Chelsea forward Cole Palmer has suffered a setback in his return from a groin injury, fracturing a toe in a bizarre incident at home. Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the news, stating that Palmer would be sidelined for at least the next three games. This includes the upcoming Premier League match against Burnley, a Champions League tie against Barcelona, and a Premier League fixture against Arsenal.
Maresca described the incident as an "accident at home" where Palmer "hit his toe". While downplaying the severity, calling it "nothing important", he confirmed the toe is fractured and that Palmer would be unavailable for the next week. Maresca humorously related to the situation, saying, "I wake up many times during the night to go to the toilet, I hit my head and leg and everything. It can happen". He also noted that Palmer was not wearing socks or flip-flops at the time of the accident.
Palmer had been nearing a return from a groin injury that has kept him out for the past two months. He initially sustained the groin injury in August but made a comeback the following month, scoring in consecutive games against Brentford and Bayern Munich. However, he was then forced off injured during a match against Manchester United, leading to Maresca resting him to allow for full recovery.
The news is a blow for Chelsea, as Palmer has been a key player since joining the club, scoring 38 Premier League goals. His contributions were also vital in Chelsea's Club World Cup-winning campaign this year.
In other Premier League news, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has addressed speculation surrounding the future of winger Antoine Semenyo. Reports have suggested that Semenyo has a release clause in his contract that could see him move to another club in January, with Liverpool among those reportedly interested.
Despite the rumors, Iraola stated he is "not worried" about Semenyo potentially leaving in January. "We are in November, Antoine [Semenyo] is our player, he will continue to be our player," Iraola said. "In January, you can ask me about the market. But right now, I am not worried about the next market. I am not worried about the situation. In January, we will talk about whatever happened, the players we need".
Semenyo signed a new contract with Bournemouth in the summer, resisting interest from other clubs. The contract, which runs until 2030, reportedly includes release clauses that can be activated in January and the summer of 2026. It has been reported that Semenyo has a £65 million release clause.
Semenyo's form has dipped recently after a strong start to the season. Up until October, he had nine goal involvements, second only to Erling Haaland. However, he has since gone four league games without a goal or assist. Despite this, Iraola seems unconcerned about the speculation and is focused on Semenyo's continued contribution to Bournemouth. Semenyo is currently dealing with an ankle injury, making him a doubt for Bournemouth's game against West Ham.
