Chelsea news: Cole Palmer makes surprise career move as Moises Caicedo disagreement emerges

Chelsea finally have the wind back in their sails after their weekend victory over Liverpool. The Blues have struggled for consistency this season, with injuries, red cards, and a string of flat performances stalling the momentum they built at the back end of the previous campaign.

But toppling the champions - and doing so in dramatic fashion through Estevao's 96th-minute winner - has transformed the mood at Stamford Bridge. The result appears not only to have reignited belief within the squad but also eased the pressure on Enzo Maresca's shoulders, which had been ever-so-slightly building in recent weeks.

That said, plenty of problems remain - none more pressing than Chelsea's ever-growing injury list. The absence of Cole Palmer, sidelined for weeks with a groin issue, has been a major blow, but it's the defence that's taken the biggest battering.

Against Liverpool, Chelsea ended the match with two full-backs - Reece James and Jorrel Hato - filling in at centre-back after both Benoit Badiashile and Josh Acheampong limped off with knocks. James also picked up an injury in the match, joining Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo (and the suspended Trevoh Chalobah) on the sidelines.

Next up is a trip to Nottingham Forest, and Chelsea will back themselves to take all three points given Forest's recent struggles under new boss Ange Postecoglou. As the international break gets underway, Mirror Football takes a closer look at the latest Blues news.

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'Cold Palmer' trademarked

Cole Palmer might not be fit right now, but that hasn't stopped him from making moves off the pitch. The 23-year-old has officially trademarked the term 'Cold Palmer' - a nickname that's become synonymous with his iconic goal celebration.

The UK's Intellectual Property Office approved the application on Friday, granting Palmer exclusive rights to use the term across a wide range of products, including clothing, toys, electronics, and football merchandise. It also means no one can use the nickname for commercial purposes without Palmer's permission.

The trademark was filed through his private company, Palmer Management Limited, but initially faced opposition in August from Château Palmer - a Bordeaux-based winemaker named after Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Palmer, who purchased the estate in 1814. In response, Palmer amended his application in September to remove any reference to wine, clearing the way for its eventual approval.

Palmer's actions are nothing unique. More and more footballers who've made it to the top are taking similar steps to build their personal brands and protect their image rights.

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka, for instance, has launched his own venture, BS7 Rights Limited, to manage his commercial portfolio. Meanwhile, former Tottenham and Real Madrid icon Gareth Bale registered a trademark for his famous "eleven of hearts' goal celebration.

Caicedo disagreement

Over the past year or so, Moises Caicedo has firmly established himself as one of the Premier League's - and indeed the world's - elite midfielders. The Ecuadorian has been producing stellar performance after stellar performance in Chelsea blue, with his latest masterclass coming in Saturday's win over Liverpool.

Caicedo was everywhere - dictating play, breaking up attacks, and capping his man-of-the-match display with a stunning 25-yard strike. The £115million Chelsea spent on Caicedo two summers ago now looks a bargain - at least, according to former Blues defender Frank Leboeuf, who believes Caicedo's value has since doubled.

"Remember the first season, they paid £115m and we were wondering, is he worth it? But now he is worth more than that, double that," Leboeuf told "Because that guy gives you such business in the middle of the park, that for the others, it makes things simpler. It's easier.

"We go back to the previous generation of defensive midfielders, Wisey [Dennis Wise], Claude Makelele and N'Golo Kante, those fantastic players that give their lives every game... Those players are completely essential to a team and they are the fixed wall to make sure the team is going to work and Caicedo is showing that to the world. What we saw against Liverpool, it was absolutely exceptional."

But amid all the praise, some believe Caicedo still has another level to reach. Frank Lampard - who knows a thing or two about dominating midfield battles - compared the Ecuadorian to Chelsea greats Makelele and Kante, describing him as a hybrid of the two. Even so, the Coventry City boss challenged the 23-year-old to control games with greater consistency.

"They [Kante and Makelele] were both amazing," Lampard told talkSPORT. "I played with Maka obviously and he was a different type to N'Golo, because N'Golo could really get around, whereas Maka basically sat in front a lot.

"But I see because of the style of play, he [Caicedo] can do the Makelele break-up stuff really, really well, close down space really quickly. Now he's shown last season, and this, that he's got the sort of Kante bits in his game because N'Golo could do that, could arrive at the edge of the box and score."

He added: "What he's got to do now is just turn out consistently for the next season and hopefully try and win things with Chelsea. It [the comparisons] makes sense, he's doing really well."

Olise transfer warning

Chelsea have been given a firm 'hands off' warning by Bayern Munich amid speculation over a potential move for Michael Olise. The Frenchman, who joined Bayern from Crystal Palace in 2024, has been a revelation in Bavaria, scoring 25 times in 65 appearances.

The Blues have been admirers of Olise for years and made an unsuccessful attempt to sign him from Palace in 2023. Despite his impressive form in Germany, rumours of a Premier League return have persisted, with Liverpool also monitoring the winger's situation.

However, Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund has dismissed the speculation, insisting the Bundesliga champions have no intention of selling and won’t be pressured into doing so. "We're not under any pressure," he told Sky Sport Germany. "We can imagine him playing for Bayern for the next seven, eight, or nine years. Michael has a long-term contract, he proved himself and took steps forward."

Bayern signed Olise - who spent part of his youth career at Chelsea - for £52m, and it's believed it would take an offer close to double that amount for the German giants to even consider negotiating. As a result, a sensational return to Stamford Bridge appears, for the time being, highly unlikely.

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