Chelsea have been dealt a blow in the build up to their match against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with Cole Palmer set for an extended period on the sidelines.
Head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed in Friday’s press conference that the England international will miss a further six weeks, having aggravated a groin problem during the Blues’ defeat against Manchester United last month.
Chelsea will, however, be boosted by the return of defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana, as well as midfielder Andrey Santos, for their trip to The City Ground.
Ahead of the match, it has emerged that one of Maresca’s strikers is facing an uncertain future.
According to TEAMtalk, newly promoted Sunderland are unsure about re-signing forward Marc Guiu when the transfer window reopens in January.
Guiu, 19, joined the Black Cats on loan in August but wasn’t even in the North East for a month before the Blues recalled the striker, in the wake of an injury suffered by Liam Delap.
Guiu scored once for Sunderland during a loan spell that lasted less than a month (Photo: Chris Fryatt Photography/Alamy)
Since then, the teenager has featured only once for Maresca’s side, and it had been rumoured that Sunderland would look to re-sign the player on loan once again in January.
According to the report, however, not everyone at Sunderland is convinced about the idea of bringing the Spaniard – who scored once in three games during his brief spell with the club – back to the North East.
Guiu joined the Blues from Spanish side Barcelona in the summer of 2024 and has since scored six goals in 17 appearances for the West London side.
Despite being recalled by the Blues at the start of September, the Spaniard’s only appearance since came as a substitute against Liverpool last time out.
The striker is in a slightly difficult situation, however, as FIFA rules state that a player can only play for two clubs in a season, meaning if he were to leave Stamford Bridge his only option would be to return to The Stadium of Light.
