Managing Chelsea - Cole Palmer injury decision made as January transfer plan set

Chelsea will be hoping for another successful season after finishing in the Premier League's top-four and winning two trophies between May and July 2025. The Blues have got off to a strong start and are currently unbeaten with two wins from a possible three, but have since been handed a far from straightforward Champions League draw.

League stage fixtures against Bayern Munich and Barcelona await, with Chelsea also facing reigning champions Liverpool in these next few weeks - in the Premier League - which will certainly see their title credentials tested.

Cole Palmer getting back and remaining fit will absolutely be key, with the Blues talisman having missed their last two games through injury. Strengthening in January could also be a priority if injuries strike and there is a clear gap in the squad.

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The first month of 2026 will also see Chelsea have an opportunity to agree a hugely important deal that could define the final few months - and beyond that. With that being said, football.london has taken the reigns and analysed what could happen at Stamford Bridge over the coming months;

Palmer injury decisions

After ruling him out of the Fulham clash, Enzo Maresca revealed that Palmer would be monitored "day by day" and his comments before that suggest the September international break has come at the perfect time.

"Cole in the last four or five days was not 100 per cent," Maresca admitted following the win vs West Ham. "Today [Friday] he tried the warm-up, but he felt something. So we prefer not to take any risk to get worse. And we'll see in the next hours if it's something important or not.

"The Palace game, he was not 100 per cent. But he is trying to make a big effort for the club, for the team, for the fans. Tonight again he tried again, but it was not very good."

It looks as though Palmer has been carrying the issue for some time with it now very important that he is carefully integrated back into action. Seeing how Chelsea have managed without him, there should be no real rush.

If he is deemed fit to return, a start against Brentford seems highly unlikely with a Champions League match away at Bayern Munich the following Wednesday.

Palmer was able to play and complete almost every Premier League game last season because he was only playing once per-week up until March having been left out of their Conference League squad prior to the knockouts.

That will not be possible this season, though, and therefore during arguably easier games, Chelsea will be better off either or resting him or bringing him off earlier.

January transfer plans

It is currently unclear who Chelsea will target in the January transfer window, if anyone at all. As things stand, the Blues probably do not need to reinvest but things could change very quickly.

That has been evidenced by Liam Delap joining Palmer, and Levi Colwill, in their treatment room. The latter is expected to miss most of the season which resulted in Maresca making it publicly clear that he wanted a new defensive signing.

Chelsea were focused on matters elsewhere, however, with attacking signings sanctioned instead. A swoop for someone like Marc Guehi is possible in January with the England international remaining at Crystal Palace despite completing a medical to join Liverpool.

An addition further back than that is perhaps much more likely with uncertainty surrounding the goalkeeper situation. Mike Maignan of AC Milan was wanted before the Club World Cup but a deal could not be agreed.

As he will have just six months remaining on his deal, the Blues could agree a deal on the cheap but, if the Italian side want to keep him for the remainder of the season,a pre-contract agreement could be reached which would see Chelsea sign the Frenchman essentially on a free transfer