Saturday Fulham Stuff - 13/01/24...

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Predicted Chelsea lineup vs Fulham as Ben Chilwell decision made, Raheem Sterling benched
A look at the Chelsea side Mauricio Pochettino could be tempted to field against Fulham on Saturday afternoon as the Blues look to return to winning ways at Stamford Bridge

Mauricio Pochettino has plenty of tough decisions to make ahead of Chelsea's return to Premier League action. The Blues welcome Fulham to Stamford Bridge in what will be their first top-flight match of 2024 after successive cup outings.

After beating Preston North End comfortably in SW6 in the FA Cup third round, a few days later Chelsea travelled up to Middlesbrough for the first-leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final. However, a goal from Hayden Hackney in the first period was enough for Boro to take the one-goal advantage into the second-leg.

Pochettino and his players have had a few days back at Cobham to prepare for the visit of their west London rivals Fulham. The Cottagers come to Stamford Bridge in confident mood after some positive, and some tightly contested, games against the division's top sides recently.

Marco Silva's team were marginally beaten at Anfield on Wednesday evening after taking the lead on Merseyside. Chelsea know Fulham will present a difficult test for them but Pochettino seemed in a confident mood in his pre-match press conference on Friday.

The Argentine, though, faces a number of tough decisions before the match as he looks to pick his lineup. Below, Bobby Vincent has given it a good go at predicting what Pochettino will do in regards to personnel against Fulham.

GK: Djordje Petrovic
etrovic has been in fine form since coming into the Chelsea side to replace the injured Robert Sanchez. The Serbian goalkeeper looks set to continue in between the posts against Fulham.

RB: Malo Gusto
Gusto was not at his best against Middlesbrough last time out but his return to the side has been positive overall. There are also a lack of options to fill in at right-back with Reece James still sidelined.

CB: Axel Disasi
Disasi seems to be one of Pochettino's most trusted players right now. The France international is once again expected to start in the centre of defence for Chelsea against Fulham.

CB: Thiago Silva
Still Chelsea's most consistent central defender. Most 39-year-olds playing at the top level might require a rest after playing in midweek, but not Silva. The Brazilian looks set to keep his place in the Chelsea defence.

LB: Levi Colwill
Colwill stood out for all of the wrong reasons on Tuesday with the England international being caught out for Middlesbrough's goal. There is an argument for Colwill to be moved back into the centre, but Pochettino may be tempted to keep him there with Ben Chilwell returning to the squad. While Chilwell's return is a boost, the left-back is unlikely to start straight away.

CM: Conor Gallagher
Gallagher looks set to remain in Chelsea's midfield. The England international's performance level has dropped in recent weeks but Pochettino still trusts him massively.

CM: Moises Caicedo
One of the only bright sparks for Chelsea in their defeat at the Riverside. At times, it looked like it was Caicedo against the whole of the Middlesbrough team. Quietly, the Ecuadorian is beginning to settle in at Stamford Bridge.

RW: Noni Madueke
Not his best performance against Boro but he remains one of Chelsea's most in-form attacking players. We need to see the Madueke we saw against Crystal Palace and Luton Town in the game with Fulham.

CAM: Cole Palmer
Perhaps the first name on the team sheet for Pochettino. Palmer missed a load of opportunities against Middlesbrough but his impact is undeniable. He looks set to keep his place in the side and you would be very surprised if he didn't.

LW: Mykhailo Mudryk
Raheem Sterling could drop out of the side after failing to impress against Middlesbrough. Mudryk would deputise for Sterling as he looks to win back his spot in the side after starting from the bench a lot in recent games.

ST: Armando Broja
Chelsea used Palmer in the false nine role on Tuesday but the setup did not really work. That means Broja could return for a more conventional attacking shape. In his last start, the Cobham graduate netted the opening goal in the win versus Preston.




https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/news/gallery/predicted-chelsea-lineup-vs-fulham-28438359

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Former £40m man may make Premier League return after 2022 Manchester United exit
Nemanja Matic could be in line for a return to the Premier League two years after leaving Manchester United with Fulham keen on ending his troubled stint in France.

A situation which has been bubbling beneath the surface for a while finally exploded this week, Nemanja Matic's Stade de Rennais spell blowing up as gossip, mud-slinging and bitter public statements reigned down like lava and debris.

According to Get France Football News, Matic feels Rennes are guilty of 'unkept promises'. The club, in turn, accused Matic of skipping training – something he denies – while describing the midfielder's recent behaviour as 'incomprehensible'.

Former Man United man could return to England
Now, the veteran Serbian certainly sounded like a man looking to put water under the bridge on Instagram, accepting his share of the blame for a rather sorry situation while explaining that he and Rennes will decide on 'the next steps' together.

But has the damage been done? Is it too late for the relationship between player and club to be fully repaired? If the answer is 'yes', then do not rule out the prospect of seeing a player Manchester United let go in the summer of 2022 returning to English soil for one last Premier League hurrah.

According to Gianluca di Marzio, there is interest from Fulham.

it is not beyond the realms of possibility, then, that Man United could find themselves coming up against a familiar face when Marco Silva's side arrive at Old Trafford in late-February.

Red Devils once paid £40 million
Matic, a £40 million signing from Chelsea in the summer of 2017, spent five years in Manchester before reuniting with Jose Mourinho in Roma for a season. He then moved on to Rennes last August, signing a two-year contract which – as things stand – looks destined to go unfulfilled.

Matic could become the latest in a long line of high-profile players who have represented both The Cottagers and The Red Devils, following in the footsteps of Edwin van der Sar, Dimitar Berbatov, Chris Smalling, Andy Cole and Luis Saha.




https://www.unitedinfocus.com/news/former-40m-man-may-make-prem-return-after-2022-manchester-united-exit/

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Full Chelsea squad vs Fulham with Christopher Nkunku latest and Ben Chilwell update
Chelsea injury news as Mauricio Pochettino set to take a step towards ideal Blues XI but left without key piece against Fulham

 It remains a case of one step forward and two steps back for Mauricio Pochettino not just one the field but also off it. His Chelsea side are looking to move up to their highest league position in well over a year when they face Fulham on Saturday but will have to do so with a still depleted squad.

Pochettino's men can climb up to seventh with a win, overtaking Manchester United and Brighton over the winter break and ahead of the weekend's other fixtures. That would, for the time being, put them just three points off sixth placed West Ham and within range of the top four at least for now.

However he will have to do it, once more, without a set of key players. Not only is the volume of absent players high but also the calibre too. Speaking ahead of the game he admitted that things with Christopher Nkunku, specifically, just aren't going to plan.

"I do worry about the situation of Nkunku," he said. "I think it's now [been] 10 days he cannot train. We are assessing him. We don't know what's going to happen.

"I remember my press conference after this happened. It was a small issue and it complicated and it's been between eight and 10 days [since he trained]. We were waiting for him for six months and he was so close again to feeling comfortable. He started the game against Palace and of course, disappointed with that. We want him as quick as possible to be involved again."

Nkunku is set to miss his first league game since returning before the New Year but also didn't play in either cup clash against Preston or away to Middlesbrough. He and Romeo Lavia remain out once again for Chelsea.

Meanwhile there was a good piece of news to carry into the game that comes at a timely point in the season. "Yes, good news about [Ben] Chilwell and Ben [Badiashile]," Pochettino said after they both continued to be in full team training. The duo are expected to make the bench on Saturday.

"Also the good news is that Trevoh Chalobah has started to work with the group," Pochettino added. The 24-year-old doesn't look ready just yet but will provide extra cover at the back when he is available. "We need to assess day by day to see if he can help us. But he doing well," Pochettino added. "He's been training now with the group."

Pochettino couldo also add Carney Chukwuemeka to his team. "We need to assess Carney if he will be available or not," the 51-year-old explained. "But Chilly and Benoit I think yes, for sure, they will be involved in the squad for tomorrow.

Robert Sanchez is still out so expect the bench to have two goalkeepers on it once more. Meanwhile, the departure of Ian Maatsen on loan to Borussia Dortmund means that Alfie Gilchrist may well keep his place in the squad too.

Nicolas Jackson is at the African Cup of Nations so Armando Broja and Deivid Washington are likely to be the forwards leading the line. The other options should remain the same with the only youth involvement at this stage likely to be Gilchrist as Leo Castledine was selected to play for the development team on Friday.

Here's what the matchday 20 could look like at Stamford Bridge.

Goalkeepers: Djordje Petrovic, Marcus Bettinelli, Lucas Bergstrom

Defenders: Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Thiago Silva, Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Ben Chilwell, Alfie Gilchrist

Midfielders: Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher, Moises Caicedo, Carney Chukwuemeka,

Attackers: Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk, Armando Broja, Cole Palmer, Deivid Washington



https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/news/full-chelsea-squad-revealed-vs-28440301

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Predicted Chelsea lineup against Fulham: Mudryk to return; Chilwell in contention

Ben Chilwell is in contention to feature against Fulham, but he will not be fit enough to start for Chelsea on Saturday.
Chelsea will aim to return to winning ways when they welcome Fulham to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon. And Mauricio Pochettino has greeted positive updates on the team news front ahead of his side's latest fixture.

Ben Chilwell and Benoit Badiashile have made significant progress in their rehabilitation. The duo might feature for the West London club against Fulham this weekend. But they will not be fit enough to start on Saturday. Meanwhile, Trevoh Chalobah, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Robert Sanchez are closing in on returning to action.

In addition, Reece James (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Trevoh Chalobah (hamstring), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), and Romeo Lavia (thigh) remain in the treatment room, while Christopher Nkunku (hip) is the most notable absentee.

During his pre-match press conference, Pochettino spoke about Nkunku while providing the fitness updates on Chilwell, Badiashile, Chalobah, Chukwuemeka, and Sanchez. He said, "We are a little bit worried about the situation of Nkunku because it's 10 days that he cannot train and we are assessing him, but it's good news on the other side that players like Chalobah, Chilwell, Badiashile and Chukwuemeka are so close to being involved again and to help the team to perform."

"It is good news about Chilwell and Benoit, and we need to assess if Carney will be available or not. But Chilly and Benoit, yes, for sure they will be involved in the squad for tomorrow. The other good news is that Trevoh has rejoined the team and started to work with the group. Now we need to assess him day by day and see when he can help us. He is doing well and it's a good sign that Trevoh is training with the team."

Chilwell will unlikely be fit enough to start, meaning Levi Colwill will continue as the left-back. The young Englishman will accompany Thiago Silva, Axel Disasi, and Malo Gusto in the backline. Djordje Petrovic will continue deputising for Robert Sanchez.

As for the midfield unit, Conor Gallagher and Enzo Fernandez should pair up in the double pivot, with Cole Palmer reprising the no. 10 role. Raheem Sterling and Mykhailo Mudryk should be the two wide attackers. Finally, Armando Broja will spearhead the Chelsea attack against Fulham, with Nicolas Jackson away on AFCON duty.

Predicted Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Gallagher, Fernandez; Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk; Broja



https://thehardtackle.com/news/2024/01/13/predicted-chelsea-lineup-against-fulham-mudryk-to-return-chilwell-in-contention/

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Sources: Fulham and Burnley make moves to sign Gerzino Nyamsi
Fulham and Burnley have registered their interest in signing Strasbourg centre-back Gerzino Nyamsi this month, sources have told Football Insider.

The two Premier League clubs are keen to strengthen at centre-back before the window shuts and they are showing interest in the 6ft 4in powerhouse.

Belgian side Anderlecht are also chasing Nyamsi with Strasbourg weighing up whether or not to let the player leave this month.

Nyamsi, 26, started the first 13 Ligue 1 games of this season before picking up an injury which he has now recovered from.

He returned to the bench in the Coupe de France clash against Avoine last week and was also among the substitutes for a 1-1 draw against Marseille in league action on Friday (12 January).

The former France Under-20 international has now turned out 69 times across all competitions for Strasbourg, notching one goal and three assists.

He joined the Alsace-based side from Stade Rennais for a small fee in 2021 after getting limited opportunities in Brittany.

Nyamsi is under contract with Patrick Vieira's Strasbourg until June 2025.

The club is owned by BlueCo, who also have a controlling stake in Chelsea and have begun a relationship between the two sides.

Fulham want a new defender as they prepare for the possibility of Tosin Adarabioyo leaving the club on a free transfer at the end of this season.

Marco Silva's side sit 13th in the table and are eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, Burnley want defensive reinforcements as they look to avoid relegation back to the Championship.

The Clarets, managed by Vincent Kompany, are 19th in the table and four points from safety.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-fulham-and-burnley-make-moves-to-sign-gerzino-nyamsi/

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Chelsea drop triple early team news hint vs Fulham with major decision already made
Chelsea news as Mauricio Pochettino prepares his side to take on Fulham at Stamford Bridge

 Chelsea have dropped some clear early team news ahead of facing Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday lunchtime. The Blues are aiming to record a fifth straight home win against their west London rivals but must do so with pressure on Mauricio Pochettino once more growing.

After the 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg in mid-week many turned on the boss, especially online. While the home record is good, the away one is appalling and five of the last six have been lost. Luckily for Pochettino and Chelsea they welcome their neighbours.

Fulham have beaten Chelsea just once since 2006 and have an even worse record at Stamford Bridge with their last win coming all the way back in 1979. In fact it is just two wins from 43 games at the stadium in total.

However, Fulham know that they can move to within one point of Chelsea with a win, a result that would pile the criticism Pochettino's way in a turn that he may struggle to recover from. That is all hypothetical for now though as his side look to respond well.

In their attempts to do just that Pochettino will be looking to rely on some of his big names and among those Raheem Sterling and Moises Caicedo have hinted at their potential involvement in the side on Saturday. Both players, who have been mainstays in Pochettino's team this season, have posted online before the game.

Although not making it a certainty that they will be playing, players usually promote the match and on this occasion both are expected to be in the starting XI. Sterling simply posted a graphic of himself celebrating a goal with details of the fixture included.

Caicedo meanwhile dropped a little video with images of him warming up as well as playing. He also included details of how to watch the match in Ecuador.

The clearest squad hint actually came on Friday night. Not from Pochettino's press conference in which Christopher Nkunku was ruled out with Benoit Badiashile and Ben Chilwell finally deemed ready again, but at Kingsmeadow. Looking at the squad selected by Mark Robinson for Chelsea Under-21s meeting with Manchester United Under-21s, there's several names that will now standout.

As well as Ishe Samuels-Smith - who was signed over the summer from Everton - there was a place in the starting XI for Dylan Williams and Leo Castledine. Williams, in particular, is of note after he was named on the bench last week for the cup games against Preston and Boro.

Meanwhile Michael Golding, 17, was a substitute for this game after making his first team debut during the latter stages of the win over Preston last week too. It is the first time any of them have been involved in the first team to this extent.

Other standouts from the team are Kiano Dyner and Max Merrick, both of whom have trained with the senior side this season under Pochettino. It means that Pochettino will certainly be filling some of the bench spots with different names - Chilwell and Badiashile for sure - as Carney Chukwuemeka and Trevoh Chalobah also approach their own long-awaited returns.

Perhaps a good omen for the game, Chelsea's kids won 3-2 with a last minute goal from the impressive Tyrique George. Having been 2-0 up they were pegged back. Donnell McNeilly, an academy ace this season, scored both in the first half to set up the eventual win.

One player from Cobham who will be likely to make the squad is Alfie Gilchrist. He has now appeared in each of the past four games for Pochettino. With Ian Maatsen departing on loan he could keep his place in the squad.



https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/news/chelsea-drop-triple-early-team-28440336

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Liverpool fans think they've spotted transfer clue as Antonee Robinson reacts to fan's plea
Fulham defender Antonee Robinson has been linked with a move to Liverpool in recent weeks, and his reaction to one fan's comments has got supporters talking.

Fulham defender Antonee Robinson has sent Liverpool fans into overdrive with his latest activity on social media.

The USMNT star has been linked with a move to Liverpool in recent weeks, with the Reds facing a growing injury list in its backline. According to 90min, the club has made contact with Fulham to discuss a potential move for Robinson.

It's also claimed that the 26-year-old is willing to make the move away from Craven Cottage. He might well have accidentally just confirmed that.

Liverpool fans on social media spotted Robinson had liked comment on one of his Instagram posts following Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Anfield (as per Anfield Central). A supporter responded to the defender by saying: "Plz come to Liverpool," with Robinson sparking more speculation with his reaction.

The left-back impressed once again on Wednesday night, having also caught the eye during Liverpool's 4-3 win over Fulham in December. With Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas currently out injured, Robinson has seen speculation of a move to Merseyside grow over the past few weeks.

A move for the USMNT star looks unlikely though. The ECHO reported last month that Liverpool has no interest in signing Robinson, and is not in the market for a new left-back in any case, while The Athletic's James Pearce has suggested Jürgen Klopp is happy with the players he has, and is unlikely to dip into the transfer market.

Liverpool.com says: Robinson does look like a player that would fit in well at Liverpool. He has been one of the standout players to visit Anfield this season, and his performances in both games for Fulham were reminiscent of Robertson.

Chances are though that we won't see him making the move to the Reds, certainly not in this window anyway. With Robertson and Tsimikas expected back before the end of January, Liverpool should hopefully have both of its left-backs fully fit again very soon, which will make things look a lot more comfortable at the back.

Still, Robinson might be a player worth keeping an eye on in the future. He certainly seems to be enjoying the attention from Liverpool fans at the moment, and if he continues his current form, he might find himself on the move soon regardless of interest from the Reds.



https://www.liverpool.com/liverpool-fc-news/features/liverpool-fans-antonee-robinson-transfer-28440396

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Pundits disagree on Chelsea vs Fulham with controversial Mauricio Pochettino sack outcome
Chelsea news as the Blues take on Fulham in the opening Premier League match of 2024 with pressure mounting

 Chelsea are no longer clear favourites to beat Fulham according to a trio of pundits despite their impressive record against their neighbours. The Blues know that a win on Saturday at Stamford Bridge could take them up to seventh.

That would be some much needed relief for Mauricio Pochettino after he saw pressure mount following the 1-0 mid-week defeat away to Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg meeting. The 51-year-old is in a positive mood heading into the game though.

"I saw the players today and they were in really good spirits," he said on Friday. "Of course they are disappointed with the last game but that was the first 90 minutes. In 10 or 12 days, we are going to play the second-leg.

"Yes, disappointed, but at the same time, too many things happen around us after the game. Of course, we are Chelsea and we cannot afford to lose these types of games. To be honest, if you play 100 times, maybe you lose one because it's football and it's not another sport. Maybe in another sport with the same situation, you have 100% chance to win. But that is football.

"Sometimes we can learn from being criticised and being tough. We need to feel the pressure because we need to grow. The feeling of pressure, it's about to realise to do good things."

Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp doesn't see this match following the trend with Chelsea and Fulham though. "Difficult one to call," he said, speaking to BetVictor. "Both sides were obviously in Carabao Cup action during the week, and both sides got beat.

"Chelsea might well turn that Middlesborough tie around, but the performance was poor. I just don't know what to say about Chelsea anymore, it feels like a big couple of weeks for their season and for Poch."

Chelsea have been dominant against their west London opponents historically even if they did fail to win either league game against the Cottagers last year. They won the return fixture 2-0 though and will be looking for a repeat of that performance. Redknapp is wary though.

"Fulham didn't play badly at Anfield; they probably should have been a couple of goals up," he continued. "Marco Silva must have been disappointed to concede two goals back-to-back like that, but Fulham are still in that tie.

"Fulham are well-organised and can make things difficult for these top sides on the road. They've given Liverpool some tough games at Anfield this season and they got a point at the Emirates as well. I'm going for a draw.

"One to watch- Palhinha is a real class act for Fulham. He obviously had his transfer to Bayern collapse in the summer but fair play to the lad, he's been at his best for Fulham. He's one to watch in this game and in the last couple of weeks of the window."

Redknapp's prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Fulham

The online Chelsea fanbase has already shown their frustration at the club's decision to back Pochettino. football.london understands that his position is not immediately under threat but defeat here would take things to a new low. Pundits Paul Merson and Chris Sutton are more confident of a Blues win though. "This is a big London derby and the two sides are right next to each other on the table, so I expect a fiercely contested game at Stamford Bridge," Merson wrote for SportsKeeda.

"On their day, Fulham are a really good side and I like them, but you saw what happened against Liverpool yesterday. They played really well to take the lead and had one or two glorious chances to add to their advantage, but when it really mattered, they lacked the killer instinct to put the game to bed and the Reds staged a second-half comeback to win 2-1.

"If Chelsea win by two clear goals, they could go up to seventh on the table. I can't see them winning so comfortably, but something tells me the Blues will show up and secure all three points. Willian has been fantastic for Fulham this season.

"For someone of his age to produce the goods at the top level is so impressive, I really thought he would fade away after his underwhelming stint with Arsenal. Certain players fit certain clubs and Willian fits Fulham like a glove."

Merson's prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Fulham.

Sutton, meanwhile, told the BBC: "Chelsea had won three games in a row in all competitions and were showing a bit of consistency before they lost to Middlesbrough in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday.

"I think they have made some progress this season, but only because of how bad they were last season - they scored 38 goals and got 44 points in 2022-23. They have got 34 goals already this time and their points-per-game is up from 1.15 to 1.4 but it's still not exactly anything to shout about.

"They have been average all season and I was expecting a lot more from the money they have spent. I've backed them, and been wrong, many times already this season so do I make the same mistake again?

"It doesn't help me much that there's not too many reasons to go with Fulham here, either. Their last league game was their excellent home win over Arsenal, but their form away from Craven Cottage is poor.

"Marco Silva's side always seem to carry a threat when I watch them but they have won only one out of 10 games on the road. What we see from them at Stamford Bridge might depend on how jaded they are from their Carabao Cup semi-final defeat at Liverpool on Wednesday and, against my better judgement, I am going for a Chelsea victory. 2-1."



https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/news/pundits-disagree-chelsea-vs-fulham-28440407

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Chelsea v Fulham: Predicted Blues line up for crucial derby
Chelsea welcome West London rivals Fulham to Stamford Bridge on Saturday for what could be a crucial derby.

The Blues have struggled so far this season and currently sit tenth in the Premier League table, with Mauricio Pochettino having endured a difficult start to his tenure in SW6.

Last time out, Chelsea suffered a 1-0 defeat against Championship side Middlesbrough in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, and Pochettino will expect to see improvement when his side face the Cottagers on Saturday.

Here, we predict the XI that Pochettino could select for the West London derby.

Goalkeeper

Djordje Petrovic has started each of the Blues' last seven matches across all competitions, having replaced the injured Robert Sanchez during Chelsea's defeat to Everton in December. The Serbia international has impressed since making his debut, keeping two clean sheets.

Defenders

Despite Chelsea's recent struggles, Malo Gusto has impressed of late and the Frenchman will expect to continue at right-back in the absence of the injured Reece James. Gusto provided an assist during Chelsea's win over Crystal Palace in their last home league game, and repeated the feat against Preston North End in the FA Cup.

At centre-back, Axel Disasi will likely partner Thiago Silva. The pair are Pochettino's most used central defensive pairing so far this season, with the latter missing just one league game so far. Benoit Badiashile is close to making a return from injury, while Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana remain sidelined.

Levi Colwill, who is naturally a centre-back, will likely continue in a makeshift left-back role. The Blues' only fit natural left-back, Ian Maatsen, joined Borussia Dortmund on loan this week, and both Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella remain injured, although the former could return to the bench against Fulham.

Midfielders

Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez haven't started together in the Premier League since the middle of December, but the pair are likely to do so against the Whites on Saturday. Both players have arguably underperformed since arriving in London, but Pochettino will be hopeful that they can both recreate the form that prompted Chelsea to spend more than £110 million on each of them.

Conor Gallagher is likely to complete the Blues' midfield and will also likely captain his side against Fulham. The Englishman has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this month, but he has already played 25 times this season across all competitions and the only Premier League game he didn't start was due to a suspension.

Forwards

In attack, Pochettino will be hoping that Cole Palmer can put his frustrating performance against Boro behind him. The England international missed a number of glorious chances on Tuesday, and he will be hoping to add to his impressive tallies of eight goals and seven assists for Chelsea on Saturday.

Raheem Sterling was another player that failed to impress against Middlesbrough, but the England international has shown glimpses this season of his best, and Pochettino will be relying on him to spearhead Chelsea's attack.

Albania international Armando Broja will most likely be deployed through the centre in the absence of Nicolas Jackson, who is on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations. Broja has scored just once in the league this season, but did net Chelsea's opener against Preston last weekend.

Predicted XI: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Caicedo, Gallagher, Fernandez; Palmer, Broja, Sterling




https://www.shoot.co.uk/chelsea-v-fulham-predicted-blues-line-up-for-crucial-derby/

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Fulham 'register interest' in Nyamsi
Fulham are reported to have 'registered their interest' in signing Strasbourg centre half Gerzino Nyamsi during the January transfer window, according to Football Insider.

The Whites will battle Burnley for the tall central defender with Marco Silva keen to strengthen his defensive options for the second half of the season. Fulham are preparing improved terms for Tosin Adarabioyo in an attempt to keep the ball-playing centre back at Craven Cottage beyond the expiration of his current contract, but the club are considering entering the market to improve Silva's options at the heart of the back four.

The former French under-20 international. has also attracted interest from Anderlecht and Lokomotiv Moscow after impressing during a run of thirteen consecutive Ligue 1 appearances at the start of the season. Nyamsi, who came through the youth ranks at Rennes, has made 69 first-team appearances since signing for Strasbourg in August 2021. He has a year to run on his current contract.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/01/fulham-register-interest-in-nyamsi/

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Everton and Fulham's interest in Brentford midfield star could spell bad news for Sunderland: View
Sunderland will be doing everything they can to keep hold of Jack Clarke in the winter window but

    Jack Clarke's impressive form for Sunderland has caught the attention of Premier League clubs, potentially expediting a move.
    Sunderland will do everything they can to keep Clarke, but the interest from top-flight clubs may make his departure inevitable.
    Brentford's interest in Clarke fits their strategy of developing young talents and increasing their transfer value, making them an attractive option for Clarke's potential move.

Jack Clarke's form this year has pushed him closer to a move to the Premier League either with Sunderland or with another club come the end of the season - but that could be expedited with transfer news coming out of south-west London.

Clarke has been in magnificent form for Sunderland over the past 18 months, beginning his Championship campaign with the Black Cats last season with nine goals in 45 league games - but it's been this season where he's been a level above.

14 goals and assists in just 26 games for the Wearside outfit has almost single-handedly dragged them to the play-off picture, and they'll be looking to do everything they can to keep him on the books whilst top-flight sharks circle his signature in the coming weeks.

But that could happen sooner than anticipated as a result of Fulham and Everton's interest in a Brentford player, leaving the Bees with the funds to swoop in for the 23-year-old.

Brentford transfer latest
According to The Guardian, Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka has piqued the interest of fellow Premier League sides Everton and Fulham.

Having signed for the Bees upon their promotion to the top-flight for a fee of around £9 million, according to Transfermarkt, Onyeka perhaps hasn't featured as much as he would've liked for the Bees up until this season by only making 41 combined league appearances in his first two seasons at the Gtech Community Stadium; essentially missing every other league game possible.

This season however, the Nigerian has featured in 15 of Brentford's top-flight matches.

With Fulham and Everton both wary over the futures of star central midfielders Joao Palhinha and Amadou Onana respectively, it appears the duo are both taking proactive measures and subsequently, Onyeka has been shortlisted should the worst happen and their stars leave in the coming weeks.

A fee of over £20million has been touted for Onyeka, which would evidently give Brentford the chance to spend money in the window - and with Bryan Mbuemo out for some considerable time and with the Bees needing a winger to come into the fold, that may well spark fear on Wearside.

Brentford's interest in Jack Clarke
Brentford were linked with Jack Clarke earlier in the transfer window, and with the Black Cats reportedly wanting £20million for his services, it's an ideal amount for Brentford should Onyeka depart for a similar fee.

They're used to using Mbeumo and Yoann Wissa on the flanks with Ivan Toney up front, but with Toney being banned for almost a year and his return only just nearing, they've had to use the duo in a more attacking role. Mbeumo is out injured, and thus Keane Lewis-Potter, Saman Ghoddos and Mikkel Damsgaard have featured - though none have massively impressed and as a result, Brentford are only now four points above the drop at time of writing.

Clarke is arguably the hottest wing prospect in the Championship alongside Crysencio Summerville and Stephy Mavididi at the moment and at the age of just 23, he's got room to improve - which fits into Brentford's mantra in the manner that they've signed other, similar talents before in the form of Ezri Konsa, Ollie Watkins, Said Benrahma and more.

Would Brentford be a good club for Jack Clarke?
There's multiple Premier League interest in Clarke's services, so it only seems a matter of time until he is in the top-flight - either with Sunderland or without.

Brentford, much like Brighton, are a club that are happy to afford minutes to younger stars with the aim of increasing their transfer value; Ivan Toney is the more obvious name on the list, but the likes of David Raya have also proved fruitful to the south-west London club.

In terms of attractive Premier League clubs to join in that regard, Clarke has to find a mixture of game time and quality when choosing a new club. He will perhaps be glad he didn't join Burnley in the summer with the Clarets doing poorly in the league, and if he joins Brentford, he's likely to avoid the drop if they can utilise Toney well in the second half of the season.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/everton-and-fulhams-interest-in-brentford-midfield-star-could-spell-bad-news-for-sunderland/

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Wife's preference could give Fulham upper-hand in race to sign Nemanja Matić
Nemanja Matić (35) has burnt bridges at Stade Rennais. In a move to force through a departure from the club, Matić left Rennes earlier this week, reportedly to return to London. Whilst he has since returned and apologised for this behaviour, a transfer away from Les Rennais seems an inevitability, and according to Foot Mercato, Fulham is a realistic destination.

Whilst Olympique Lyonnais remain in the race to sign Matić, it was reported by L'Équipe that the midfielder, who has previously played for Chelsea and Manchester United, is keen on a return to the Premier League. Fulham are targeting a move, according to Foot Mercato.

The publication adds that Matić's wife, Aleksandra Matić, also favours a return to London. She didn't enjoy living in Rome, nor in Rennes, whilst she is reportedly not keen on a move to Lyon either. Fulham, however, will have to still convince Rennes to sell. The Ligue 1 club aren't looking to do Matić any favours and Fulham will therefore have to meet Rennes' valuation of a player whose contract still runs until 2025.



https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2024/wifes-preference-could-give-fulham-upper-hand-in-race-to-sign-nemanja-matic/

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