Chelsea’s Premier League and European competitors are monitoring Estevao Willian’s situation closely after the Brazilian teenager was once again left unused by head coach Xabi Alonso.
Even with Cole Palmer suspended and Joao Pedro sidelined by injury, Estevao did not feature in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool. The 19-year-old remained on the bench at Anfield as four Chelsea players were brought on during the 1-1 draw before Liverpool prevailed in the penalty shootout.
Across Chelsea’s eight Premier League matches, Estevao has made six appearances as a late substitute and has been an unused substitute on two occasions.
The forward is under contract with Chelsea into the 2030s, and the club regards him as one of its ‘untouchables’. Chelsea have also explored the possibility of extending his agreement. Nevertheless, sources outside the club say his limited involvement has attracted attention from rival sides in England and across Europe.
There is no suggestion that Estevao has fallen out with Alonso. His lack of game time is understood to reflect tactical and technical choices alone. The Chelsea manager has pointed to the physical demands of Premier League football, while insisting that the teenager’s opportunities should increase as the campaign develops.
Alonso does not view Estevao as a natural fit for the wing-back position, where extensive defensive work is required. Instead, he sees the Brazilian operating as an inside-moving winger, similar to the role Palmer performs in Chelsea’s 3-4-2-1 formation.
Estevao was an unused substitute during Chelsea’s Carabao Cup exit to Liverpool and his lack of minutes is piquing the interest of rivals clubs in the Premier League and across Europe
In Chelsea’s eight Premier League fixtures, the Brazilian has been brought on as a late substitute six times and unused twice
Chelsea supporters are eager to see more of Estevao, with the away fans at Anfield chanting his name despite his failure to come on. Palmer, however, will return for Saturday lunchtime’s Premier League meeting with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge after completing a one-match suspension.
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has selected Estevao for November’s friendly internationals against Japan and Singapore. The teenager has started as many games for Brazil during one international window as he has for Chelsea in all competitions this season.
Ancelotti said during the previous international break that he would not allow Estevao’s lack of club minutes to influence his selection, explaining that he views helping the player’s development as part of his responsibility. The Sao Paulo-born attacker has scored six goals in 14 appearances for Brazil.
Como star on radar
Chelsea remain interested in Como’s 21-year-old defender Jacobo Ramon, who has impressed under former Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas. However, the London club faces competition from a number of teams in England and elsewhere in Europe.
Arsenal and Manchester United have also been linked with Ramon. Any potential transfer is complicated by Real Madrid’s 50 per cent sell-on clause, along with an unspecified buy-back provision, in the contract of the Spain Under-21 centre-back.
Ramon previously worked with Alonso during the 2018-19 season, when the current Chelsea manager was beginning his coaching career within Real Madrid’s youth setup.
Chelsea’s interest in Ramon began before Alonso took charge and dates back to last January. He was then included on a shortlist alongside Jeremy Jacquet, who was at Rennes and is now with Liverpool, and Marcos Senesi, who moved from Bournemouth to Tottenham.
The Blues ultimately prioritised a move for Jacquet, but the defender opted for Liverpool after signing a pre-agreement to join the club in the summer for £60million. He entered Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fixture as a substitute, replacing Virgil van Dijk.
Chelsea are continuing to keep tabs on 21-year-old Como defender Jacobo Ramon (left), but face competition from various rivals
Chelsea leading race for £90m Scott
Rival clubs believe Chelsea are in pole position to sign Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, with an agreement potentially being reached before the January transfer window opens.
The word is a fee of around £90m would be expected to be enough, despite Bournemouth saying they want £100m-plus.
In a way, the improving results of Marco Rose’s side are helping expedite Scott’s exit, as they insist any winter sale would be blocked if their Premier League position were precarious. Scott is injured and Bournemouth have won five consecutive games in all competitions without him.
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While Liverpool have looked at Scott, they are not said to have shown as much interest as Chelsea, and there are some suspicions that Bournemouth would like a bidding war for a 23-year-old midfielder who has indicated his interest in moving on.
Monaco’s Lamine Camara, who Chelsea came close to signing for half the price of Scott at £47m in the summer, also has his fans at Liverpool.
Chelsea’s rivals believe the Blues will win the race to sign Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott
A bad omen for Blues?
Five years ago this week…
October 24, 2021: Manchester United lose 5-0 at home to Liverpool.
October 25-26: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appears on the brink of losing his job.
October 27: Solskjaer surprisingly avoids the sack.
October 30: United head to London and win 3-0 away at Tottenham.
Chelsea are aiming to avoid history repeating itself when Michael Carrick’s side visit Stamford Bridge this Saturday after a week in which United were beaten by Bournemouth but the boss avoided the axe.
Chelsea are expecting United captain Bruno Fernandes to return to their starting line-up after his clear-the-air talks with Carrick.
Lavia hits the full 90
Romeo Lavia completed his first full 90 minutes in a competitive match for Chelsea against Liverpool, which can only be good for his confidence levels.
Alonso identified that as an issue in pre-season, when he allowed the 22-year-old midfielder to complete the match in a friendly win over AC Milan. Chelsea’s manager told those of us on the tour that he wanted to give Lavia that moment because he believed he had a ‘mental block’ about it after his injury history.
Romeo Lavia completed his first full 90 minutes in a competitive match for Chelsea against Liverpool on Wednesday night
Post-career protection
This week, a group of Chelsea first-teamers and promising academy players got together in a meeting room at Cobham for a talk from a specialist brought in to discuss career-ending insurance.
While a dry topic, it is an important consideration for footballers in this unpredictable game.
Speaking of injuries, Chelsea have had an unfortunate run of muscle issues of late, with Maxence Lacroix struggling to walk off the pitch at Anfield after picking up a hamstring problem.
Fancy a job at Chelsea?
Chelsea are searching for a physical performance coach to join their first-team support staff. Within the job listing, they say they want someone who can ‘lead on GK specific physical development’.