Lamine Yamal role in £29m Chelsea transfer revealed as Enzo Maresca eyes first January deal

Enzo Maresca will be determined to extend his winning streak when Chelsea lock horns with Brighton. The Blues have won each of their last three matches, across all competitions, and that means they head into this weekend's clash with a real spring in their step.

On Tuesday night, Maresca made wholesale changes as Chelsea stormed past League Two opponents Barrow at Stamford Bridge. Christopher Nkunku fired the west Londoners into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, netting his first hat-trick for the club.

Maresca will be hoping his side pick up from where they left off when they face the Seagulls at the Amex Stadium on Saturday afternoon. So, with that being said, football.london has rounded-up the very latest Chelsea news and transfer gossip ahead of the Blues' trip to the south coast;

Yamal role in Chelsea transfer revealed

According to Fabrizio Romano in his column for CaughtOffside, Barcelona were interested in signing Estevao Willian from Palmeiras. The 17-year-old forward was heavily linked with several elite clubs in Europe during the summer transfer window before signing for Chelsea in a deal worth an initial £29million.

The report states that Estevao was on the Catalan side's shortlist before Spain's sensation Lamine Yamal suddenly burst on to the scene. The teenage sensation enjoyed a meteoric rise to superstardom at the iconic Camp Nou last season, quickly establishing himself as one of Xavi's most important players.

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football.london says: "Had Lamine Yamal not been given his chance to impress, Barcelona could've thrown the kitchen sink at a deal for Estevao Willian. Fortunately for Chelsea, though, the Catalan giants eventually opted to drop their interest, leaving the door open for the Blues to sign a top young player."

Chelsea and Real Madrid eye £60m defender

According to TeamTalk, Chelsea have shortlisted Castello Lukeba ahead of the January transfer window. The 21-year-old defender - who reportedly has a £60million price tag - was briefly linked with an exit from RB Leipzig in the summer following his impressive performances in the Bundesliga.

The report states the Blues have watched Lukeba on numerous occasions as they look to bolster up Maresca's backline. TeamTalk add that Real Madrid are interested in signing the Frenchman 'within the next two windows'.

It's said that a move in January 'could be difficult but not impossible'. Lukeba's contract at the Red Bull Arena will expire in June 2028 after signing a five-year deal in 2023, following his transfer from Olympique Lyonnais.

football.london says: "While Castello Lukeba would be a good signing, Chelsea are already spoiled for choice at the back. If Enzo Maresca was to secure his signature then the Blues would probably need to make space for him, (possibly) offloading either Benoit Badiashile or Axel Disasi."

Carragher makes U-turn on Chelsea verdict

Jamie Carragher has admitted that he's changed his mind about Chelsea following the Blues' exciting start to the season. Speaking on , the former Liverpool defender said: "I must say they've surprised me a lot. I think especially in the away games.

"You know those types of results where you haven't watched the game and then someone tells you Wolves away, and you go; 'Wow'. West Ham was pretty similar. That feels like a really big result.

"I didn't have them anywhere near the top four at the start of the season, or thought you could really challenge it, but it looks like now they could."

football.london says: "If it only took Jamie Carragher a handful of games to take a quite dramatic 180, then what on earth did he see to justify he initial takes on Chelsea? Of course, you can't always be right. Fine. But to go from, 'Chelsea are not a young and exciting team' and 'Chelsea made a big mistake in getting rid of Mauricio Pochettino' and 'Chelsea won't finish in the top six' to 'Chelsea could challenge for top-four' in just a few weeks is quite the U-turn. The Blues finally have a coach with a clear vision now, and I'm glad Carragher is beginning to realise that."