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
Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free
Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
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.
MENDY TO UNDERGO CHELSEA MEDICAL TODAY
Edouard Mendy will have his Chelsea medical today, the Evening Standard have reported.
A £22m fee has been agreed between the Blues and Rennes for the goalkeeper.
The Senegal international is expected to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga in the starting XI after the latter made another costly mistake against Liverpool on Sunday.
UNNAMED CLUB TO MAKE HUDSON-ODOI BID
An unnamed club are set to push for the signing of Callum Hudson-Odoi this week, according to a report from The Athletic.
The Chelsea winger has played just ten minutes of football so far this season, brought on as a second-half substitute against Brighton last weekend and dropped from the matchday squad for Sunday’s defeat at the hands of Liverpool.
The 19-year-old was linked with a move to Bayern Munich last year but shortly after signed a new five-year deal at Stamford Bridge.
His lack of first-team football, though, appears to have changed the situation, with the player’s representatives now reportedly considering a meeting with the club.
NEW CHELSEA SIGNING COULD MAKE DEBUT TOMORROW NIGHT
Thiago Silva could make his first appearance for Chelsea on Wednesday night.
The Brazilian defender is close to a return to full fitness after missing the first couple of games.
And he could be involved as his new side take on Barnsley in the Carabao Cup.
“We’ll see with Thiago because Thiago’s not coming back off an injury, he’s just getting fit," Frank Lampard told Metro when asked about the possibility of Silva playing against the Championship side.
“The others it seems too soon, but they are not far away.”
ASHLEY COLE PRAISES FULL-BACK AFTER CHELSEA EXIT
Ashley Cole has described Tariq Lamptey as a “better dribbler” than Liverpool pair Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson after his performance against Newcastle on Sunday.
The Brighton right-back, who left Chelsea for the Seagulls in January, has impressed at his new club.
And Cole was full of praise for the 19-year-old following his display at St James’ Park.
“He has [surprised me],” he told Sky Sports. “If you go back to Robertson and Trent. I would say the dribbler, I think he’s the best with the ball at his feet and maybe his end product isn’t up to par yet.
“He’s so effective. He drives with the ball. He’s quick and so far this season he’s done very well.”
KEPA ARRIZABALAGA IS A BROKEN GOALKEEPER IN A BROKEN SITUATION
Here’s a closer look at the goalkeeper situation at Chelsea ahead of the imminent arrival of Edouard Mendy:
Kepa Arrizabalaga is a broken goalkeeper in a broken situation
Edouard Mendy’s imminent arrival will remove Kepa from between the sticks, the spotlight and the firing line. The keeper that once refused to come off will now be relieved not to be on
NEW CHELSEA SIGNING PREDICTS ‘SPECIAL YEAR'
Thiago Silva has claimed this could be a “special year” for Chelsea after a busy transfer window.
The Blues brought in Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech and Ben Chilwell in a summer splurge.
That has led to increased expectations, though Sunday’s defeat against Liverpool was perhaps a reality check.
But Silva, yet to make his debut because of injury, has backed his new team to be a success.
“My aim is to win. As I said before, it’s a young team and we’re aiming to win as many games as possible," the 35-year-old told Chelsea’s official website.
“We know that the opposition will never make life easy for us and will have prepared to win the game but I will work as hard as I can from the very start.
“Being at a big club, winning trophies, that’s what drives me on.
“I’m arriving 100 per cent motivated for this new project,” he said when asked to send a message to Chelsea fans.
“I’m not just here for the experience, I’m here to win.
“I hope that they believe, just as we do, that this is going to be a very special year and one full of success for the club.”
MORATA SET FOR JUVENTUS MEDICAL
Alvaro Morata is moving closer to a return to Juventus, report Gianluca Di Marzio.
The former Chelsea striker arrived in Italy on Monday night ahead of his proposed medical.
Morata is expected to sign a contract at Juventus this week and confirm his move to the club he played for between 2014 and 2016.
FORMER CHELSEA DEFENDER SAYS MENDY WILL BE A ‘BARGAIN'
Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf has backed goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to be a success at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are set to sign the 28-year-old from Rennes to provide competition with the much maligned Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The Spaniard, signed for £71m back in 2018, has struggled throughout his time at Chelsea and made another costly mistake in Sunday’s 2-0 defeat against Liverpool.
“Well, comparing to what we see from Kepa... Kepa is doing what he does best - mistakes - yes, Mendy is much better than that,” Leboeuf told ESPN.
"He had a very good season in Reims, signed for Rennes and had a very good season for Rennes.
"So I don't know if there is another goalkeeper who Chelsea could find but for that amount of money - yeah it's kind of a bargain to have Mendy.
"He's a tall goalkeeper, very agile and I'm sure he's going to do the job.
"But Kepa cannot do the job anymore. It's over."
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.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies