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
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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 TO SEND KEPA ON LOAN
Chelsea could decide to send current No. 1 Kepa out on loan, following the signing of Edouard Mendy from Rennes.
Mendy officially signed for The Blues yesterday, and this has led to speculation over the future of Kepa.
Kepa, the most expensive goalkeeper of all time, has suffered a collapse in form over the past year. This led the club to the signing of Mendy.
The Sun reports that Frank Lampard may opt to loan Kepa out to regain his confidence.
Kepa was signed from Athletic Bilbao for €80m two years ago.
LOFTUS-CHEEK URGED TO LEAVE CHELSEA
Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been urged to leave the club by Trevor Sinclair.
Loftus-Cheek’s future has been thrown into doubt due to the influx of new players signed by the club during the transfer window.
The 24-year-old is thought to have fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge, and former West Ham midfielder Sinclair says it’s time for him to find a new club.
CHELSEA BAD ENVIRONMENT FOR GOALKEEPERS SAYS JAMES
Former Liverpool goalkeeper David James says Chelsea is a ‘bad environment’ for goalkeepers, as they announced the signing of Edouard Mendy.
Mendy signed from Rennes for a fee believed to be in the region of £22m.
Talking to Talksport, James revealed his problems with Chelsea:
"I studied Kepa before he came to Chelsea and he fascinated me,” James told the radio station.
“This guy was capable of making saves I hadn’t seen in the Premier League for a long time, top end stuff, proper, proper top end stuff.
“But then he would throw one in and I’d think, ‘OK, there’s a flaw here but if you get the right coaching and right environment for him, this guy could be the best goalkeeper in the Premier League’.
“But I don’t think Kepa’s had the protection at Chelsea, I think he’s been hung out to dry. If he doesn’t do something right, it’s wrong and he gets absolutely lambasted by everybody.
“And I’ve been in Kepa’s position, when I was at Liverpool I was that guy.
“In the end you have to look at yourself to see what you can do, but it’s also about whether you’ve got the environment…
“You spend £72m on a player, talk about an investment, then you’ve got to work out how much do you spend to make him better rather than, ‘you’re that cost, you should sort it out yourself or not make the mistakes’, which is ludicrous.
“With Kepa it just seems like confirmation bias; everyone doesn’t like him, so let’s get someone else who could fix the problem.
“I’ve analysed Mendy, he’s good with his feet, his positioning is good and he likes coming from crosses, which would be interesting if he drops a couple in the Premier League. Give him the opportunity and see if he still comes for crosses after that…
“Liverpool had this problem for a few years where they were brining in Simon Mignolet, the best performer in the Premier League, and all of a sudden he doesn’t improve. Then the next keeper [Loris Karius] doesn’t improve either, and then rather than looking at the individuals you’re looking at the environment and whether the environment they’re working in is conducive to improving players.
“So with Chelsea, if you’re going to spend £72m on a player and then replace him with a £22m player, you’ve got to ask, is the environment right for either goalkeeper?”
CHELSEA OPEN TO BARKLEY SALE
Chelsea are open to the possibility of loaning or selling Ross Barkley, states The Athletic.
Barkley’s future is in doubt due the increased competition this season in light of the signings of Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech, not to mention the return to full fitness of N’Golo Kante.
Aston Villa are reportedly interested in Barkley, according to The Telegraph.
However, The Athletic state that any loan move for Barkley would require the interested club to pay his £120,000 salary in full.
The Blues are also open to selling Barkley, should they receive an offer they deem acceptable.
CHELSEA DIRECTOR GIVES KEPA HOPE
Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia states the signing of Edouard Mendy from Rennes doesn’t spell the end of Kepa’s time at the club, stating that Mendy will ‘compliment’ the current batch of goalkeepers.
Mendy’s signing was announced today, for a fee believed to be in the region of £22m.
Many believe that his arrival spells the end of Kepa, who is going through a difficult run of form, but Granovskaia says otherwise:
“As soon as Petr Cech and our technical team identified Edouard as the most suitable goalkeeper to complement our existing group, there was only one player we wanted to bring in,” she explained.
“Edouard arrives following a season of real success with Rennes, he is ambitious for more, and we welcome him to our club.”
PSG DIVIDED ON BAKAYOKO
Paris Saint-Germain’s attempt to sign Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko may not materialise due to differences in opinions on the player.
Bakayoko reportedly wants a return to Milan, where he played on loan in the 2018-19 season. However Chelsea haven’t been impressed with the figures proposed by the Italian giants.
PSG have now entered the fray for the 26-year-old, with sporting director Leonardo reportedly a fan of Bakayoko.
However French outlet Le 10 Sport states that not everyone behind the scenes at the Parisian club are satisfied with Bakayoko’s technical prowess.
This may put the brakes on any potential deal, allowing Milan the chance to improve their bid to Chelsea’s liking.
DEFENDER HAPPY WITH FITNESS LEVELS
New Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell says he is ‘happy’ with his fitness levels after getting a run out in the Carabao Cup third round victory over Barnsley.
A heel injury had ruled the defender out for much of the pre-season preparation, the former Leicester City played played around 30 minutes in last night’s 6-0 victory.
“I’m happy. Obviously it was nice to come on in a game like that especially," he told Chelsea TV.
"The boys were playing well and it was obviously my first match minutes in a while so it was nice to be out there and great to make my debut.
"Match fitness is completely different to training. You can train as much as you want but match fitness is completely different.
“You have to play matches to get up to speed and it was important for the gaffer and myself. He said I’d come on for 30 minutes or so today just to try and get up to speed.”
ITALIAN SIDE COULD LOOK FOR RUDIGER AS PLAN B
Roma could look to re-sign Chelsea centre back if they fail to sign Manchester United defender Chris Smalling.
Roma have been locked in talks with United throughout the summer about turning Smalling’s loan deal from last season into a permanent one.
However there is still a huge stumbling block in terms of United’s valuation of the player in relation to what the Italians are willing to offer.
Italian outlet Calciomercato.it speculate that should Roma fail to get the Smalling deal over the line, they would turn their attention to Chelsea centre back Rudiger.
The Germany international was dropped from the last two match day squads, which has led to speculation that he may be surplus to requirements.
Chelsea bought Rudiger from Roma for £29m three years ago.
LEFT-BACK THINKS ONLY OF CHELSEA SAYS AGENT
The agent of Chelsea left-back Emerson Palmieri says the player is committed to staying at Stamford Bridge.
Emerson joined from Roma in January 2018, but has struggled to cement a place in Chelsea’s starting XI.
He’s been continually linked with a return to Italy, but so far a deal has yet to materialise.
Speaking to TuttoJuve.com, his agent said the Italian wants to stay in London.
“I always read that Emerson is close to Juventus, but I can reiterate that there have never been contacts in this transfer window with the bianconero club,” said Fernando Garcia.
“Right now it’s hard to talk about his farewell, the boy only thinks of Chelsea."
WEST HAM REGISTER INTEREST IN LOFTUS-CHEEK
West Ham have reportedly registered interest in taking Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek on loan for the season, according to The Guardian.
Loftus-Cheek’s playing time looks set to diminish this season due to the signings of Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.
The Guardian now believes that David Moyes’ side are one of several teams interested in taking the English player on loan for the season.
The 24-year-old wants first team football ahead of Euro 2021 and could leave before the end of the transfer window.
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