CHELSEA are reportedly ready to pull off one of the signings of the summer.
According to reports from Spain, Frenkie de Jong is set to leave Barcelona next week with the Blues in pole position.
Chelsea are said to have offered £59m plus Barcelona target Marcos Alonso to get their man.
They are also said to have made a second bid for Wesley Fofana, worth £70 million.
However, Leicester have turned down the proposal and insisted the French ace is not for sale.
Meanwhile, the Blues are reportedly set to offer Barcelona Marcos Alonso plus £59m in exchange for Frenkie de Jong.
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- IN: Raheem Sterling (Man City), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Omari Hutchinson (Arsenal), Marc Cucurella (Brighton)
- 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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- Joshua Mbu
De Jong wants Chelsea transfer
Former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has claimed that Frenkie de Jong would rather join Chelsea over Manchester United this summer.
The Red Devils have been pursuing a deal for De Jong, 25, since the transfer window opened in June.
However, despite already reaching a £72million agreement with Barcelona, United officials have not been able to tempt him to Old Trafford.
The Dutchman has made it clear that he wants to stay at the Nou Camp next season, but Redknapp believes he could be persuaded to join Chelsea if The Blues submit a suitable offer.
When speaking to The Byline, the former manager said: "Now it looks like De Jong wants to go to Chelsea, I know that for a fact, he wants to go to Chelsea.
"Man United are not going to get him. I’ve had that from somebody right at the very, very, very top at Man United, he’s made up [his mind], he really wants to go to Chelsea.
"So if he goes to Chelsea, and Man United don’t get him, I don’t know where they’re going and if Chelsea get him obviously he’ll be a fantastic signing for them."
- Joshua Mbu
Jake Paul predicts Premier League table
YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul has weighed in on who he thinks will make the top ten in the Premier League this season.
The American has a soft spot for Liverpool, so he has placed them top.
Defending champions Manchester City follow in a close second.
Paul thinks Tottenham and Manchester United will take third and fourth.
Chelsea and Arsenal will finish in the Europa League spots.
West Ham have been placed in seventh.
Aston Villa, Newcastle and Leicester complete the top ten.
- Joshua Mbu
Chelsea De Jong offer
Chelsea have reportedly offered Barcelona £59million plus Marcos Alonso in a bid to sign Frenkie de Jong.
The Blues are currently battling Manchester United for De Jong's signature.
United have already reached a £72m agreement with Barcelona for him, but the Dutchman does not want to make the switch.
And now, Chelsea are looking to hijack the deal.
According to Spanish outlet Sport, The Blues have proposed a swap deal including Alonso and £59m in an attempt to reach an agreement with the LaLiga giants.
If Barcelona choose to accept the offer, De Jong will have to make a decision on his future by next week.
- Joshua Mbu
Chelsea stars ‘say goodbye to Marcos Alonso’
Chelsea players have reportedly said their goodbyes to Marcos Alonso ahead of his move to Barcelona.
The 31-year-old left-back has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge all summer.
But that speculation increased further following the signing of Brighton star Marc Cucurella.
Thomas Tuchel now has both Cucurella and Ben Chilwell to choose from at left-back – leaving Alonso out in the cold.
And according to The Mail, the Spaniard has carried out his farewells to staff at Chelsea's Cobham training ground as he bids to seal a transfer this weekend.
- Joshua Mbu
Chelsea Fofana bid rejected
Chelsea have seen a second bid for Leicester defender Wesley Fofana turned down.
According to Fabrizio Romano, an offer in excess of £70million was presented to the Foxes.
The offer was turned down and boss Brendan Rodgers insists the Frenchman is NOT for sale.
Fofana would be open to a move to Stamford Bridge.
- Joshua Mbu
Cucurella's childhood dream
Chelsea new boy Marc Cucurella says it was his dream as a "KID" to play for the Blues.
He said: "Hello Blues, I’m finally here!
"So proud of joining this team and happy to have achieved one of my dreams since I was a KID, to play for CHELSEA F.C. Can’t wait to get started!"
- Joshua Mbu
Game day
Chelsea kick off their Premier League season against Everton TODAY.
The Blues travel to Goodison Park hoping to register their first win of the new season.
- Joshua Mbu
Good morning Chelsea fans
Chelsea have confirmed the signing of defender Marc Cucurella from Brighton on a six-year deal.
The fee for the Spaniard is understood to be £55m that could rise to £62m with add-ons.
Speaking on his big-money move, Cucurella said: “I’m really happy. It’s a big opportunity for me to join one of the best clubs in the world and I’m going to work hard to be happy here and help the team.”
Meanwhile, Blues boss Thomas Tuchel revealed he tried to sign Cucurella’s defensive partner Kalidou Koulibaly for years before finally breaking Napoli’s resolve.
He said: “via Football Italia: “We followed him for many years.
"Me personally and my staff followed him for many years and tried many times and were never successful because it is very hard to get players from Napoli, who are well known for the fact that they keep their squad together.”
Elsewhere, Chelsea look set to miss out on Leicester City star Wesley Fofana this summer.
That’s because Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers revealed his side have no intention to let Fofana, or his in-demand counterpart James Maddison quit the club.
However, the Blues are reportedly unphased by Leicester’s tough stance and will make another bid for Fofana.
But the Blues could be successful in their pursuit of Frenkie de Jong as the Barcelona ace wants a move to Stamford Bridge over one to Old Trafford with Man United.
That’s according to Harry Redknapp who said: “Now it looks like De Jong wants to go to Chelsea. I know that for a fact.
“Man United are not gonna get him. I’ve had that confirmed from someone right at the very top for United, he really wants to go to Chelsea.
“So if Man United don’t get him, I don’t know where they’re going, but if Chelsea get him he’ll be a fantastic signing for them.”
Finally, Marcos Alonso has packed his bags and said goodbye to the Chelsea squad ahead of a move to Barcelona, reports claim.
The left-back bid farewell to the Blues’ staff after training today in anticipation of completing a switch to Barca this weekend, according to Mundo Deportivo.
They claim that Alonso’s exit was exacerbated by the arrival of Brighton ace Marc Cucurella.
- Justin Lawrence
Thomas Tuchel has made the extraordinary claim that the Chelsea No. 9 is ‘cursed’ and that none of his players want to touch it.
Boss Tuchel said: “It’s cursed, it’s cursed — people tell me it’s cursed.
“It’s not the case we are leaving it open for tactical reasons, for players to come in and take it.
“There was not a big demand for No 9, like when players sometimes want to change numbers. Surprisingly, nobody wants to touch it.
“Everybody who has been at the club longer than me tells me, ‘Ah, you know, he had the nine and he did not score… and he had the nine and also did not score’.
“So we now have a moment where nobody wants to touch the number nine. I’m superstitious, I can understand why players maybe don’t touch it and have other preferences.
“It’s like this but I think Raheem Sterling will help us a lot and in general it’s our responsibility to create more offensive positions to have maybe more players in the box.”
- Justin Lawrence
Slonina's dream comes true
New Chelsea signing Gabriel Slonina has spoken on his move to to West London.
He said: "I think Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the world and they play in the Premier League.
“It was a no-brainer for me to want to join that team, such a massive club with so much history, and the things they have done in the past years has truly been amazing.
"So it’s an incredible honor to be joining the club.”
- Justin Lawrence
Neville stunned by Cucurella price
Gary Neville has revealed he was stunned by the price Chelsea paid for Marc Cucurella.
He said on Sky Sports: "That one just stunned us today.
"It’s a staggering amount of money and they’ve got Ben Chilwell in that position already. That’s a massive transfer that’s gone through. That’s the one [summer deal] that stands out for me.
"Seeing him in a Chelsea shirt… is he going to improve and prove to be worth that sum of money?"
- Justin Lawrence
Aubameyang tipped for Chelsea success
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would be a great addition to Chelsea's squad, according to Darren Bent.
He said on talkSPORT: "[Aubameyang] would be a good addition to the squad.
"One thing we know about Aubameyang is that when he goes to a new football club he hits the ground running. He is someone who knows where the back of the net is.
"His goal scoring records are fantastic.”
- Justin Lawrence
Tuchel explains transfer delays
Thomas Tuchel has revealed that delays and sanctions have slowed down Chelsea's transfer activities.
He said: "The transfers so far speak for themselves. We have a delay in the market, of course. Nobody is guilty of that delay.
“We have a delay because of the sanctions and the sanctions have led to the loss of key players but the starters involved in the day-to-day work so far have done a fantastic job.
£The market speaks for itself.”
- Justin Lawrence
Tuchel slams Boehly critics
Thomas Tuchel disagrees with skeptics who claim new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is panic buying at the club.
Tuchel said: "Panicking? No, I would describe it as super hard-working and learning while new on the job.
“So it’s pretty much going on, new ownership and then stepping into the transfer market is probably one of the toughest things you can do when coming from outside.
“But I have nothing but the biggest respect and compliments for both Todd and Behdad.
“I don’t know when they sleep, maybe they never sleep.
“But we have a very honest, very open, very direct line of communication and the transfers so far speak for themselves.
“We have a delay of course, we had the delay because of the sanctions and the sanctions led to the loss of key players.
“But like I said, both of the owners are involved in the daily business, they are doing a fantastic job so far and the transfer market speaks for itself.”
- Justin Lawrence
Barcelona prepared for Aubameyang fight
Chelsea look set to have their work cut out trying to prise Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona.
Aubameyang joined Barca last summer and club boss Xavi still sees the striker as an integral part of his squad despite Chelsea's interest, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Xavi wants Aubameyang to feature in his team next season, the report adds.
Plus the Blues are yet to table a bid for the Gabon international, it was also reported.
- Justin Lawrence
No pranks for Terry
John Terry thought he was being pranked when he received a call from Kalidou Koulibaly to take the Chelsea legend's shirt number.
Terry initially hung up the phone but returned the call once he done some checks that it was authentic.
Terry then gave Koulibaly his blessing to take his iconic No26 shirt number.
Kouliably revealed how his exchange with Terry went down.
He said: "And I called him – but at the beginning he did not believe that it was me! He thought that it was a joke!
"So he put down the phone at first and called the team manager to ask if it was really me.
"After that I asked him respectfully that I wanted to take his jersey, his number."
- Justin Lawrence
Cucurella transfer fee questioned
Chelsea's decision to splash the cash on Marc Cucurella has been questioned by Martin Keown.
Keown reckons the defender isn't worth the exorbitant fee, and feels the Blues brought him in panic.
He told talkSPORT: "Chelsea have gone out and paid £60-odd million for Cucurella – I think that’s nonsensical.
“It’s an incredible amount of money. I think it’s too much. Cucurella, as good as he is, I think there are still players out there that are better.
"To pay that kind of money with Ben Chilwell still there, [Marcos] Alonso’s still there.
"It does feel like it’s panic buying."
- Justin Lawrence
Don't write off Chelsea
Tottenham boss Antonio Conte is shocked that former club Chelsea aren't being viewed as title contenders this season.
Conte shared his confusion when asked if Spurs can close the gap on frontrunners Man City and Liverpool.
And the bemused Italian responded: "You forgot Chelsea and this is a big, big mistake. You are talking about a team that two seasons ago won the Champions League. It is a really big squad. Last season they won the World Cup for clubs.
“Why is Chelsea not in this group of top teams? For me, Chelsea is in this group."
- Justin Lawrence
De Jong disagrees with agent
Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong disagrees with his agent about his future amid interest from Manchester United and Chelsea, reports suggest.
According to Sport, however, the midfielder is keen to stay at the Nou Camp even on a reduced salary because he believes in the club's sporting project.
However, the Netherlands international's agent disagrees as he thinks his client should leave due to his deferred wages.
De Jong agreed to a temporary salary deduction to help the Blaugrana's financial situation during the coronavirus pandemic two years ago.
Barcelona now owe the Dutchman a fee between £14million and £17m in unpaid wages.
- Justin Lawrence
Alonso says Chelsea farewell
Marcos Alonso has packed his bags and said goodbye to the Chelsea squad ahead of a move to Barcelona, reports claim.
The left-back bid farewell to the Blues' staff after training today in anticipation of completing a switch to Barca this weekend, according to Mundo Deportivo.
They claim that Alonso's exit was exacerbated by the arrival of Brighton ace Marc Cucurella.
- Justin Lawrence
Blues get De Jong boost
Frenkie de Jong's heart is set on a move to Chelsea over Man United, according to Harry Redknapp.
He claimed: "Now it looks like De Jong wants to go to Chelsea. I know that for a fact.
"Man United are not gonna get him. I’ve had that confirmed from someone right at the very top for United, he really wants to go to Chelsea.
"So if Man United don’t get him, I don’t know where they’re going, but if Chelsea get him he’ll be a fantastic signing for them.”
- Justin Lawrence
Chelsea face Fofana heartache
Chelsea look set to miss out on Leicester City star Wesley Fofana this summer.
That's because Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers revealed his side have no intention to let Fofana, or his in-demand counterpart James Maddison quit the club.
Rodgers said: "Wesley Fofana and James Maddison are not for sale. These are very important players to us.
“We’re in a situation where we need to move some players out but that doesn’t mean getting rid of anyone, our best assets.”
- Justin Lawrence
Not Koul with Napoli
Thomas Tuchel has revealed he tried sign Kalidou Koulibaly for years before Napoli finally let him leave.
Tuchel made the claims whilst revealing how hard it's been to do business with the Serie A side.
He said, via Football Italia: "We followed him for many years. Me personally and my staff followed him for many years and tried many times and were never successful because it is very hard to get players from Napoli, who are well known for the fact that they keep their squad together.
“He’s a leader. We had good information about him from Mendy and from Jorginho. We got the same feedback, a fantastic guy, a leader in the dressing room, calm, a role model.
“When you dig in and start looking at his games, analysing his games, you see the quality in defending, the quality in body positioning, his timing of defending.
“He uses both feet for build-up, he is confident, mobile and very experienced. When we had the chance, we went for it. It was our top priority. Very happy that he is with us.”
- Sam Dymond
Transfer watch: Fofana to Chelsea?
Following Marc Cucurella's arrival at Chelsea today for a potentially world record fee for a full-back, the Blues are preparing to smash a similar record to land centre-back Wesley Fofana.
The club want the move. The player wants the move. The fans wants the move.
The only stumbling block? Leicester do not, and are currently refusing to budge.
Rumour rating: ⚽️ ⚽️ ⚽️ ⚽️
- Sam Dymond
Blues have bought elite defender
Chelsea may have been frustrated in the transfer market this summer, but in Marc Cucurella, they have landed an 'elite' player of 'Premier League quality.'
That's the belief of the club's new co-owner Todd Boehly, who welcomed the defender to the club with a statement on the Chelsea website.
He said: ‘Marc is an elite defender of proven Premier League quality and he further strengthens our squad going into the new season.
"We continue to work on and off the pitch, and we’re delighted Marc will be a part of the present and future at Chelsea.’
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