CHELSEA received an alarming wake up call in Orlando when they were thrashed 4-0 by London rivals Arsenal.
Kalidou Koulibaly made a 15 minute cameo but summer signing Raheem Sterling failed to have any sort of impact on the match.
And the Blues received even more bad news as long-term transfer target Declan Rice has revealed that transfer rumours linking him away from West Ham are 'annoying'.
Meanwhile Thomas Tuchel admitted that there is an urgent appeal for more quality players in his side but the Chelsea boss wasn't able to give an update on Jules Kounde.
- IN: Raheem Sterling (Man City), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Omari Hutchinson (Arsenal)
- OUT: Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Andreas Christensen (Barcelona), Romelu Lukaku (loan to Inter), Danny Drinkwater (released), Charly Musonda (released), Jake Clarke-Salter (released), Lucas Bergstrom (Peterborough, loan), Sam McClelland (Barrow, loan)
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Stay up to date with all the latest from Stamford Bridge in our live blog…
- Justin Lawrence
Tuchel explains horror show
Thomas Tuchel has blamed Chelsea's drubbing by Arsenal on the hot weather in the US and long hours travelling.
He said after the horror show: "We could feel the energy level drop after Las Vegas and after the Charlotte game because of the amount of travelling, very humidity, and very hot temperature.
"It made it tough because it's now been two weeks on the road."
- Jon Boon
Jorginho hopes for trophies for pal Koulibaly
Kalidou Koulibaly has not yet got the silverware to show for his impressive career.
And Chelsea midfielder Jorginho believes the club’s new man is finally in the right place to add some glamour to the barest of trophy cabinets.
"Oh definitely, because of the person he is, he deserves the best of everything," the Italian international revealed.
“When I saw him win trophies I was so, so happy for him. He is such a nice guy and brings a lot to this club.
“He is an experienced player, not just on the pitch. You will see he is a brilliant defender, strong, fast, he plays on the ball.
“But as a guy, a person in the changing room he is just amazing.”
- Jon Boon
Anjorin was wanted by Everton
Frank Lampard was desperate to add Chelsea wonderkid Tino Anjorin to his Everton side.
However, it has been reported the former Blues manager, who handed Anjorin his first team debut, missed out because the Toffees wanted a permanent deal.
Instead, Anjorin has joined Huddersfield Town on loan for the upcoming campaign.
- Jon Boon
Rice 'annoyed' by Chelsea links
Declan Rice is fed up with "annoying" transfer rumours linking him with a move away from West Ham.
The midfielder, 23, has been made Hammers captain following the retirement of Mark Noble and has vowed to give his all to the club.
In an interview with Sky Sports the England star said: "Every time I put on the shirt I go out there and give it 100 per cent and whatever happens off the pitch takes care of itself.
"I can't control that – what I can control is going out there and trying to be the best player.
"It's annoying because of the numbers that get attached to your name.
"You can't control that at all, but there's stuff sometimes that you see and you read that you don't want to hear, because it's not really true in a way.
"For the last couple of seasons that's what I've done and that's the faith the manager has put in me, so all that speculation stuff, that's what comes with playing good, I suppose."
- Jon Boon
Agent Jorginho
Jorginho has revealed he was instrumental in bringing Kalidou Koulibaly to Stamford Bridge.
The Italian and the Senegalese defender were team mates at Serie A giants Napoli.
And Jorginho revealed he had been pushing for his pal to sign for the Blues.
The midfielder said: "I pushed! I was like come on, come to Chelsea. And he was like ah yeah I would like to. I said ‘just come’ because it has been a long time since we played together and shared a changing room or be together again."
- Jon Boon
Barcelona Kounde deal close
Jules Kounde's transfer to Barcelona will come in 'a matter of time'.
The French defender looked set for a move to the Blues.
But at the final hour, Barcelona hijacked the move and appear to have got their man.
Spanish journalist Gerard Romero has revealed the Sevilla player is close to joining the LaLiga side.
- Jon Boon
Giroud’s new look
Ex-Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud had fans swooning over him after revealing his audacious new look.
The striker, 35, has dyed his hair bleach blond ahead of the upcoming season.
Credit: Getty He posed for the camera while in AC Milan training on Friday – and his new barnet has created quite a stir on social media.
Many have praised Giroud’s beauty, suggesting the new look has only elevated his appearance.
One Twitter user remarked: “This bloke could die his hair green and he’d still nick your missus.”
- Jon Boon
Lukaku deal
Chelsea have an agreement in principle for Romelu Lukaku to spend a second year on loan with Inter Milan.
The Blues bought the Belgium international for £97.5m from the Italian side last summer in a marquee signing for boss Thomas Tuchel.
However, after an emphatic start, Lukaku ended the season with just eight Premier League goals having fallen out of favour with the German coach.
Tuchel has previously remained adamant there could still be a future for Lukaku at Chelsea despite being shipped back to Inter on a £6.9m season-long loan last month.
Yet there is an understanding that Chelsea are already looking ahead to sending Lukaku, 29, to Inter again for the 2023/24 campaign.
It is now likely Lukaku has played his last game in a Chelsea shirt, having taken a large pay-cut to get back to Inter.
- Jon Boon
Werner sale
Chelsea are reportedly open to selling Timo Werner this summer, according to reports.
The maligned German striker has stuttered in front of goal for the Blues since arriving at the club for £50million.
He's mustered just 23 goals in 89 appearances – and has been guilty of some horror misses.
And Sky Sport Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has added that a fall out between boss Thomas Tuchel and Werner could be the catalyst for his departure.
- Jon Boon
Tuchel understands Azpilicueta's wish
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says he understands Cesar Azpilicueta's wish to sign for Barcelona, but revealed he won't let his captain go for a cut-price fee.
“It’s a tough question because I am not sure if I want to give Azpi what he wants,” Tuchel said.
“At some point it is about what we want. I made the comparison about how much we fought for Kalidou Koulibaly, who is a national team player and roughly the same age. I see [Azpilicueta] maybe at the same level but Barcelona don’t see him on that level.
“I said that to him … that I understand on a personal and a career level. But I am not only in this role to give him what he wants. I am a manager for Chelsea who wants to do what’s best for Chelsea. He doesn’t like it but he understands.”
- Justin Lawrence
Milan make fresh Ziyech contact
AC Milan have made a fresh approach for Chelsea ace Hakim Ziyech.
Milan have become frustrated with Club Brugge in their pursuit of Charles De Ketelaere.
And they've turned to Ziyech instead, making contact with Chelsea over the winger on Friday, according to sempremilan.
However the Serie A champions want to take Ziyech on loan before making the move permanent for €20 million.
Milan's proposition may be successful if they meet Chelsea's demands of adding an obligation to buy clause to the loan agreement.
- Justin Lawrence
Chelsea's Militao hopes crushed
Chelsea's hopes of signing Eder Militao this summer are over after the Brazilian signed a new contract at Real Madrid.
And the Spanish giants ensured they will not lose the defender cheaply by inserting a staggering release clause.
Militao, 24, put pen to paper on fresh terms this month before the squad flew out to the United States on their pre-season tour.
The deal ties him down at the Bernabeu until 2028.
A release clause of £425million has also been inserted into the contract to scare away any potential future suitors.
- Justin Lawrence
Lukaku can make Inter indestructable
Romelu Lukaku will make Inter Milan the strongest team in the Serie A next season.
That's according to Juventus star Leonardo Bonucci who fears Lukaku could be the difference between the sides next season.
He explained whilst also praising new Roma signing Paulo Dybala: "I think the strongest team is Inter because they’ve brought back Lukaku, who can make the difference.
"Although I’m intrigued by Dybala at Roma because he can become an icon there.”
- Justin Lawrence
Rudiger injures ex-Chelsea pal
Antonio Rudiger injured ex-Chelsea pal Eden Hazard with a horror tackle during pre-season training with Real Madrid.
On the eve of a pre-season El Clasico, where Rudiger is in line to make his first start for his new club against Barcelona, the defender has thrown Hazard's participation into doubt.
During training, Rudiger lunged in to win the ball, but his foot rolled over the top and planted into Hazard's ankle.
An audible scream could be heard from Hazard and fellow Real aces participating put their hands on their heads in horror.
- Justin Lawrence
Kounde gets love from team-mates
Ivan Rakitic has revealed how the Sevilla squad have kept Jules Kounde's mind off his transfer saga involving Chelsea and Barcelona.
He said: "We talked to him to give him a sense of normality. He needs some nonsense from us.
“We are grateful that he wanted to join us [in Portugal], we all know what his situation is like, we don’t have to be very clever, so we have to give him all our love."
- Justin Lawrence
Kounde to Barcelona reports refuted
Reports in Spain have rubbished claims that Jules Kounde is on his way to Barcelona.
Rumours have been swirling that Sevilla have agreed terms with Barcelona over Kounde's departure.
But that claim is false, according to Mundo Deportivo, who state that Sevilla insist they've had zero contact with their Spanish counterparts.
This stance was reiterated by El Chiringuito.
- Justin Lawrence
Tuchel to block Azpilcueta move
Thomas Tuchel has admitted he may block Cesar Azplicueta's move to Barcelona.
He said: "I said that to him and I say it to you that I understand on a personal and a career level.
"But I am not only in this role to give him what he wants. I am a manager for Chelsea who wants to do what’s best for Chelsea.
“He doesn’t like it, but he understands.
"It is tough for him because the other club is permanently on him. On September 1 when things calm down, then he can play on his highest level.”
- Justin Lawrence
Chelsea face Pavard battle
Chelsea have their work cut out trying to convince Bayern Munich to sell Benjamin Pavard.
The Blues have been keen on the defender this summer.
And their interest is set to be exacerbated after they apparently missed out on Jules Kounde to Barcelona.
But the Bavarian giants will do everything in their power to keep hold of him.
Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann said: "I really want him to stay, I want to keep him.”
- Justin Lawrence
Declan Rice reveals transfer frustration
Chelsea transfer target Declan Rice has revealed his frustration over being linked with a move away from West Ham.
He told Sky Sports: "It is annoying because of the numbers that get attached to your name. Obviously, you can’t control that at all.
“Sometimes you read and see stuff and you don’t want to hear because it’s not true. Like I said, I can’t really control that."
- Justin Lawrence
Tuchel gets Di Matteo's approval
Thomas Tuchel's business moves this summer proves his the best man for the job.
That's the view of ex-Blues boss Roberto Di Matteo who's been impressed by Tuchel's recruitment of Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly.
He said: "Tuchel is the best man to assess what he needs and what the squad needs.
"The two signings so far have been absolutely brilliant for the club. I think they've done very well.
"Two great players, top quality players. They're already part of a very successful team but the talent and the skills they bring could unlock defences for the club and it's going be a very big asset.
"Also Koulibaly is a very technical centre half, physical, but he knows how to play out from the back and he's a big leader as well."
- Justin Lawrence
Chelsea 'miss out on Kounde'
Barcelona have snatched Sevilla ace Jules Kounde out of Chelsea's hands, according to reports.
The two clubs have been locked in a tug of war for the defender that the Blues seemed to be winning.
He was all set to pen a £106,000-a-week deal with Thomas Tuchel's side.
But now Kounde's done a huge U-turn and is now poised to join Barca, reporter Gerard Romero tweeted.
He claims Barca and Sevilla have a verbal agreement in place on a deal that's 99 PERCENT complete.
- Alex Cole
Blues shirt in Mike Dean's man cave
Mike Dean has been busy building a man cave since hanging up his whistle at the end of last season.
The legendary referee, 54, called it a day after 22 years at Premier League level and several incidents of controversy.
His final game was Chelsea's win over Watford in May and at the end of the match he was presented with signed shirts from both teams.
They now sit proudly on the wall of Dean's 'mancave' and the former ref gave his Instagram followers a guided tour of the room.
- Alex Cole
Sterling and Neymar compared
PSG star Neymar is not good enough to replace Raheem Sterling at Man City.
That’s according to Trevor Sinclair who made the claim after Sterling joined Chelsea.
Sinclair said on talkSPORT: “Neymar is too inconsistent! You get one good game out of four!”
“If you’re a manager you’d want Sterling over Neymar! Three games out of four Raheem is top drawer.
- Alex Cole
Champions League draw weeks away
Brace yourselves football fans as the Champions League group stage draw is just WEEKS away…
The group stage draw for the iconic tournament is set to take place on Thursday, August 25.
It is scheduled to get underway from 4pm UK time.
- Alex Cole
You’re out of here
Arsenal transfer target Youri Tielemans will sit down with Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers to discuss his future this week, according to reports.
The Belgium international, 25, has just one year left on his contract at the King Power Stadium.
Tielemans has consistently refused offers on new terms but has remained committed to playing for the Foxes.
He is attracting interest from a number of Premier League clubs including Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle.
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