Chelsea tipped to sell '£100m player' as Tottenham star with 'weakness' defended

The Premier League returned with a bang over the weekend following the international break. We saw the biggest surprise yet with Nottingham Forest defeating Liverpool, while Chelsea returned to winning ways against Bournemouth and Tottenham narrowly lost the North London derby to Arsenal.

Tottenham are in Carabao Cup action this week, while Chelsea get extra time due to recent European action, and they will begin preparations for Saturday’s clash with West Ham. Here we round up all the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding both London clubs.

Chukwuemeka latest

Carney Chukwuemeka’s situation remains fluid at Chelsea with the midfielder having returned from the bomb squad to train with the first team after he failed to secure a move away from the club.

Enzo Maresca has said he will use Chukwuemeka if he needs him, but it appears as though the young midfielder is a long way down on the Chelsea depth chart. According to Football Insider, West Ham failed with a late loan bid for Chukwuemeka during the summer transfer window, with Chelsea refusing to loan him out. They also report that an offer of the right amount will be accepted if the Blues receive one in January.

Merson on Palmer

Paul Merson believes Chelsea would consider selling Cole Palmer at the right price despite him being one of Maresca’s most important players. He said on Sky Sports: “They just need to worry about results on the pitch but I still don’t know the plan. I still don’t know the plan. Nicolas Jackson is there until 2033. If Jackson scores 25 goals next season, they will sell him. That’s the whole idea.

“If Cole Palmer becomes unbelievable and keeps on doing what he is doing, then he will be a £100m player. They will sell him for £100m. That’s how it works, they don’t want all these players to run their contracts out.”

Richards on Vicario

Micah Richards believes Vicario needs help from his teammates after he failed to come out and gather the ball for Arsenal’s winning goal on Sunday. Richards said on Match of the Day: “You can work - in training - on not making him have to come for those situations. Put someone, or put two people in the centre of the goal, that can just be zonal. You'll have a few blockers around, and just leave the goalkeeper to focus on the reaction of where he needs to go if someone has a shot.

"But yeah, I just feel like he's being exposed. I think it's easy now, because we did something on Match of the Day last season, about the amount of times that teams were targeting Vicario. But you need to help him out, you know, that's what they need to do. They need to help him out a little bit more, if that's his weakness."