Champions’ influence has guided Blues’ approach since takeover as City’s recent splurge suggests wider rebuild

Chelsea have embarked on a journey of renewal since being bought by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital in May 2022. The sense was of a club in need of refreshment after the end of the Roman Abramovich era and there has been plenty of change across a host of departments, aided by the borrowing of ideas from elsewhere in the game.

Recruiting best in class is the idea, according to sources at Stamford Bridge. It has meant bringing in data and recruitment gurus from Brighton and commercial figures from Manchester United, Tottenham and Milan. As for the playing and coaching side, it has been intriguing to see a heavy intake of figures associated with City Football Group.

Harvey Elliott deserves a Liverpool start, Chelsea should go for the jugular at City and Mikey Moore would help Spurs

In a surprise to pre-season predictors, this match is as important as a fixture in January can be in the battle for Champions League football. Nottingham Forest head into the weekend level with second-placed Arsenal, while Bournemouth are three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and seven back from Forest. The scrutiny on both teams is growing but they keep answering the questions thrown at them. Despite having no out-and-out striker last weekend, Bournemouth put four past Newcastle, giving Nuno Espírito Santo a warning. Justin Kluivert scored a hat-trick, his second of the season, at St James’ Park as Andoni Iraola’s flexible front four excelled. Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo might feel more confident against a natural No 9 but Forest’s centre-back pairing will relish the challenge. Will Unwin

Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest, Saturday 3pm (all times GMT)

Brighton v Everton, Saturday 3pm

Liverpool v Ipswich, Saturday 3pm

Southampton v Newcastle, Saturday 3pm

• West Ham chasing Sunderland’s Dan Neil
• Ipswich sign Brighton’s Julio Enciso on loan

Napoli are pushing to reach an agreement with Manchester United over Alejandro Garnacho but their hopes of signing the winger could be derailed by Chelsea.

Garnacho’s agents attended Chelsea’s win over Wolves this week and the Argentinian’s future remains up in the air. Napoli have identified the 20-year-old as a replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has joined Paris Saint-Germain, but are yet to agree a fee. The Italian club have looked at Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi as an alternative.

• Manchester City second in list with £708m earnings
• Top 20 revenue-generating clubs made £9.46bn last year

Real Madrid became the first football club to surpass €1bn (£844m) in revenue in a season when they substantially increased their financial firepower over their major European rivals.

According to the latest Deloitte Football Money League report, Madrid made €1.046bn (£883m) in the 2023-24 season, fuelled by match-day revenue doubling to €248m after the completion of renovations to the Bernabéu and a 19% increase in commercial revenue. They ended the campaign as winners of the Champions League, La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup.