying’.

England right-back Reece James was only named on Chelsea’s bench at St James’ Park before being introduced at half time.

‘It is crazy when you look at who Enzo Maresca has got on the bench and he’s still doing that [playing Caicedo at right-back],’ Wright said on The Kelly & Wrighty Show.

‘Teams are going to attack him all the time. Whatever he’s saying about getting into midfield and controlling it, you’ve got to get control of the game.

‘It all comes down to the manager. Unless something has happened with Reece James and Malo Gusto, I don’t know what’s happened.

‘That, for me, is unacceptable… He’s making decisions that are very worrying, especially in that particular incident.’

The finger of blame was pointed at Caicedo for Newcastle’s 2nd-minute opener against Chelsea.

‘He definitely switched off. Newcastle started so quickly, perfect start for them,’ former England striker Peter Crouch told TNT Sports.

‘Initially he does really well, Caicedo stays with Anthony Gordon and then they just get themselves in a right mess here.

‘Sandro Tonali’s pressing is unbelievable, his physicality, he’s always on the front foot. And then Caicedo just switches off.’

Ex-Chelsea winger Pat Nevin added on BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘Last week I was surprised that Caicedo didn’t get sent off with the challenges he was putting in.

‘So what do Newcastle do? First minute they put the ball in behind him to Anthony Gordon and that eventually led to the goal.

‘When he is back there he just seems rash and out of position. He is Chelsea’s player of the year this season but he is out of position and Anthony Gordon is already giving him a tough time.’

James struggled with injury problems earlier in the season but has featured heavily in the second-half of the campaign and was believed to be fit to start against Newcastle.

Discussing James’ intriguing situation at Stamford Bridge, ex-Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood said: ‘Reece James is Maresca’s club captain. Something has obviously happened.

‘I know he’s had his injury problems, but he’s ready now, he’s been training for months, he’s had opportunities to play.

‘I can’t understand some of the decisions Maresca has made regarding the Conference League. Resting players in the Premier League to play weakened opposition, with all due respect.

‘He’s been resting some players in the Premier League. If he doesn’t finish in the Champions League it’s a failure, a total failure.’

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‘He definitely switched off.’

‘From the start of the season, he has been our best player.’

Chelsea have made a number of questionable signings in recent years but Theo Walcott wishes one had ended up at Arsenal.

The Blues have spent over £1bn on new signings over the past three years but several have proved to be expensive flops.

£89m signing Mykhailo Mudryk, for example, has scored just five league goals for the club, while £52m recruit Christopher Nkunku looks set to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

Chelsea fans were wondering if the club had made another transfer mistake during Moises Caicedo’s difficult first season at the club.

The Blues beat Liverpool to a £100m deal for Caicedo but the Ecuador international initially struggled to replicate the form he had shown at Brighton.

Caicedo has produced some of his best form this season, however, emerging as one of Chelsea’s most consistent players during a mixed campaign.

Walcott is a ‘huge fan’ of Caicedo and says his only issue with the Chelsea midfielder is that he plays in the ‘wrong shirt’.

‘For me, Claude Makelele is one of the best midfield players in that position that’s ever lived,’ the Arsenal hero told the Premier League’s YouTube channel.

‘A bit before [N’Golo] Kante. Kante took Makelele’s throne to some extent. But he [Moises Caicedo] is as close as you’re going to get to the modern era of that position. He can fill the right-back position as well. 

‘You talk about the price tag, but it doesn’t faze him. It can take a little time to adapt to a new club but he’s an absolute rock. 

‘Sadly for me, he’s in the wrong shirt! I’m a huge fan of his because he unlocks the door for people like Cole Palmer to do their thing. 

‘He’s an extra man in that midfield, maybe two or three, that’s how good he is.’ 

Last week, Liverpool title winner Alexis Mac Allister named Caicedo as his ‘toughest opponent’ in the Premier League.

After putting Caicedo narrowly above Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Manchester City’s Rodri, Mac Allister said: ‘I’ve shared a dressing room with Moi, fantastic player, really good physically.

‘The main thing I’m going to say here is physically the most hardest part against these players, I would put Caicedo first.

‘He is very complete, on and off the ball he’s really, really good. Declan second, he’s a top player and Rodri third.

‘This doesn’t mean that I don’t rate Rodri, it’s the complete opposite, I think he earned the Ballon d’Or for example.

‘He’s a fantastic player but he’s not the hardest opponent because he’s never on the ball, he always plays one or two touches, so you cannot even get near him.

‘If you ask me who is the better player, I would say Rodri but the toughest player to play against is Moi Caicedo.’

Asked if he knew his former Brighton teammate would make an impact in the Premier League, Mac Allister replied: ‘Yeah, I was really surprised when he went on loan to Belgium.

‘I was really surprised because I was watching him in training and I felt like he was ready to play, but at that time they thought it was a good idea to send him on loan, he wanted that because he wanted to play as well.

‘But I always thought that he was going to be amazing.’

Caicedo will hope to finish the season by firing Chelsea to Europa Conference League glory and helping the Blues qualify for the Champions League.

Enzo Maresca’s side boosted their top-five hopes with a 1-0 win over Everton on Saturday and are now preparing for a Europa Conference League semi-final against Swedish minnows Djurgardens.

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Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea enjoyed a 1-0 win over Everton on Saturday (Picture: Getty)

Emmanuel Petit has warned Chelsea there are 15 players they should sell before even considering letting Moises Caicedo leave this summer.

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Alexis Mac Allister says Moises Caicedo is a ‘very complete’ midfielder (Fantasista/Getty)

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has named Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo as his toughest Premier League opponent.

Mac Allister…

The west London derby is back!

The west London derby is back!

Moises Caicedo is wanted by Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr (Shutterstock)

Chelsea have no intention of selling Moises Caicedo this summer following interest from Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

The Ecuador international turned down a move…