Chelsea news and gossip: Kobel - Maresca

Here is a roundup of the top Chelsea news, gossip and transfer latest from icfootballnews that we think you guys could have missed today…

CHELSEA are plotting a move for Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, with doubts growing over Robert Sanchez’s place as the club’s long-term No.1, reports have claimed.

Everyone has been socked by the start to the season that we have had, they are second in the Premier League and looking like a side that will be very hard to stop this season as Enzo Maresca has made a massive impact.

But there have been many reports in the media that we are looking to improve a number of areas in the squad and adding a new stopper to the side is something that will reportedly help us really win that Premier League title.

Now, According to German publication BILD, Dortmund will struggle to keep hold of Kobel next summer should they fail to secure Champions League qualification – and Chelsea have expressed an interest in signing the Switzerland international.

Kobel has made 136 appearances in all competitions since joining Dortmund from Stuttgart back in 2021, while twice being named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season.

The imposing 6 ft 5 in shot-stopper recently became Switzerland’s first-choice after Yann Sommer announced his retirement from international football.

The report claims Chelsea would be prepared to pay a fee of between €70m-80m (£58-66m) to lure the 27-year-old Swiss away from Germany.

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Look, Sanchez does not really do too many things wrong and cost the club too many goals, it is that defence that has been an issue and that is why a new stopper is not really a priority for the club

Kobel is a quality stopper, but is he really any better than what Chelsea already have at the club, he has been impressive, but the Bundesliga is not the Premier League and he will be facing alot more shots than what he currently is now.

DEFENDER DEAL ANNOUNCED

CHELSEA have confirmed that they are delighted to announce that Olutayo Subuloye has signed his first professional contract with the club, shortly after celebrating his 17th birthday.

Chelsea have been working very hard over the past few months making sure that some of the clubs very best talents are not allowed to leave and join rival clubs, and have signed up quite a few of the academy players.

Now, Subuloye, is the latest young player to get signed up by the club after impressing in the younger ranks, –The club posted: ‘The Academy defender has progressed through the age groups since joining the Blues from Brighton & Hove Albion at Under-12s level.

In a successful 2023/24 campaign, he lifted the Under-16 Premier League National Tournament trophy and played a key role in our Under-17 Premier League Cup triumph, beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 in the final at Molineux.

Subuloye is experiencing his first full season with the Under-18s in 2024/25 and scored his first goal at that level in September’s 6-2 home win over Aston Villa. His performances for Chelsea earned him a call-up to represent England Under-18s in October.

Congratulations Tayo!

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The lad is a serious talent and fans are delighted to see that he has agreed to sign a new contract at Stamford Bridge, he fully deserves it and now hopefully he will push on to challenge for a regular place in that first starting eleven.

However – the problem that he has is that the club have so many quality players at the club already that it will take some time for him to get the chances he needs to prove himself.

And with the club making signings pretty much every window, well hopefully he does not get lost in the system guys

DREWSBURY-HALL FREE TO LEAVE

Enzo Maresca has opened up and admitted that it is up to Kieran Drewsbury-Hall if he wants to leave CHELSEA when the January window opens up in just a few weeks time after failing to make an impact at Stamford Bridge.

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The 25-year-old rose to prominence with the Foxes during their doomed 2022-23 Premier League season, but his efforts were ultimately futile in the fight against the drop.

Dewsbury-Hall remained loyal to Leicester over that summer transfer window, and with Enzo Maresca at the helm, the Englishman has enjoyed his most prolific season to date and helped get the club back to the Premier League.

But when CHELSEA made the decision to offer Enzo Maresca the chance to take over at Stamford Bridge, the Italian was desperate to make sure that the midfielder was also brought to London in a shock move.

However, the move to London has not worked out for the player, He has clocked up just 43 minutes of Premier League action over three appearances this season, with only one of those – a six-minute stint at West Ham – coming since August.

While he has been given more opportunities in the Europa Conference League and the EFL Cup – he has frequently been left out of the Premier League squad in recent weeks and now looks set to leave the club.

Now, amid all the speculation that the midfielder is leaving the club, The Italian manager emphasized that the decision ultimately rests with Dewsbury-Hall and the club. He explained, “We don’t want one of our players to leave.

‘The problem is sometimes the question is more for them. If they say ‘You don’t want me to leave but I am not happy and want to play more’, in that case, we are not going to say ‘No, you have to stay’.

‘It’s a matter of an agreement between the club and the player. The only thing I can say is I am happy with Kiernan, then we will see.”

MORE BIG CHELSEA NEWS AND GOSSIP

Top Read: Chelsea and AC Milan very close to agreeing deal for Italian star

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