Chelsea

By Peter Hall NOTTINGHAM, England (Reuters) - Chelsea dropped more points in their quest to climb back up the Premier League standings as Serge Aurier ...

They nearly broke the deadlock in just the second minute as Mason Mount fired over from a good position. "We're in control of our destiny and we have to keep building." The second half we didn't control it well enough."

Chelsea have an agreement to sign AS Monaco's central defender Benoit Badiashile, according to reports. The 21-year-old French defender has been linked to ...

Kalidou Koulibaly, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella were all brought in last summer. Chelsea are also believed to be in talks with Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez, 21, who has a £106m release clause, though Chelsea may also turn to the more affordable Argentine international Alexis Mac Allister at Brighton, though he also has a long-term contract on the south coast. Chelsea were short of options in defence after Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Marco Alonso all departed for Spain in the summer, and Thiago Silva is unlikely to stay at Stamford Bridge beyond the end of the season, given he is 38. Transfers The club have agreed personal terms with the player and he is set to have a medical before the transfer is completed. Chelsea have been in the market for a left-sided central defender since the summer under former manager Thomas Tuchel, who was then replaced by Graham Potter after the start of the season in new owner Todd Boehly’s first managerial appointment.

The France international, 21, is set to undergo a medical at the west London club and will add to Graham Potter's defensive options.

Chelsea, who are confident of extending N’Golo Kanté’s contract, are looking to be aggressive in January as they attempt to kickstart their top-four challenge. The west London club has been looking to add more depth in central defence since losing Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rüdiger. The 21-year-old Frenchman is a left-sided centre-back and will give Graham Potter more options.

Chelsea kicked off 2023 with more dropped points, as relegation-battling Nottingham Forest came from behind to draw on New Year's Day in the Premier League.

The Gabonese also failed to connect with a cross at the back post for what should've been his moment. But for Chelsea fans, more concerning will be the fact he looks a shadow of the man they bought from Napoli in a defensive sense. Central to Chelsea's best play, the USMNT superstar was a dynamic presence throughout. Boly was in danger of becoming a lightning rod for Forest's issues earlier this season, but performed excellently today, aside from his unfortunate part in the Chelsea goal. Notably, they remain reluctant to get on the back of Steve Cooper, though, directing the vast majority of their anger towards the officials and a small amount to their plucky troops. Having began the season as a traditional No.9, Awoniyi is now being deployed from the left flank, but continued to be a thorn in defenders' sides. The latter was targeted by Awoniyi (more on that later), but Cucurella was perhaps more of a concern. The Blues also extended an unwanted hoodoo by failing to win their first game of a calendar year for the seventh time in succession. Forest showed more bite for the entirety, and constantly made their possession count, threatening both through the middle and via the flanks, looking dangerous on the counter. Still in the early days of his reign, they offered very little spark or inventiveness to try and make an impact without their home comforts. Forest never looked in danger of losing the game after that, with Graham Potter’s men failing to have any concerted pressure late on. The second period began with Forest in the ascendancy once again, with Taiwo Awoniyi and Brennan Johnson both having opportunities to draw them level early on.

Chelsea dropped more points in their quest to climb back up the Premier League standings as Serge Aurier earned Nottingham Forest a 1-1 draw with Graham ...

"We're in control of our destiny and we have to keep building." They nearly broke the deadlock in just the second minute as Mason Mount fired over from a good position. The second half we didn't control it well enough."

Chelsea's spluttering Premier League campaign took a turn for the worse as Serge Aurier's equaliser gave lowly Nottingham Forest a 1-1 draw on Sunday.

It was Sterling's first league goal since August and only the sixth in all competitions for the England forward since his close-season move from Manchester City. Chelsea are languishing in eighth place after failing to win for the sixth time in their last seven league games. But Ivory Coast right-back Aurier levelled after the break and Chelsea were fortunate to escape without an embarrassing defeat after Forest dominated for long spells in the second half.