Real Madrid agreed to sign experienced Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho from Chelsea on a two-year contract on Tuesday.
The Ivory Coast striker is set to become the third most expensive player bought by an English club.
Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai struck the first telling blow in the Premier League title race with a dazzling free kick late on giving his side a 1-0 victory over rivals Arsenal.
Juan Mata scored on his debut for a still-stuttering Chelsea in a 3-1 home win over promoted Norwich City as the Londoners joined Wolverhampton Wanderers at the top of the Premier League on Saturday.
Suggestions that Chelsea effectively bagged two trophies on Sunday were presumptuous.
Chelsea reduced their losses and posted a record turnover in the year ending June 30, 2011 with the club saying Tuesday's figures showed they were focused on meeting UEFA's new financial rules.
With dreams of European glory in tatters, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur turn their attention to the FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend clinging to their last chance of silverware this season.
Didier Drogba scored both goals for the leaders in a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough and champions Arsenal could only scrape a 1-1 draw with Manchester City.
"I know I have disappointed them. I wish them all the best, and I wish to see Chelsea at a good level," the Romanian striker said.
Chelsea have made a promising start to a new Premier League season but manager Antonio Conte wants the players to remember the difficulties of last season and learn from that experience.
Besides Nistelrooy, Manchester United will also be assisted by the fit-again pair of Louis Saha and Cristiano Ronaldo, while Paul Scholes has completed a three-match ban.
Chelsea are poised to sign striker Hernan Crespo and take their spending to close on 100 million pounds.
A stunning free kick from Willian seven minutes from time gave Chelsea a nervy and hard-fought 2-1 UEFA Champions League Group G win over Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday to lift some of the gloom surrounding Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was sacked to "protect the interests of the club" and owner Roman Abramovich had to act because of a "palpable discord between manager and players", technical director Michael Emenalo said.
Chelsea's recent record against Arsenal is awful. The Gunners chalked up two league wins and another in the FA Cup this season. \n\n
John Terry made an emotional address to his devoted Chelsea fans on the Stamford Bridge pitch on Sunday, telling them that he still wanted to stay at the club.
Images from Saturday's action in the Premier League.
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri is unsure whether midfielder Cesc Fabregas has played his last game for the club but he feels the Spaniard must leave for the good of his career.
Chelsea defender Jose Bosingwa faces a three-month layoff after undergoing knee surgery, the English Premier League leaders said on Wednesday. Chelsea said on their website that the 27-year-old Portuguese international had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee this week.
Country's third-largest software services firm Wipro has said it has been chosen as the official digital and IT partner for Chelsea Football Club.
Chelsea forward Diego Costa has been charged for improper conduct following his red card in their 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final defeat by Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.
The 26-year-old midfielder signed a new five-year contract with the English premier league club.
Premier League champions Chelsea are getting their confidence back after winning back-to-back games for only the second time this campaign, says defender Cesar Azpilicueta.
According to French sport daily l'Equipe, Morientes has been offered a five-year contract by the English club.
"Diego Costa's out which means we have to solve that problem in 24 hours," new interim coach Guus Hiddink told reporters.
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri said having Eden Hazard in such unstoppable form makes winning "easy" but appears almost resigned to losing him.
Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has denied suggestions of a rift with manager Jose Mourinho, accusing "certain individuals from outside" of trying to destabilise the club and refuting reports that he is leading an alleged dressing-room revolt.
Chelsea and Manchester City tightened their stranglehold on the Premier League title race on Saturday, recording victories over struggling clubs to stretch further clear of their increasingly forlorn pursuers.
Chelsea's players must look at themselves and start performing, former Blues stalwart Frank Lampard said as speculation continues to swirl over the future of manager Jose Mourinho.
Striker Wayne Rooney made his long-awaited return for Manchester United on Saturday when they took advantage of defeats for title rivals Chelsea and Arsenal with a 2-0 home victory over nine-man Wigan Athletic.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is set to miss next month's Community Shield clash with Manchester United and their Premier League opener after undergoing groin surgery, which will rule him out for three weeks.
Bookies have placed Premier League leaders Chelsea as the new clear favourites with 3-1 odds to retain the FA Cup following Sunday's fourth-round draw.
New Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has urged his players to retain the aggressiveness they have shown during the pre-season, saying that the combative nature of the game was essential to the style of play he is looking to impose at the club. Six players were booked, while midfielder Cesc Fabregas was shown a red card, in Chelsea's feisty 1-0 victory over Liverpool on Thursday after Gary Cahill's early header condemned the Merseyside club to their first pre-season defeat.
Images from the Premier League matches played on Thursday.
