Jacob Steinberg

Blues have lost four top-flight matches in succession ‘My job is accountable … The buck stops with me’ Liam Rosenior has acknowledged his job will be under threat if he cannot turn around Chelsea’s poor form before the end of the season. Although the head coach recently received public backing from the co-owner Behdad Eghbali, he is aware that retaining long-term support is dependent on results. Chelsea are under growing pressure as four consecutive league defeats have left them seven points off fifth-placed Liverpool with five games to play, and Rosenior was realistic when asked whether his bosses had assured him his future did not hinge on securing Champions League qualification.

BlueCo ownership can point to commitment of Caicedo Jan Paul van Hecke and Alex Scott are players of interest Moisés Caicedo has handed Chelsea a major boost by verbally agreeing a new deal with the club. The midfielder has been a star performer since his £115m move from Brighton in 2023 and his decision to extend his current deal constitutes a show of faith in the Chelsea project after a turbulent period, with the club rocked by Enzo Fernández and Marc Cucurella using recent interviews to question the direction of travel at Stamford Bridge.

Midfielder suspended by club for remarks on future Argentinian remains part of leadership group at club Chelsea are open to Enzo Fernández captaining the side again this season and hope to reintegrate the midfielder after his comments over his future. Fernández, who is on Real Madrid’s shortlist as they look to revamp their midfield, was dropped after whipping up a storm during last month’s international break. The Argentina international was not particularly subtle when he mentioned Madrid as the European city in which he would most like to live and praised the former Real Madrid midfielders Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. He also angered Chelsea by questioning the departure of Enzo Maresca, who was replaced by Liam Rosenior as head coach in January.

Right-back is recovering from hamstring injury He could be back at the end of April or start of May Reece James could boost England’s World Cup hopes by returning from a hamstring injury at the start of next month. The Chelsea defender has been out since picking up a problem during last month’s defeat by Newcastle, raising doubts over whether he will be fit to represent his country this summer. There were initial fears that James, who had not sustained a hamstring injury since November 2024, was facing up to two months on the sidelines and was in danger of not playing again this season.

Only half of the 26 places appear nailed-on and some players benefited from missing the Uruguay and Japan games Jordan Pickford remains the undisputed No 1. Harry Kane is irreplaceable up front. Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson look certain to start in midfield, nobody has emerged as a realistic challenger to Bukayo Saka on the right and Jude Bellingham’s hopes of grabbing the No 10 spot were done a world of good by other challengers failing to impress against Japan and Uruguay.