The Premier League returns on Saturday with Chelsea travelling to The City Ground to face Nottingham Forest.
The Blues have endured an inconsistent start to the new season but defeated Premier League champions Liverpool 2-1 in their last match before the international break, and head coach Enzo Maresca will hope to see his side build on that result when they face Forest.
Maresca faces a number of selection issues for his side’s trip to Nottingham, with a number of defenders set to miss the game.
Cole Palmer could return to feature for the Blues, while the likes of Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella are likely to once again start.
Off the pitch, TEAMtalk claims that the West London side are set to reward midfielder Caicedo with a new deal in an effort to fend off interest from Real Madrid.
Caicedo, 23, joined Chelsea from Brighton and Hove Albion in 2023 for a fee in excess of £100 million.
Caicedo has arguably been Chelsea’s most impressive player so far this season (Photo: Associated Press/Alamy)
After a sluggish start to his Stamford Bridge career, the Ecuador international has been in fine form over the past 12 months and scored a stunning goal in Chelsea’s win over Liverpool last time out.
His stellar performances haven’t gone unnoticed, though, and La Liga giants Real Madrid are said to be monitoring the midfielder’s situation.
Caicedo’s current contract, signed when he joined the club in 2023, runs until 2031 but also includes an option 12-month extension clause.
Despite this, the report claims that the Blues are keen to enter into discussions about a new deal with the player, which would potentially add another year or two to his contract.
The Ecuadorian, who has played more than 100 times for Chelsea across all competitions, is said to currently earn around £150,000-per-week but could be in line for a pay rise if a new deal can be agreed.