Chelsea return to action when they host Genk in their UEFA Conference League opener on Thursday. Enzo Maresca's side are in fine form, having won their last four matches in all competitions.
The Blues, who beat Servette in a play-off round to reach the league phase of Europe's third-tier tournament, started that run with a 1-0 win at Bournemouth after the international break. They followed that up by beating West Ham 3-0 before securing safe progression to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 5-0 success over Barrow. Their latest win was a 4-2 victory against Brighton on Saturday.
There does seem to be some serious momentum at Stamford Bridge even at this early stage of the season, and Maresca will be keen to keep that going before the October international break. After the game against Genk, Chelsea face Nottingham Forest in another Premier League game on Sunday.
Here, football.london takes a look at some of the Chelsea news and rumours that you might have missed.
Hermansen interestFormer Leicester winger Matt Piper has insisted that Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca will still be "looking" at signing Mads Hermansen after failing to agree a deal in the summer transfer window. Hermansen has been impressive for the Foxes this season and produced a superb performance against Arsenal on Saturday.
"Obviously, Enzo [Maresca] wanted to take him [Hermansen] to Chelsea, that deal did not get done," Piper said on When You’re Smiling. "But if I am sure Enzo will still be looking at him.
READ MORE: Real life of Graham Potter - New role, huge Chelsea sack pay-off, Man United next manager odds
READ MORE: Graham Potter new job latest as former Chelsea manager prepares for football return
"The contrast between the two [Robert Sanchez and Hermansen], Hermansen is wonderful with the ball at his feet. Good decision maker, really crisp and clean with his playing out from the back."
football.london says: For me, Hermansen is destined to move to a Big Six club in the not-too-distant future. Some may say that goalkeepers who play for the so-called 'lesser' Premier League teams look better because they are facing more shots and therefore are going to make more saves, but I don't think this applies to Hermansen.
Even in the Championship last term, Hermansen didn't have to make many saves but showed his quality and ability in different ways. He was named in the Team of the Season for his efforts and has seemed to continue that form into this campaign, with his performances in recent weeks catching the eye.
I think he would suit Chelsea. He knows what Maresca requires from a goalkeeper in terms of playing the ball out from the back and he is much more competent than Robert Sanchez, that is for sure. Yes, he won't come cheap but he will be worth the amount in years to come.
Lampard verdictFrank Lampard has been impressed with Enzo Maresca's start to life at Chelsea and believes that the club are in a 'good position' to challenge for a top-four place this season.
"They're young, that’s a fact, and with a young team it's not always easy to have great consistency," Lampard told . "Maybe to win things [with young players], it’s not always easy. But it’s a strategy that Chelsea have taken.
"At the moment and the start of the season they’ve had now, it feels like they are going in the right direction. There is lots of young talent, especially in forward areas. There are lots of options to change in-game or change and stay fresh.
"After two or three years of being in a transition and a difficult time, change of ownership, change of managers, change of players and the squad… there’s a lot of new faces and players… it’s understandable that they haven’t competed. But I do feel now that they’re in a good position to challenge for top four again, to be where Chelsea expect to be."
football.london says: I agree with Lampard here, I think there has been plenty of positives for Maresca to take from Chelsea's start to the season. They are in a prime position to challenge for the Champions League places and I don't see too many teams - other than Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool - better than them right now.
Other than City, the Blues haven't played any of last season's top eight so far and if they can get past most of them with a good record then there will be confidence that they can return to the Champions League.
