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Chelsea were tonight dealt a pair of blows on the injury-front, during the club’s clash with Burnley.

Chelsea 2-2 Burnley

Maurizio Sarri’s men welcomed Burnley to Stamford Bridge a short time ago, in a crucial outing in their pursuit of a top-4 berth.

The Blues headed into the matchup sitting in 5th-place in the Premier League table, behind Tottenham and Arsenal respectively.

However, the defeats suffered by both of their capital rivals, along with Manchester United, over the course of the weekend, meant that Chelsea entered proceedings this evening aware that a victory would vault them into 3rd in the English top-flight table.

Wilfried Zaha celebrates during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Crystal Palace. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

When all was said and done, though, Sarri’s side failed to get the job done.

A frenetic opening 25 minutes at Stamford Bridge saw 4 goals shared between the sides, as Burnley took firm advantage of their hosts’ set-piece shortcomings.

The game’s scoring was opened inside 10 minutes, when a corner for the away side saw the ball drop to the edge of the box for Jeff Hendrick to volley home in spectacular fashion.

Chelsea soon pulled level, though, as N’Golo Kante finished Eden Hazard’s pull-back off with aplomb.

And Gonzalo Higuain went on to turn the clash firmly on its head just 2 minutes later, rifling home off the underside of the crossbar from an acute angle.

Burnley, though, showcased their mettle to pull level with 24 minutes on the clock, as another set-piece saw Ashley Barnes arrive unmarked at the back post to slot beyond the helpless Kepa.

Chelsea largely-dominated over the game’s remaining hour but, in the end, failed to showcase the necessary guile to break down the visitors’ stout backline for a 3rd-time.

As such, Maurizio Sarri’s men were forced to settle for a point.

Chelsea’s injury woes

And an all-round disappointing evening’s work for the Blues was also compounded by a pair of blows on the injury-front.

The first player to have picked up a fitness problem was Callum Hudson-Odoi.

The English wide-man pulled up towards the end of the first-half, before attempting to push through his issue.

However, after being tended to by Chelsea’s physio team, the 18-year-old was soon forced to limp off, in what appeared to be some degree of pain.

Tomorrow’s edition of French daily L’Equipe features a number of major claims regarding a potential Paul Pogba summer switch to Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid.

Zidane returns

Zinedine Zidane made his return to the bench at the Bernabeu on the 11th of March.

The former Real midfielder was reinstalled following failed stints on the part of both Julen Lopetegui and Santi Solari, which led to the capital giants relinquishing their title as European champions for the first time in 4 years, and failing to mount any kind of serious La Liga title challenge to Clasico rivals Barcelona.

And, on the back of Zidane’s return, Los Merengues have since been linked with a massive summer spending spree.

Numerous outlets across Europe have run similar stories, suggesting that Real are ready to break the bank on a number of high-profile additions.

Pogba targeted

Chief among the names linked with a Bernabeu switch have been Premier League duo Eden Hazard and Paul Pogba.

Chelsea attacker Hazard is known to be a long-time target of the soon-to-be dethroned Champions League holders, though the rumours of a potential Blancos’ swoop for Manchester United midfield standout Pogba have majorly ramped up since Zidane’s reappointment last month.

Zidane is said to have identified Pogba as the ideal addition to his side’s midfield, with Luka Modric set to turn 34 in the summer, and both Toni Kroos and Casemiro having struggled for form this season.

And the Real boss did little to play down the rumours linking Los Merengues with a swoop for his fellow countryman during a press conference late last month, when he explained:

‘I really like Pogba and you know that.’

‘I know him very well. He’s a different kind of player and he can provide many things because of his skills. He knows how to attack and defend.’

‘However, he’s not my player. He plays for United and we have to respect that. He’s always said that he likes Madrid.’

Pogba’s ‘scheduled’ transfer

Pogba himself has also admitted that it would mark a ‘dream for anyone’ to line out in the colours of Madrid, leading to ever-growing claims that the 26-year-old has his sights firmly set on an Old Trafford departure.

And, as per the aforementioned report from L’Equipe (via GFFN), set to hit stands tomorrow, not only is Pogba’s departure from Manchester looking like an increasing possibility, but it ‘appears to be scheduled’ for this summer.

United are reportedly no longer opposed to his sale, on the back of a number of sub-par performances of late.

In fact, the Frenchman is even said to have ‘told certain team-mates that he desires to go elsewhere’.

‘The former Juventus man is dreaming of credibly fighting year after year for the biggest prize in Europe: the Champions’ League,’ a scenario which Pogba does not see as realistic with Manchester United.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, remain the front-runners to seal a deal for Pogba, though PSG also remain an option.