Chelsea can confirm shock Kylian Mbappe transfer after PSG dealbreaker and Karim Benzema request

Chelsea and being clinical are not things that have gone in many sentences over the past 18 months but against Middlesbrough, it was a ruthless final-third performance that secured their place in the Carabao Cup final. A far cry from missing glaring chances during the first-leg defeat, Mauricio Pochettino's side only needed six shots to score their six goals on Tuesday night.

Cole Palmer got two of them and took his tally to 10 for the season — alongside his seven assists he is already clear of Kai Havertz's first year at the club despite playing half a campaign. It felt pressing that on a day whereby two of the standout strikers on the market both had major updates on their future emerge, the Blues put on a show.

It has been a window dominated by talk of new forwards but so far very little has actually happened. Now, with less than 10 days left to go in January, the heat has been well and truly ramped up.

Here, football.london takes a look at the three big stories coming out of world football and how they impact Pochettino, Chelsea and the club as a whole. Starting with a dream that now looks more and more like it could become a reality: Karim Benzema in blue.

After weeks of suggestions that Benzema has decided to turn his back on the Saudi Pro League project it has now been said that the 36-year-old has asked Al Ittihad to let him leave on loan before the window closes. Benzema missed his side's journey for a winter break training camp and ever since things have been very much up in the air.

With huge wages and having only just arrived in the Middle East it looks like a permanent exit for the player is entirely out of the picture but as the days go on a departure looks more and more likely. Chelsea are really interested in