Chelsea vs West Ham live: Latest team news and line-ups from Premier League clash as Cole Palmer decision made

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Badiashile, Hato; Caicedo, Fernandez; Gittens, Palmer, Garnacho; Delap

Righty, then – team news is imminent from Stamford Bridge. A start for Cole Palmer? Will West Ham stick with the side that beat Sunderland?

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior said the club is ready to move in the final days of the transfer window if the right players are available.

The Blues are in the market for a central defender and have been optimistic that a deal for a long-term target could be reached before the end of January.

A long-term injury to Levi Colwill which is likely to see him miss the whole season has left Chelsea short of options in the position, but it is understood no emergency cover is likely to be sanctioned with the club preferring to stick with their recruitment plans from before the England defender’s injury.

The deadline for deals is on Monday night and Rosenior confirmed that sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Lawrence Stewart are actively working on strengthening the team and are ready to back their head coach.

“The guys are working hard to stay on top of things in terms of information on what’s out there, who’s interested in our players,” said Rosenior. “It’s about being prepared for any development.

“My job along with the guys is to make the squad in every area as strong as it can possibly be. Certain players come up that you don’t expect to come up, and then can strengthen you. Whether that’s a striker or a wide player or a defender.

“If we see something, I know the guys are willing to do it. I don’t want to bring in players for the sake of bringing in players.

“There’s a possibility it could be busy, a possibility it could be quiet.”

Lucas Paqueta’s time at West Ham looks to be at a pretty sad end, though, after the Brazilian refused to play for the club to force a move to Flamengo. West Ham’s statement on the matter was pretty telling.

West Ham, meanwhile, have a new winger of their own. Adama Traore has made the move across London from Fulham and feels a very West Ham signing – and the club might have Green Street to thank…

Raheem Sterling almost came to characterise a chaotic era at Chelsea, signed by a manager who lasted just six more games and then pushed down the pecking order by a somewhat curious transfer strategy. Richard Jolly assesses the forward’s career at the club

So we may see Cole Palmer back in the Chelsea starting side, but Raheem Sterling’s time at the club is over. Miguel Delaney has the latest on Sterling’s future after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.

Palmer came off the bench at half-time and set up Joao Pedro for a brace which turned the match at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on its head and gave the Blues a 3-2 victory to bypass February’s play-off round.

It came after reports that the England forward is unsettled in west London and favours a return to Manchester, but this was a timely return to form to help rally the team from 2-1 down in Naples.

It was a good night for Chelsea at Napoli in midweek, securing a top eight finish in the league phase of the Champions League with a comeback win. Cole Palmer was influential off the bench, and the indications are that he may be in line for a start today.

A London derby is our Saturday evening fare in the Premier League, with West Ham making the short(ish) trip across the capital to take on a Chelsea side going well under Liam Rosenior. Back-to-back wins have got the hosts’ campaign going again after stumbling in the final weeks of Enzo Maresca’s tenure, but they take on an Irons side with renewed hope of survival after their own recent successes.

Kick off at Stamford Bridge is at 5.30pm GMT.