January will test Chelsea’s progress. Maresca doesn’t need any new signings at this moment in time. There might come a point at which the Italian wants certain areas of his squad strengthened or remoulded, but right now Chelsea must get players off its books rather than add new ones. Chelsea must resist the temptation to spend more.

Competition will only increase at the end of the season, when Chelsea prepare to welcome two prodigious teenagers. Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez - both 17 - are still pulling up trees in South America and they could make a push to go straight into Maresca's starting XI in 2025/26.

Chelsea have now gone two consecutive Premier League games without a win for the first time since October, when they were held to a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest before falling to a 2-1 defeat

Chelsea and Maresca are rightly praised for their success so far, but the number of suspensions being picked up should be a concern

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has seemingly already lined up a replacement for one of his first-team players axed from the defeat to Fulham on Saturday. The Blues went down to a damaging 2-1 derby loss at the hands of their London rivals at Stamford Bridge, leaving them seven points off leaders Liverpool.

Liam Delap is one of the numerous strikers linked with a move to Chelsea and head coach Enzo Maresca is a big fan of the talented Ipswich Town centre-forward

You can expect to hear some fresh January transfer rumours spark up now after some latest comments by Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca. He saw his side get beaten at home by Fulham 2-1 in the Premier League on Boxing Day yesterday in what was a bit of a reality check for The Blues.