Chelsea transfer news: Edouard Mendy and Declan Rice latest, Callum Hudson-Odoi exit rumours plus Premier League updates
The Blues remain active in the market despite already spending more than £200m
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea are off to a winning start in the Premier League thanks to a Reece James rocket in the 3-1 victory over Brighton. More than £200million spent on new recruits in the busiest summer of any Premier League club, heaping pressure on Frank Lampard.
But there is more to come, it seems, despite already signing Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz and Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell joined Hakim Ziyech of Ajax and Timo Werner of RB Leipzig while defenders Thiago Silva and Malang Sarr arrived on free transfers from Ligue 1.
Frank Lampard isn’t stopping there though with more new faces likely before the window closes next month. West Ham’s Declan Rice is his No 1 target with a swap deal involving Ross Barkley possible. Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is set to arrive from Rennes imminently in a move that could see one of Kepa Arrizabalaga or Willy Caballero leave. There could be other exits too with midfielder N’golo Kante being chased by Inter Milan and Juventus interested in striker Olivier Giroud. We’ll have all the latest throughout the day:
GALLAGHER HEADING TO WEST BROM
20-year-old Conor Gallagher is close to securing a loan move to Premier League rivals West Brom.
Chelsea manager, Frank Lampard, has had discussions with his West Brom counterpart, Slaven Bilic, to enable the English midfieler to make a temporary move to the Hawthorns.
According to the Daily Mail, Lampard wants Gallagher to sign a new deal with Chelsea before making the loan move to West Brom.
The report says that a deal is close and Gallagher could be at the midlands club in time for their away fixture at Everton this Saturday.
HUDSON-ODOI INTEREST RENEWED
Callum Hudson-Odoi is being targeted by Bayern Munich once again according to Sky Germany.
Last year the Bundesliga champions made several bids for the 19-year-old but they were all rejected by Chelsea before Hudson-Odoi signed a new five-year contract to stay at Stamford Bridge.
However, Frank Lampard has brought in Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech this summer and Hudson-Odoi’s future at the club has been throw in doubt.
Chelsea are believed to be open to letting me out on loan with Bayern the favourites to sign. RB Leipzig and Juventus are both monitoring the situation as well.
MENDY MOVE IMMINENT
Chelsea’s signing of Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is set to be announced in the coming days according to talkSPORT.
They say the move is all but complete with an agreement made for the 28-year-old in the region of £18m.
Reports from France say the deal has been held up as Rennes are trying to bring Fikayo Tomori over to the club as part of the deal.
CHELSEA EYE VERONA STAR
Chelsea are in the hunt to sign Hellas Verona’s Marash Kumbulla, according to L’Arena in Italy.
The Blues will battle it out with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, while Inter Milan, Lazio and Roma have also been linked with the 20-year-old following a breakthrough season in Serie A.
The Albanian, 20, could cost as much as €30m, though Roma would perhaps take him on loan with an obligation to buy next year, reports Fabrizio Romano.
LAMPARD DEFENDS LOFTUS-CHEEK
Frank Lampard has defended Ruben Loftus-Cheek from criticism and called for patience over the midfielder, highlighting his lengthy absence with injury.
Gary Neville claimed Chelsea would eventually “cash in” on Loftus-Cheek, and that the midfielder has repeatedly failed to take the chances offered to him.
Loftus-Cheek suffered an achilles injury in the summer of 2019 and missed most of last season.
You can read more here.
Frank Lampard vows to be patient with Ruben Loftus-Cheek
England midfielder is battling to regain form after 16 months out with injury
CHELSEA LEGEND BACK IN ENGLAND
Branislav Ivanovic has been confirmed as a West Brom player.
He returns to England for the first time since leaving Chelsea for Zenit St Petersburg in 2017.
Ivanovic was a free agent, and has signed a one-year deal.
Chelsea youngster Conor Gallagher is expected to link up with the Serb on a season-long loan.
CHELSEA MATCH WHOLE BUNDESLIGA FOR SPENDING
Chelsea’s summer spending is almost identical to that of the entire Bundesliga combined.
Transfermarkt place Chelsea’s spending at €223 million, and the 18 Bundesliga clubs’ at €224 million.
Chelsea signed Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz for £75 million and RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner for £48 million earlier this summer.
They are expected to add Edouard Mendy to their list of summer signings, which also includes Thiago Silva, Malang Sarr, Ben Chilwell and Hakim Ziyech.
GIROUD STILL ON RADAR
Sky Sports believe Olivier Giroud is still on Juventus’ radar, but will only be signed if Andrea Pirlo misses out on his preferred targets Luis Suarez and Edin Dzeko.
Roma’s attempt to sign Arkadiusz Milik from Napoli will be key to Dzeko’s future. It is unlikely they will sanction the sale of Dzeko without first securing a replacement.
A deal for Milik on loan with an obligation to buy is apparently close, but not yet completed.
KUMBULLA TO ROMA
Further confirmation from Fabrizio Romano that rumoured Chelsea target Marash Kumbulla is heading to Roma, on a five-year deal.
GALLAGHER TO SIGN NEW DEAL
Conor Gallagher will sign a new contract at Chelsea before heading to West Brom on loan, report the Daily Mail.
Gallagher is set to join the Baggies for a season. Aston Villa and Leeds were also interested in his signature, after a loan to Crystal Palace broke down following their signing of Michy Batshuayi.
Slaven Bilic’s relationship with Frank Lampard was reportedly key to sealing the deal.
Bilic called Lampard several times to persuade him West Brom was the perfect destination for Gallagher.
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