Chelsea transfer news LIVE: Edouard Mendy to be announced imminently, Declan Rice latest plus possible exits
Blues have spent more than £200million in the summer transfer window
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea could still add more new faces before the summer transfer deadline closes next month.
The Blues have spent more than £200million so far with Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Ben Chilwell the headline arrivals in a busy summer at Stamford Bridge. Hakim Ziyech, Thiago Silva and Malang Sarr have also joined as Frank Lampard looks to shape the squad into what he hopes will be title challengers.
There could be more to come too. Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is set to arrive from Rennes in a £22million deal to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga who endured another torrid afternoon against Liverpool blighted by another costly mistake. They could yet test West Ham’s resolve over Declan Rice too with Lampard known to be a big admirer. There is likely to be exits too with N’golo Kante linked with Inter Milan, Tiemoue Bakayoko with PSG and Fikayo Tomori a possible loan departure to Everton. We’ll have all the latest for you throughout the day.
DEBUT CONTINUES TO EVADE ZIYECH
Hakim Ziyech has already missed Chelsea’s first two Premier League games this term due to a knee injury sustained in pre-season, and he will not be fit in time for the Blues’ Carabao Cup clash with Barnsley tomorrow evening, either.
Fellow new summer signings Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell are expected to be involved in some capacity.
However, the game will come too soon for Ziyech, who was signed from Ajax in the summer and picked up the knock against Brighton a few weeks ago.
No updates on the Mendy transfer yet, but keep your eyes peeled over the next few hours.
The goalkeeper’s arrival should be announced very soon, assuming all went as planned with his medical.
LAMPARD BACKS HAVERTZ TO THRIVE WHEN FULLY FIT
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard says it will “become very clear” why Kai Havertz was signed when the youngster reaches full fitness.
The Germany international has started both of his side’s opening Premier League games, but is yet to truly get going.
"Kai has played various positions in career, as number nine, number eight and a number 10," Lampard said.
"He played lots off the right for Leverkusen and I have my own vision going forward.
"The key now is getting him fit. Kai, with the situation we are in we aren't in a position where we can wait. We need to get him fit, and it'll become very clear why he's here."
THIAGO SILVA SAYS ‘AGE IS JUST A NUMBER’ ON 36TH BIRTHDAY
Chelsea new boy Thiago Silva, who turns 36 today, has insisted that “age is just a number” ahead of his debut for the club.
The defender, signed on a free transfer from PSG this summer, is expected to be involved as the Blues play Barnsley in the Carabao Cup tomorrow night.
"No, I don't worry at all because I know where I want to get to and I have high hopes about this young team," said Silva.
"I feel really good, age is just a number on a document.
"Physically I feel young. I am very well prepared for this, I have been preparing for my whole life.
"People who know me know how much I love my work, how I put in 200 per cent.
"This is a great opportunity that Chelsea and Lampard have given me, I don't want to let them down."
ZIYECH’S WAIT FOR DEBUT CONTINUES
Hakim Ziyech remains sidelined with a knee injury and won’t be fit in time to play against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup tomorrow night.
Fellow new arrivals Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell are expected to be involved in some capacity.
But the game will come too soon for Ziyech, who was signed from Ajax in the summer and picked up the knock in a pre-season friendly at Brighton.
ICYMI:
Frank Lampard confirms Edouard Mendy medical as announcement nears
Goalkeeper’s move to Stamford Bridge is expected to be confirmed at any moment
RETURN OF FANS TO BE DELAYED
Chelsea fans will, it seems, have to wait a while longer to see the club’s new signings in action:
Premier League 'disappointed' at move to delay return of fans to stadiums
The planned return of spectators to sports venues in England from 1 October could be on hold for six months due to fears over a second wave of coronavirus infections
INTER’S PLAN TO FUND KANTE TRANSFER
Inter will look to offload several players in order to facilitate a move for Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante, Italian newspaper Il Giornale have reported - via SempreInter.
Eddie Salcedo, Sebastiano Esposito and Lucien Agoume could all be loaned out, while midfielder Marcelo Brozovic may be sold, with reports of interest from Paris Saint-Germain.
Inter intend to raise €60m for the signing of Kante, who is believed to be manager Antonio Conte’s top target.
MILAN STILL PURSUING DEAL FOR BAKAYOKO
Milan are still working behind the scenes to sign Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, according to SportMediaset - via MilanNews.
The stumbling block in negotiations is reportedly because of a disagreement over the option to buy figure included in the proposed deal.
But Milan have not given up on signing Bakayoko, despite looking at alternative options like Florentino Luis of Benfica, Boubakary Soumaré of Lille and Andre Zambo-Anguissa of Fulham.
FORMER CHELSEA WINGER BACKS THIAGO SILVA TO MAKE ‘HUGE DIFFERENCE'
Thiago Silva will make a “huge difference” when he comes into the Chelsea team, says Pat Nevin.
The ex-Blues winger was, like many others, unimpressed by Chelsea’s defending in the 2-0 defeat against Liverpool, and expects things to change following the introduction of one of the club’s summer signings.
“If ever there was a week when Chelsea wanted another game quickly, this is it,” Nevin told the club’s official website.
“I have no doubt Frank had a host of ideas and tactical changes he was just about to make at half-time against Liverpool, just before Andreas Christensen got sent off.
"Andreas will be gutted he got himself out of position and too far from his central defensive partner, allowing Sadio Mane to use his blistering pace to get through the gaping hole that was left.
"I get the feeling this sort of lapse in concentration is not the sort of thing Thiago Silva will allow to happen when he is in that back line.
"The best and most experienced centre-backs talk their team-mates through games. If the younger partner has the audacity to step out of position or is caught ball watching, they get barked at to get back into the zone within seconds.
“A similar positional problem occurred against Arsenal in the FA Cup final. Once again I am convinced someone with Thiago Silva’s knowledge would not have allowed that problem to go unnoticed for long.
“I would love to see the Brazilian legend in anger in a Chelsea kit very soon. It will make a huge difference.”
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