CHELSEA chiefs are refusing to give up on the idea of moving to Earls Court – despite a rival project being set to pass another milestone this month.
In November, Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council gave an green light to the Earls Court Development Company’s plans for land under their jurisdiction.
Kensington and Chelsea could follow suit before Christmas, paving the way for ECDC to submit more detailed proposals for large sections of the site.
Yet there appears to be a feeling inside the Blues’ current home of Stamford Bridge that it ain’t over ‘til it’s over.
The owners seem prepared to continue to keep their options open, despite little tangible progress with the project to build a bigger and better stadium since their May 2022 takeover.
It is perfectly possible ECDC’s scheme will hit snags and open the door to potential rivals, including Chelsea.
And there are good reasons why Earls Court would be the least bad solution to the problem which has dogged the club for two decades.
WORLD’S APART
Reece James and Raheem Sterling share a birthday – but pretty much nothing else these days.
On Monday James turned 26 and travelled to Bergamo for Chelsea’s Champions League game, while exiled Sterling reached the milestone of 31 with his career still in limbo.
Despite Liam Delap’s latest injury setback, Joao Pedro’s fitness and form issues, and the Blues’ all-round lack of attacking penetration, boss Enzo Maresca will not be bringing Sterling in from the winter cold.
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The Chelsea boss is famously dismissive of social media.
But he might find it interesting to see who passed on birthday wishes or greetings to the two players.
Chelsea’s official Instagram account sent many happy returns to captain James, but not to Sterling. It cannot be a coincidence and feels petty – especially since England’s Instagram celebrated both.
Former Chelsea captains John Terry – who was 45 on Sunday – and Thiago Silva sent their regards to James, too.
Enzo Fernandez, Pedro Neto, Moises Caicedo, Trevoh Chalobah, Jamie Gittens and Liam Delap were among the current Blues to like the reel of images James posted to mark his big day.
Sterling, too, reacted to James’ posts.
But on his own page, the former England star’s montage was mainly of good wishes from friends and family.
Chalobah and Caicedo liked Sterling’s separate image in which he praised God. As did fellow current player Levi Colwill and former Chelsea winger Rio Ngumoha.
And Nicolas Jackson, another forward to fall out of favour with Maresca, also acknowledged the post.
Maresca, in his pre-match press conference, was asked if there might be a way back for Sterling. But his answer made it clear Sterling and Axel Disasi remain in the same boat, training on their own or with the under-21s and hoping for a January move.
It is a situation which is no good for anyone and needs resolving.
If Chelsea want to leave the place they have called home since 1905 – and to retain the name “Chelsea” – they will need the approval of the Chelsea Pitch Owners.
The fan-led organisation not only owns the freehold of Stamford Bridge but was also granted certain rights in relation to the club’s future when it was set up during Ken Bates’ reign as chairman.
CPO was designed to protect the Bridge and the club from being at the mercy of property developers but is also an obstacle to building a new stadium.
The 23,000 or so members of the organisation are more likely to approve a move just down the road to Earls Court than further afield.
Although it would take a huge amount of money and a lot of time to build a new 60,000-plus ground there, it would be far less hassle – and maybe even cheaper overall – than developing Stamford Bridge and having to rent a stadium elsewhere for five or six years.
Chelsea’s owners may yet have a genius third – or even fourth plan – up their sleeves.
But every year they don’t get on with the new stadium project is another year where their matchday revenues remain miles below those of their rivals in England and Europe.
They cannot wait forever.
STRANGER INK
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO is tucking in to the latest instruments of Stranger Things.
The ST superfan has a number of tattoos related to the Netflix show which recently began its fifth and final season.
Many viewers believe it is the best series yet, as the characters they have watched grow up now confront their biggest challenge yet from the forces of evil.
And Blues supporters will be hoping Garnacho is going to reach a whole new level, too, while putting behind him the controversy which dogged the end of his five years at Manchester United.
Garnacho, still only 21, said: “Stranger Things is my favourite show.
“I’m just trying improve every season.
“I am going to get more mature with the years.
“The only way to do it is to work every day.”
BLUES NEW THREADS
CHELSEA’s kit line-up for next season has been ‘leaked’ by Footy Headlines, and it’s set to be another belter.
The Blues’ three kits this season have gone down extremely well with fans, in particular the Nike T90 third strip, with a retro crest.
It seems the Nike designers are going to play on that success, with more nostalgic numbers next season.
According to Footy Headlines, which has become a trusted source for ‘leaking’ kits before they’re official, the home kit will be blue and yellow, the away kit black and yellow, and the third kit white, with red and blue accents.
For the away kit, it will be the first time that black has been used as a primary colour for an away shirt in exactly a decade.
And for the third shirt, a retro crest is expected to be used again, which will surely make it very popular with fans.
On top of that, Nike will release a special-edition lifestyle retro keeper kit for Chelsea in 2026 as part of a throwback collection, which will also include a pre-match or training shirt and a lifestyle collection.
That will include the return of the classic ‘tangerine and graphite’ colours on a Chelsea kit.
EL TACKLE
WITH so much talk about Chelsea’s defence after they were dominated by Leeds, perhaps they would have liked to call on ‘El Tackle’ – a starlet who is on loan in Germany.
The Dortmund fans and officials are absolutely thrilled with on-loan Blues defender Aaron Anselmino – ever since his first game, when he made a spectacular sliding tackle, he was subsequently dubbed ‘El Grätsche’. („El tackle“) by BILD.
Dortmund are keen to keep him after his loan spell too, partly because Niklas Süle‘s contract will not be extended and they therefore need a new defender.
The club’s sporting director, Sebastian Kehl recently said: ‘I will definitely have to pick up the phone in the next few days and give them a call.’
He now wants to start negotiations with Chelsea. However, it is also clear that Dortmund cannot pay prices of around 40 million euros.
They hope that Chelsea will meet them halfway on the price, as they did with Carney Chukwuemeka.
REGGIE THE RICE REGEN
REGGIE WALSH isn’t the only highly rated Reggie at Chelsea – in fact, there is a world in which the Blues could even line up with two Reggie W’s in their midfield in the coming seasons.
That’s because of the emergence of 15-year-old Reggie Watson.
Watson starred recently for the Chelsea U18’s against West Ham, and his performance drew comparison to Declan Rice, who, of course, Chelsea let go.
The defensive midfielder was incredibly combative, showed a passing range and maturity beyond his years, and scored a stunning free kick – something that is becoming a trademark of his.
Watson also shone for Chelsea at Kevin De Bruyne’s ‘KDB cup’ in Belgium, and the dead-ball specialist has already captained England’s Young Lions – namely scoring a stoppage-time free-kick winner, similar to a certain David Beckham.
Oh, he’s also the cousin of fellow Chelsea academy star Jesse Derry.
Remember the name, Reggie Watson.
NETO SWITCH
PEDRO NETO could find himself playing a new role as Chelsea’s striker after Liam Delap‘s injury.
The Blues’ number nine is facing another lengthy spell on the sidelines, leaving Enzo Maresca with a choice of Marc Guiu or Joao Pedro as his striking options.
He could, though, call on Pedro Neto, as he did against Barcelona and in spells last season, to play up top.
The Portuguese forward has slowed down in the past few games in terms of goal output, but has been Chelsea’s most consistent route to attacking threat this season in the absence of Cole Palmer.
He has five goals and two assists in the Premier League, making him Maresca’s top scorer, followed by Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro with four goals each.
It remains to be seen who the Chelsea boss will choose up front vs Atalanta with no Cole Palmer available, and if that changes for the league game against Everton, when the Blues’ ice-cold talisman returns.
