TORRES TO BE AXED?

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has hinted he is ready to drop misfiring striker Fernando Torres for Tuesday night's crucial Champions League game against Juventus in Turin.

The Blues' defence of their European title is on the line as they battle to keep their fate in Group E in their own hands against Serie A leaders Juve and it seems Di Matteo is ready to give Daniel Sturridge the lone striker role after Torres' latest horror show in Saturday's defeat against West Browmich Albion.

Torres lasted just 63 minutes before Di Matteo was forced to withdraw him from the firing line at the Hawthorns and he looks set to resume the bench warming duties that became his staple diet last season in Chelsea's biggest game of the current campaign.

"If I believe it is the right thing to do for the team, then yeah, I will leave him out," Di Matteo said. "When we moved Daniel Sturridge up there, he looked a danger. He had a very good chance saved by the keeper and another put wide. He was always a threat to the defence. We need to score goals, this is clear."

Di Matteo also criticised his team's defensive record of late, with the continued absence of skipper John Terry felt once again at West Brom.

"Clean sheets give you a chance to win games and we certainly have to improve on that side," he said. "Of course we miss John [Terry]. He is an important player for us. He gives us a lot of confidence at the back and in general to the team.

It's a shame that he is injured, but we will have to do without him until he comes back."

Di Matteo refused to be drawn on a heated dressing room row that was heard by many observers at The Hawthorns on Saturday, but he admitted the pressure is mounting after a run of form that has blunted Chelsea's early season promise.

"It is a challenging time when you don't win games and you need to instil confidence in players," he said. "This club are always looking to be competing at the top and every defeat is a problem for us, so certainly Tuesday is going to be a massive game in the Champions League for us."

BAGGIES STUN CHELSEA

West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie made it a miserable return to The Hawthorns for Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo with a second-half winner in a 2-1 victory to stun the Champions League holders.

The Nigeria international headed home a cross from Shane Long whose opening goal had been cancelled out by Eden Hazard.

It condemned Di Matteo, who spent two years as Albion boss, and his side to a first away Premier League defeat of the campaign.

But his former club, managed by ex-Chelsea number two Steve Clarke, are dreaming of Europe after registering a sixth win in seven home games.

The Blues dominated for long periods territorially with Victor Moses and Daniel Sturridge causing problems. But they found keeper Boaz Myhill, who was deputising for the injured Ben Foster, in inspired form with several crucial saves.

Chelsea clearly missed the physical presence at the back of injured skipper John Terry who will be sidelined for three weeks with a knee injury.

Long and Odemwingie fully capitalised on the absence of the former England defender as they punished some slack defending.

Long appeared on a one-man mission to honour his grandmother who died on Friday with another superb performance.

The Republic of Ireland international revealed a T-shirt which said 'RIP Nan' after scoring the opening goal. Chelsea dominated possession in the early stages and Ryan Bertrand came close to putting them ahead after eight minutes.

Moses made a powerful run to the byline and squared the ball back across the danger area to Bertrand whose low left-footed drive was cleared off the line by Liam Ridgewell.

But 60 seconds later the Baggies took the lead via their first worthwhile attack. Zoltan Gera played the ball back to James Morrison whose floated cross picked out Long who got in behind David Luiz to head home from close range.

It was the Republic of Ireland international's sixth goal of the campaign. Chelsea tried to retaliate and John Obi Mikel's low 30-yard drive was only just off target with Myhill scrambling across his line.

Myhill then got his body behind a swerving first time attempt from Sturridge. Albion were at their most threatening on the counter-attack and Long, under pressure from Gary Cahill, had a shot saved by Petr Cech after attacking a cross from Billy Jones.

Long was then just off target with a curling drive after he had shaken off the challenge of Cahill. But after 38 minutes Hazard levelled for the Blues with his fourth goal of the season.

He attacked Cesar Azpilicueta's deep cross and was able to squeeze the ball past Myhill at the far post with a powerful header.

Chelsea continued to dominate possession and Moses fired over after being teed up by Cahill. But Odemwingie restored Albion's lead five minutes into the second half.

This time Long was the creator with a cross to the near post and the Nigeria international got in front of Bertrand to glance his header past Cech for his fourth goal of the campaign.

Di Matteo made a double change with the ineffective Fernando Torres and Oriol Romeu making way for Juan Mata and Oscar respectively. Myhill made a fine save to turn aside Sturridge's close range flick after Mata's ball had opened up the West Brom defence.

He then went down to cling on to Hazard's deflected shot as Chelsea delivered wave after wave of attacks. Sturridge should have made it 2-2 with three minutes left but screwed his shot across the face of goal.

Another three points dropped because of the lack of clinical finishers in our team. We obviously need a Falcao or Cavani in January.

CHELSEA CLOSE IN ON FALCAO DEAL

Chelsea have moved a step closer to landing Atletico Madrid hitman Radamel Falcao after the player agreed personal terms ahead of a £48m January move, according to Goal.com.

The report claims owner Roman Abramovich instructed club chiefs to tell the Columbian that they will activate the release clause in his Atletico Madrid contract this January, and the striker is believed to have made it clear he wants to join the European champions when the window re-opens.

Goal claim that personal terms have already been agreed on a contract that will make the 26-year-old one of the league highest earners and Chelsea will splash out an incredible €60m (around £48m) to bring him to Stamford Bridge.

As reported on Monday, Premier League champions Manchester City are also showing strong interest but Chelsea have stepped up their efforts and look like they could get their man this winter. Atletico are desperate to keep hold of the player – who has netted 49 goals in just 60 games for the Spanish outfit – but are powerless if a club activates his buyout clause.

The deal is thought to be complex due to third-party ownership issues, with agent Jorge Mendes part of a group of investors that own a stake in Falcao, but Chelsea are confident they can complete the transfer this January.

Roberto Di Matteo see’s the former Porto man as the final piece of the puzzle and his arrival will throw fresh doubt over the futures of Fernando Torres and Daniel Sturridge.


While the validity of Goal.com as a source has been questioned in the past, there is little doubt that Chelsea hold a serious interest in the Columbian striker. Claiming that the club has already agreed personal terms in a bold move by Goal, but as is the case with many deals these days, meetings happen months in advance of a transfer being completed and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if the Blues had already discussed financial packages with the player.

One things for sure, if Falcao does move to West London in January Chelsea have got themselves one hell of a player and Premier League defenders will be having some sleepless nights.

Are Chelsea fans excited by the proposed arrival of Falcao? Get involved in the comments section.

VALENCIA WANT ROMEU

Forgotten Chelsea star Oriol Romeu could be close to a Stamford Bridge exit, after a Valencian paper published details of a meeting between his agent and the Spanish club at their headquarters over the weekend.

The Chelsea midfielder's advisor, Magico Diaz, was pictured entering the Los Che office by Superdeporte, and the paper revealed he spent more than an hour in the offices speaking with Valencia sporting director Braulio Vazquez.

It is believed Valencia are looking to arrange a loan deal for the 21-year-old with the option to buy, and it is expected that any potential move would be completed in January.

Romeu is thought to be unhappy with his lack of appearances under Roberto Di Matteo, playing only four times in all competitions this season.

Valencia's interest in the youngster is nothing new, as it's thought the La Liga side attempted to sign him prior to his switch to Chelsea in 2011. Reports of a renewed interest in the midfielder emerged last summer.

I do hope he stays because we may need him in January.

DROGBA BACK TO CHELSEA

Didier Drogba has been given the green light to train at his old club Chelsea with the season at his Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua now over.

Drogba was back in west London on Sunday to watch Chelsea draw 1-1 with Liverpool and has expressed a desire to train at Cobham to keep himself fit for the African Cup of Nations in January.

The striker insisted he would need the permission of both Chelsea and Shanghai to make it happen - but everything now looks on target after Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo gave his blessing.

Di Matteo said: "He's a legend at this club, a real pleasure to work with. If he needs any help from us, he'll always be very welcome in our club."

NEW SPONSORS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON

Chelsea have revealed that the club is to announce a new sponsor in two months' time.

Having announced a profit of £1.4 million for the year ending June 2012, the Blues are set to bolster their income with a new sponsor for both Chelsea and the Sauber F1 team.

Chelsea have been in partnership with Sauber since April, and chief executive Ron Gourlay told delegates at the International Football Arena in Zurich: "The first commercial joint venture will be announced in two months' time.

"You are going to see some results of the partnership very soon. We both want to be winners in our field and have the same values. Through our relationship with Sauber, we can go into 19 different markets in one season."

Hopefully, this will help us considering the UEFA Financial Fair Play rules.

TERRY FEAR RELIEVED

John Terry will not have to endure a lengthy injury lay-off after Chelsea confirmed last night he had suffered "no significant damage" to his knee ligaments in their Premier League draw with Liverpool on Sunday.

The European champions announced captain Terry would be sidelined for "weeks rather than months" following an MRI scan on the injury that forced him off during the game at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea said in a statement on their website: "Today's MRI scans on John Terry's right knee thankfully show no significant damage to the cruciate ligaments.

"Chelsea Football Club's medical team will conduct further tests over the next two or three days once the swelling has subsided to determine how long John will be out."

Any absence is a significant blow for the Blues, with Terry having suffered the injury in his first game back after his domestic four-match racism ban.

The club had struggled badly in defence in his absence, slipping from first to third in the table.

He almost certainly will miss their potentially decisive Champions League Group E game at Juventus, as well as crucial league matches away to West Bromwich Albion and home against Manchester City.

He could even be a doubt for their Club World Cup trip to Japan early next month.

Petr Cech, who has been Chelsea's captain in the absence of Terry and Frank Lampard, was confident that losing the defender for another extended spell would not derail their season.

The goalkeeper said: "We managed to play games without him and we have players who will have a chance to impress.

"I have confidence. Obviously, it's a pity we will lose him again but we have a large squad and quality defenders to deal with that. It's important to have people who can step up. This is a chance for the others to shine and we are going to deal with his loss for him."

Terry has demonstrated supreme powers of recovery in the past, coming back from minor surgery on the same knee weeks ahead of schedule last season.

Cech added: "He knows what it takes to come back in good shape and as soon as possible. He always heals well."

Terry went down 10 minutes before half time, having given his side the lead, following an accidental collision with the striker Luis Suarez.

He was carried off on a stretcher and left Stamford Bridge in a knee brace, sparking fears of a long-term absence.

His departure left Chelsea down to two fit centre-backs, in Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic, with David Luiz sidelined by tonsilitis.