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:
BAKAYOKO DEAL STALLS
Tuttosport claim the deal to bring Chelsea outcast Tiemoue Bakayoko back to AC Milan is in limbo, with the two clubs unable to agree on a fee.
Bakayoko is keen to return to Milan, where he spent the 2018-19 season on loan.
The midfielder was an exciting purchase when Chelsea picked him up for £40 million in 2017.
Bakayoko starred in the Monaco side that enjoyed an unlikely run to the Champions League semi-final and won Ligue 1, alongside Kylian Mbappe, Fabinho and Bernardo Silva.
But he never settled in the Premier League, and was cast out to Milan, then back to Monaco, on season-long loans.
Milan reportedly want to sign Bakayoko on another loan, with an option of €20 million, while Chelsea would prefer a permanent deal and a higher transfer fee.
Tuttosport name Boubakary Soumare as an alternative Milan are considering.
NEVILLE ASSESSES LOFTUS-CHEEK FUTURE
Gary Neville reveals verdict on Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s Chelsea future
The England international failed to impress in the 3-1 victory over Brighton
HUDSON-ODOI GOING NOWHERE SOON
Callum Hudson-Odoi is unlikely to leave Chelsea this summer as he is contracted until 2024, writes Nizaar Kansella of Goal.
Sky Germany claimed Bayern Munich are set to revive their interest in the winger, after Chelsea’s extravagant summer of spending on attacking options.
But Kansella insists Hudson-Odoi’s long-term future remains at Chelsea.
Meanwhile a move for Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is progressing, for a fee of around €25 million.
UPDATE AT THE BACK
Fikayo Tomori is the most likely of Chelsea’s centre-backs to depart before the end of the transfer window, according to The Athletic.
The addition of Thiago Silva means that Frank Lampard has a surfeit of options at the heart of his defence, with Kurt Zouma, Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Tomori all expecting significant minutes on the pitch.
Malang Sarr also joined on a free transfer this summer but is expected to head out on loan.
Simon Phillips writes that a final decision hasn’t been made on Tomori, who was strongly linked to Everton last week, but the 22-year-old remains the most likely of the five senior options to depart.
CHELSEA THIRD TO 2,000
Chelsea became just the third side to reach 2,000 Premier League points with their win over Brighton last night.
They joined Manchester United and Arsenal in reaching the milestone, pipping Liverpool (1,951 points) and Spurs (1,654).
KUMBULLA TO ROMA
AS Roma have agreed a fee with Hellas Verona for Albanian defender Marash Kumbulla, reports David Amoyal.
Kumbulla will join on an initial loan, with an obligation to buy of €30 million.
Chelsea were named by Verona newspaper L’Arena as one of multiple teams interested yesterday.
GOLD ON RICE
West Ham joint chairman David Gold has been tweeting positively about Chelsea target Declan Rice.
“I would like to congratulate Declan on his 100th Premier League appearance for West Ham - a magnificent achievement,” he said. “I am very proud of him and he epitomises everything this great football club stands for.”
TIERNEY TO REFEREE LIVERPOOL CLASH
Paul Tierney will take charge of Chelsea’s game against Liverpool this Sunday.
Michael Oliver will be in control of VAR.
OSCAR WANTS CHELSEA RETURN OVER ARSENAL
Former Chelsea midfielder Oscar has revealed Willian and David Luiz have tried to persuade him to join them at Arsenal, but he would favour a return to Chelsea.
You can read more here.
NEVILLE MAKES LOFTUS-CHEEK TRANSFER CLAIM
Gary Neville believes Chelsea will eventually “cash in” on Ruben Loftus-Cheek for £25 million.
Loftus-Cheek, 24, impressed on loan on Crystal Palace and initially on his return to Chelsea, earning a place in England’s World Cup squad in-between.
But he has so far struggled to recover his form after suffering a long-term achilles injury in a post-season friendly against New England Revolution in 2019.
Neville said: "I thought he [Loftus-Cheek] was really disappointing.
"I don’t think he can complain. He’s been given games.
“I don’t think he’s ever grasped his chance. There’s going to come a point when they’re going to cash in and get £25 million for him.”
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