Chelsea are missing five players worth a whopping £285m for West Ham as David Moyes hopes duo are fit to play.
West Ham go to Chelsea for what is essentially a Premier League six-pointer in the race for a European place.
Halfway through the season West Ham were sitting pretty in the top six and looking a miles better bet for Europe than Chelsea.
But the Hammers have endured a miserable 2024, winning just four of their 22 games so far.
Chelsea meanwhile have slowly but surely found better form under Mauricio Pochettino.
So much so the Blues jumped above West Ham with an easy win over Spurs on Thursday, just days before they face one another at Stamford Bridge.
Moyes’ last London derby as Hammers boss?
A win for West Ham would see them go back above Chelsea and potentially one point behind seventh-placed Newcastle.
Seventh is likely to be rewarded with a Europa Conference League place with David Moyes’ side chasing European qualification for a fourth consecutive season.
With Luton at home next week West Ham would put themselves in with a shout going into the final day.
But that would likely require another win – away at champions-in-waiting Man City.
There has been more focus on the managerial situations at West Ham and Chelsea ahead of the west vs east London derby.
This is expected to be Moyes’ final London derby as West Ham manager.
Chelsea missing five players worth £285m for West Ham
There are also rumours Pochettino will be replaced by Todd Boehly at the end of the season.
The managerial situation at both clubs has actually become interlinked over the last week.
But what about on the pitch this Sunday?
West Ham can have no excuses about fatigue having had a full eight days of rest.
Whereas Chelsea played Tottenham only less than 72 hours before their meeting with the Hammers.
There’s some good news emerging from Cobham for Moyes in terms of the players available to Pochettino.
Chelsea are missing five players worth £285m for West Ham as Moyes hopes for duo’s return.
Moyes hopes Hammers duo are fit
According to West Ham’s official match preview for the game, Chelsea will be without £70m defender Wesley Fofana and midfielders Romeo Lavia and Enzo Fernandez – who cost a total of nearly £157m combined.
Pochettino will also be missing £50m left-back Ben Chilwell and probably their best value player of the lot – free transfer Thiago Silva.
West Ham meanwhile are assessing defensive duo Konstantinos Mavropanos and Nayef Aguerd ahead of the clash.
The duo has sat out recent games and Moyes will hope to have at least one of them available for the Blues.
Chelsea vs West Ham kicks off on Sunday at 2pm.
You can see some of the greatest goals ever scored in games between Chelsea and West Ham in the video below.
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