Chelsea Football Club has made some big decisions ahead of the transfer window opening in January once again. The Blues are supposedly targeting further signings for the new year. However, they must offset spending by building funds and offloading unwanted and underperforming assets. Therefore this high profile quartet has been named as for sale: winger Mykhailo Mudryk, full back Ben Chilwell, centre back Axel Disasi and fellow defender Benoit Badiashile. What is the claim here, and should the four footballers be worried about their statuses at Stamford Bridge?
There is another story to cover on this pleasant Thursday afternoon in England. A legend of the west London club has continued his rift with a current CFC star. John Obi Mikel and Nicolas Jackson have been going at it for a while at this point. So what sparked the problem between the two? Can it be settled or quashed? And what was said by each individual?
John Obi Mikel vs Nicolas Jackson explained
This is a strange one to be honest. Basically, Mikel doesn't believe that Jackson is a competent enough finisher to lead Chelsea back to the promised land of bountiful trophies. And the retired professional is not wrong, in my view.
From what I have been privy to, the former Blues midfielder was respectful yet forthright in his comments. Mikel did ensure to also make it clear that Jackson is not a bad player at all, as did I. And the 37-year-old is entitled to his rather informed opinion on the matter, especially as a pundit and podcast host!
I'm sure you would love to know what the back and forth entails, so let's waste no more time on my verdict:
"Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has hit back at Nicolas Jackson after being told to 'shut up' by the Blues strikerJohn Obi Mikel
Jackson came in for some criticism last season for his poor finishing despite scoring a respectable 17 goals for Chelsea amid chaotic scenes at Stamford Bridge.
The Senegal international has started this season in decent form with two goals in five matches for the Blues with Mikel giving him some 'constructive criticism' on how to improve.
But after scoring in Chelsea’s 6-2 win over Wolves in August, Jackson blasted Mikel in a social media post, he said: 'Shut your mouth don’t talk s***, we are killing ourselves for Africa.'
The Chelsea legend stands by his criticism of the striker, though, with his finishing needing to be much better to become one of the best strikers in the world."
Mykhailo Mudryk, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile were presumably under Enzo Maresca's Chelsea spotlight but failed eye test
Mudryk, Chilwell, Disasi and Badiashile didn't make the cut, it seems. It's probably curtains for the four at the Bridge. We know Maresca has an immovable vision in anything he does, and the Blues roster is the contemporary focus. The Italian will shape and shave the squad until he is satisfied.
"As we have previously reported, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile and Ben Chilwell could all be sold in January if a suitable offer arrives – and now Mudryk can be added to that list."
There was a chance that Chilwell may have been welcomed back into the fold from the so-called 'bomb squad'. Although that scenario felt unlikely. Disasi did himself no favours recently, albeit at right back.
Badiashile appears fully out of favour. Despite bad form, Mudryk is a surprise on the list because Maresca has spoken highly of him.