Chelsea news: Maresca replacement 'lined up' as Blues 'close in' on goal machine wanted by rivals

View 4 Images

Chelsea are a hard team to judge this season. One moment they're outplaying giants like Liverpool and PSG , and the next, they're struggling to fend off lower-league sides like Lincoln City .

Wednesday's League Cup clash with Wolves encapsulated the Blues' rollercoaster form. Chelsea raced into a 3-0 lead, with youngsters Estevao, Andrey Santos and Jamie Gittens dazzling, only to almost undo their advantage through defensive lapses and disciplinary errors.

Wolves clawed two goals back in the second half, before Liam Delap - making his long-awaited return from injury - was sent off for two quick bookable offences, picking up - rather incredibly - Chelsea's sixth red card of the season.

A stunning goal from Gittens on the stroke of injury time settled the tie, but Wolves made the final moments tense by scoring immediately after the restart. The match highlighted Chelsea's flashes of brilliance, but also the inconsistency that has plagued them for far too long.

Injury problems haven't helped, but manager Enzo Maresca is nonetheless under a little bit of pressure to get the team firing on all cylinders as we round the corner to the meaty part of the season. With that in mind, here's the latest news from around Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are reportedly eyeing Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as a potential successor to Maresca should they decide to make a change in the dugout.

Faith in Maresca remains - for now - but tension is said to be mounting behind the scenes, with several senior figures at the club 'not aligned' with the Italian's methods.

No one at Stamford Bridge expects Chelsea, who are currently ninth in the table, to challenge for the Premier League title this season, but failing to secure Champions League qualification could prove decisive. While the hierarchy recognise the impact of injuries and a pre-season disrupted by the Club World Cup, patience may wear thin if the team's erratic form continues into the new year.

View 4 Images

According to Caught Offside , Chelsea are already 'laying the groundwork' for a possible managerial change and are prepared to act if results don't improve - and Iraola, who has also attracted interest from Manchester United , is believed to be at the top of their shortlist.

The Spaniard has earned widespread praise for his work at Bournemouth, guiding the Cherries to 12th and 9th-place finishes in his two full seasons at the helm. This term, they sit second in the table - just four points behind leaders Arsenal - having lost only once in their opening nine games.

Chelsea are reportedly working on a deal to sign Strasbourg striker Joaquin Panichelli, with the club's ownership link giving them a potential advantage in the race for his signature. The 23-year-old Argentine has also attracted interest from Barcelona and AC Milan following his explosive start to the season.

Panichelli only joined Strasbourg in July but has wasted no time making an impact. He's netted nine goals in his first 10 Ligue 1 appearances, including a superb brace against PSG last month that showcased his clinical finishing and all-round play.

View 4 Images

Chelsea view the forward as both a strategic acquisition and a potential investment opportunity. While the Blues and Strasbourg are both owned by BlueCo - the consortium led by Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali - any transfer between the two clubs must still be independently assessed to ensure it represents 'fair market value.' In other words, Chelsea can't simply sign Panichelli at a discounted rate.

However, timing could play to their advantage. Earlier this year, the Blues completed a similar move for defender Mamadou Sarr , paying £12million before loaning him back to Strasbourg. That deal was designed to pre-empt a rise in Sarr's market value and Chelsea could employ the same approach with Panichelli.

The Argentine might also be exactly what Chelsea need on the pitch. Joao Pedro's strong early-season form has cooled, while Liam Delap is still working his way back from injury - and Chelsea are in need of firepower. Whether Panichelli arrives as a starting No. 9 or simply to bolster the attacking ranks, he could prove a shrewd and exciting addition for the Blues.

Maresca has confirmed that Cole Palmer will remain sidelined until December as he continues his recovery from a persistent groin injury.

View 4 Images

The England international has missed Chelsea's last eight matches, having been out since September with what the club have described as a "chronic" issue. Initial hopes were that he would return shortly after the October international break, but Maresca has now ruled a return out for at least a month.

Speaking ahead of Chelsea's clash with Tottenham on Saturday, the Italian reiterated his previous update: His [injury] timeline is exactly the same. The idea is for him to return in December," Maresca said.

Palmer's absence has been keenly felt. The 23-year-old was directly involved in 38 per cent of Chelsea's Premier League goals last season - and and 43 per cent in 2023/24. His creativity, composure and cutting edge in the final third have been sorely missed, but the Blues will have to wait a little longer for their talisman to return.

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.