Chelsea transfer news LIVE: Edouard Mendy, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ross Barkley, Ruben Loftus-Cheek plus updates
All the latest Chelsea transfer news, rumours, gossip and done deals
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
Follow all the latest Chelsea transfer news, rumours, gossip and done deals as the summer window deadline draws closer.
New goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has been announced in a £20m transfer from Rennes and the giant Senegalese could well go straight in goal for the Blues’ weekend fixture at West Brom.
Meanwhile a host of Chelsea players have been pushed to fringes following the club’s big-spending summer, and several are looking for a route out to regular playing time.
Antonio Rudiger is one of those after the arrival of Thiago Silva, and Rudiger is the subject of interest from Paris Saint-Germain, where Silva recently departed, for a season-long loan.
Likewise Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ross Barkley are all considering their positions at the club, with Aston Villa reportedly interested in loan deals.
CHELSEA MAKING MISTAKE IF THEY LET RUDIGER GO SAYS KEOWN
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown says Chelsea would be making a mistake if they let Antonio Rudiger leave the club.
Rudiger’s future has been thrown into doubt since the arrival of Thiago Silva, and the German was left out of the previous two match day squads.
Keown, speaking to Talksport, believes Chelsea should retain the former Roma defender.
"The goals they concede, they don't seem to know how to mark properly from crosses," Keown told Talksport.
"If you look at that [foul] they conceded last week, the sending off, Christensen, what are they doing?
"The ball's at the other end of the pitch. Have a look at their line if you look at the detail.
"We're asked to analyse now in this job, I spend hours watching, their defence is a disgrace.
"Silva comes in, maybe he resolves that. Maybe Rudiger actually is the best defender and he would perform better with somebody alongside him with the craft of how to defend crosses, with the amount of goals they conceded last season.
"There are elements of their team at the back that are not quite right.
"I do think [Silva alongside Rudiger is best] and I know he has a problem from set-pieces, but they all do.
"[Kurt] Zouma is maybe a better header of the ball but Zouma is also prone to mistakes.
"I think Rudiger is the best defender and that is the long-term partnership for me, but it looks like Rudiger is going out the door.
"So it's all opinions but defensively I think they need to do more."
Rudiger has been linked with a move back to Roma, and also to Paris Saint-Germain.
MENDY PROUD TO FOLLOW IN FELLOW AFRICAN FOOTSTEPS
New Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is “proud” to be the first African goalkeeper to play for the club.
Mendy arrived from Rennes this week in a fee believed to be in the region of £22m.
Speaking to the club’s official website about the move, the Senegalese said:
Most of the biggest African talent has played for this team.
[Didier] Drogba, [Michael] Essien, [Samuel] Eto’o, [Jon-Obi] Mikel.
When you see that, you want to continue it. Regarding the goalkeeper, I am the first, so it really makes me very proud, and it’s also a big responsibility.
When this story is discussed, then I realise the path I have been on in my career.
It’s true that it’s incredible. People say hard work pays off, and it does. I have worked very hard; I haven’t taken anything for granted. “I was at Marseille, and then Reims, and then Rennes, and now Chelsea. It’s been a constant progression, and now I am ready to continue on that upward path.
CHELSEA HANDED SPURS CUP CLASH DUE TO COVID
Chelsea will play Tottenham in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup after Spurs were given a bye due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jose Mourinho’s side were due to play Leyton Orient in the third round this week.
However positive COVID-19 tests from within the Orient team meant the game had to be postponed, and therefore Tottenham were awarded the tie.
They will now face Frank Lampard’s men in the next round.
BLUES ANNOUNCE SIGNING OF YOUNG STRIKER
Chelsea have announced the signing of 16-year-old striker Aleksi Heino from Inter Turku on a two-year apprenticeship, subject to international clearance.
Heino, hailing from Finland, spent a week-long trial at Chelsea, in addition to spending a seven-day trial at German side Wolfsburg, and reportedly impressed The Blues.
BLUES REJECT RUDIGER LOAN
Chelsea have reportedly rejected Paris Saint-Germain’s offer of a loan with option to buy for Antonio Rudiger.
According to French outlet RMC Sport, the French giants made an offer for the Germany international that would see the defender join on loan this season with an option to buy next summer.
This has been rejected by Chelsea, who would prefer an outright sale, states the French publication.
Rudiger joined The Blues from Roma for £29m three years ago.
RUDIGER LINKED WITH PSG MOVE
Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger could move to Paris Saint-Germain on loan, states The Daily Mail.
Rudiger’s place in the Chelsea pecking order has fallen since the arrival of Silva, who was signed as a free agent.
Ironically, The Mail now reports that the French side could replace Silva with Rudiger.
PSG will reportedly ask Chelsea to take the Germany international on loan for the season.
Rudiger wants first team football ahead of next summer’s European Championships.
CHELSEA BLOCK TOMORI LOAN MOVE
Chelsea have reportedly blocked Everton’s loan move for defender Fikayo Tomori, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Blues signed Thiago Silva during the transfer window, and this has led to speculation surrounding several of their current defenders.
Antonio Rudiger has been linked with a move away, as has Tomori.
Fabrizio Romano states that Everton requested the 22-year-old on loan, but Chelsea have refused the offer. Instead, Everton will now focus on Barcelona’s Jean-Clair Todibo.
INTER NEED TO SELL ANOTHER PLAYER BEFORE KATE MOVE
Internazionale need to sell another player in addition to Milan Skriniar before making another attempt for Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante.
The Italian side have highlighted Kante as a key target during this transfer window, but need to raise the funds to sign the 29-year-old.
Inter are in talks with Tottenham over the sale of Slovakian defender Skriniar and a deal has been mooted in the region of €60m.
However reports in Italy state even if the Skriniar deal happens, they still need to shift another top player before making an attempt to sign Kante.
La Gazzetta dello Sport states that either Christian Eriksen or Marcelo Brozovic will need to make way in order to finance the Kante bid.
Eriksen only joined Inter from Tottenham in January, but has struggled to acclimatise to Serie A thus far.
WERNER PLAYED ROLE IN CONVINCING HAVERTZ TO SIGN
Chelsea striker Timo Werner reveals he played his role in convincing Kai Havertz to join him at Stamford Bridge.
Havertz joined from Bayer Leverkusen, whilst Werner arrived from RB Leipzig in June.
Speaking to German website CFBayern.com about Havertz, Werner revealed how he talked to the attacking midfielder about making the switch to England.
“When I found out from the media that Chelsea were in for him, of course I immediately made the idea of a change palatable to him,” said Werner.
“Since I’d been in his position a few weeks before him, I was able to tell Kai what kind of plan the manager had for both of us if he decided to join.”
HUDSON-ODOI SEEKS LOAN MOVE
Callum Hudson-Odoi is reported to have asked for a loan move in a bid for regular first team football.
The 19-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge due to the arrivals of Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech.
Talksport states that Hudson-Odoi wants the opportunity to go on loan for the season in order to receive first team football.
Bayern Munich, who have shown interest in the youngster in the past, may ask for his services, as the Bavarians are short on numbers in their squad.
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