With transfer deadline day dominating the headlines it’s easy to forget West Ham are playing London rivals Chelsea in the Premier League on Monday night.
West Ham go to Stamford Bridge to take on fierce rivals Chelsea in an 8pm kick-off.
In the background the transfer window will be ticking down before slamming shut an hour or so after the final whistle.
West Ham have actually beaten Chelsea to the signing of striker Evan Ferguson ahead of the match.
Premier League rules confirm Ferguson is not eligible to play for West Ham against Chelsea.
West Ham revealed earlier they were not hopeful of getting the returning James Ward-Prowse registered in time either.
They are just a couple of several subplots to the London derby with Graham Potter going back to Chelsea with the Hammers, 20 months after being sacked.
Another sub-plot concerns team news for the clash.
Bowen back as Potter makes two West Ham changes for Chelsea
West Ham have been hit by a series of injuries to key players of late.
Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug are both out long-term while Hammers captain and talisman Jarrod Bowen broke his foot.
Like Fullkrug, brilliant attacker Crysencio Summerville – a player Chelsea liked last summer – was also injured in Potter’s first game.
Key defender Jean-Clair Todibo on the sidelines for another month although Konstantinos Mavropanos returns from suspension.
Lucas Paqueta pulled up with a groin injury at the end of a man of the match performance in West Ham’s 1-1 draw at Aston Villa last time out.
Potter says the Brazilian and Summerville are major doubts to face Chelsea.
But he was more positive about Bowen.
Hammers News suggested Potter might be playing mind games with Chelsea regarding Summerville.
Because video footage has showed the Dutchman looking sharp and happy in full training ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge.
It remains to be seen whether that is the case.
Potter had big Summerville and Paqueta doubts for Chelsea
We predict Bowen back as Potter makes two big West Ham changes for Chelsea.
The Irons were very impressive in the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa last time out.
West Ham deserved to win the game.
They also looked much better defensively as a result of playing with wingbacks.
At Villa Park, Potter was forced to use four full-backs across a defensive five.
Now he can beef that up a bit but has to rearrange the forward line after one big boost and one big blow.
We think Mavropanos will come back into the starting XI in place of Vladimir Coufal.
The Czech has been a great servant and played well overall at Villa Park. But he started poorly and was roasted by Jacob Ramsey for Villa’s goal.
Bowen and Mavropanos back in for West Ham
Mavropanos seems to make a mistake per game. Potter will have a big decision to make on the Greek come the summer.
But for now he will come back into the side following his one-game ban, taking Coufal’s spot on the right of a back three.
The second change will see the returning Bowen replacing the injured Paqueta in the starting XI.
Bowen was nearly brought back into the squad at Villa.
But after another eight days of recovery and training he will now return.
It remains to be seen whether Potter opts for Bowen or Mohammed Kudus up front with Paqueta out.
It will more likely be Kudus with Bowen on the right.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Chelsea:
Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Cresswell, Emerson, Soucek, Alvarez, Soler, Bowen, Kudus.
Chelsea vs West Ham is live on Sky Sports, kick-off 8pm.
Official teams will be announced at 6.45pm.
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