CHELSEA are continuing their preparations for the Premier League's restart but could be without N'Golo Kante, who has yet to return to training after a "bad time" in quarantine.
Meanwhile the Blues are set to make one big money signing this summer as Frank Lampard chooses to allocate his transfer budget towards a "Giroud-type striker".
Get all the latest Chelsea news and gossip here…
SAN-TASTIC FIGURES
Jadon Sancho's amazing stats prove he is “ready to play for Liverpool and Manchester United”.
That's the verdict of ex-Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham midfielder Steffen Freund as Premier League giants queue up for £100million-rated England attacker Sancho.
With Chelsea too reportedly keen on Sancho, Freund told talkSPORT: “Jadon is ready to play for Liverpool or Man United, no question, because his stats are unbelievable.”
“That shows he can take the next step.
“In the Borussia Dortmund side with [Erling] Haaland, [Julian] Brandt improving, with Emre Can signing, with changing to a back-three that suits Sancho.”
SAID AND DONE
Chelsea have made a shock move for Brentford's tricky Algerian winger Said Benrahma.
The Blues even rate Benrahma – dubbed the “Algerian Messi” – as their top summer target, according to reports in France.
And as one of the few clubs who will have money to spend this summer despite the coronavirus lockdown, Chelsea will be confident in landing their man.
Frank Lampard is set to wave goodbye to veteran wing duo Willian and Pedro this summer with both out of contract next month.
That means youngsters Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic will be the only two first-team wing options for next season.
Chelsea have been linked with Jadon Sancho on-and-off throughout the season – but Manchester United and Liverpool appear to be the leaders in that race.
NO CORONA PUN INTENDED
Chelsea have targeted Porto ace Jesus Corona as back-up if they miss out on Jadon Sancho.
Borussia Dortmund face a battle to hold on to England star Sancho this summer, with Manchester United favourites to land him.
Blues boss Frank Lampard is also a big fan of the 20-year-old winger, but he has an alternative in Corona.
According to the Daily Star Chelsea “scouts have identified Corona as another option”.
The 27-year-old has scored two goals and bagged 17 assists in 34 games for Porto this season.
He has been capped 42 times by Mexico, scoring seven goals.
HAD THE BLUES
Bacary Sagna admits Arsenal feared playing Chelsea because “in our heads they were bigger than us”.
Sagna told the club's In Lockdown podcast: “I believe we under-evaluated ourselves. Playing for Chelsea image-wise was something different
“They used their image a lot, they used to have some big players in the national team and we used to talk about them more than they talked about us. Maybe in our heads, they were bigger players than us.
“On the pitch, we had as much quality as they had whenever we played, and when we played the Arsenal way nobody could beat us.
“I believed nobody could beat us. We used to play simple passes, one, two-touches maximum. But I believe we under-evaluated ourselves which is a big mistake in life.”
JADON SANCHO LATEST
Borussia Dortmund may struggle to hold on to Jadon Sancho after their Bundesliga hopes were all but ended by Bayern Munich.
Joshua Kimmich's first-half strike was enough to separate the two sides at an empty Westfalenstadion, which left Dortmund trailing Bayern by seven points with six games to go.
Sancho started on the bench as he continues to make a recovery from a calf injury and struggled to have an impact when he came on.
Manchester United and Chelsea are among the clubs interested in signing the 20-year-old.
And according to the Evening Standard, Sancho – now in his third season at Dortmund – may be ready to return to the Premier League and seek a new challenge.
BATTLE OF WILLS
Arsenal and Tottenham are fighting tooth and nail to sign Chelsea star Willian with their transfer budgets hit hard by coronavirus.
The North London clubs have both been hit in the pocket due to the enforced break from football.
They will therefore be forced to settle for free transfers, player swaps and loan moves in order to improve their squad for 2020-21.
Willian is one of the biggest free agents this summer, with 86 players currently either returning to their parent clubs from a loan or available for nothing.
The Brazilian, 31, is almost certain to call time on his Stamford Bridge career, with the club not willing to offer him a length of contract he seems suitable.
Arsenal and Tottenham could now fight to take advantage, while Liverpool and Barcelona have also been linked with the former Shakhtar Donetsk man.
MORNING CHELSEA FANS
Don't be put off by the name, but the Blues have targeted Porto ace Jesus Corona as back-up if they miss out on Jadon Sancho.
Borussia Dortmund face a battle to hold on to England star Sancho this summer, with Manchester United favourites to land him.
Blues boss Frank Lampard is also a big fan of the 20-year-old winger, but he has an alternative in Corona.
Also, Ousmane Dembele could be available for Chelsea on loan next season.
The Frenchman, 23, has had a difficult time of it at the Nou Camp after his £97million transfer to Barca in 2017.
That fee could rise to £138m depending on incentives.
But now the Catalan giants are set to either sell or loan out some of their biggest players to balance the books.
And Frank Lampard has reignited interest in Xavier Mbuyamba – who has been likened to Virgil van Dijk.
The 18-year-old defender has been heavily linked with a move away from Spanish giants Barcelona.
He spent time at Chelsea on trial last summer, but the Blues were unable to sign him.
CON MAN
Chelsea kid Conor Gallagher could be set for another loan spell away from Stamford Bridge.
The midfielder has flourised in the Championship during his first taste of senior football.
The 20-year-old scored six goals and claimed four assists in 24 appearances for Charlton before joining Swansea City for the remainder of the campaign in January.
And now West Brom are said to be considering a move – but it could depend on if they get into the Premier League.
NO CORONA PUN INTENDED
Chelsea have targeted Porto ace Jesus Corona as back-up if they miss out on Jadon Sancho.
Borussia Dortmund face a battle to hold on to England star Sancho this summer, with Manchester United favourites to land him.
Blues boss Frank Lampard is also a big fan of the 20-year-old winger, but he has an alternative in Corona.
According to the Daily Star Chelsea “scouts have identified Corona as another option”.
The 27-year-old has scored two goals and bagged 17 assists in 34 games for Porto this season.
He has been capped 42 times by Mexico, scoring seven goals.
WORTH THE HASSEL?
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink reckons Claudio Ranieri's tactics stopped him winning the Premier League with Chelsea.
The best the Italian could do with the Blues was second place in the 2003/04 season.
Hasselbaink believes that the constantly changing approach to the team ruined the team's hopes.
He told FourFourTwo: “Those four years under him were difficult. We had a better team than the table showed and should have finished higher. He’s a good man and I don’t think anyone disliked him as a person – he just had some ideas that didn’t work.”
LOAN FOR DEM
Ousmane Dembele could be available for Chelsea on loan next season.
The Frenchman, 23, has had a difficult time of it at the Nou Camp after his £97million transfer to Barca in 2017.
That fee could rise to £138m depending on incentives.
But now the Catalan giants are set to either sell or loan out some of their biggest players to balance the books.
ONE IN ONE OUT
Chelsea are set to make “one big signing” this summer, a respected journalist has claimed.
And the new arrival could force Michy Batshuayi out of the club.
The Blues were quiet in last summer’s market due to their transfer ban and despite the Court of Arbitration for Sport allowing the club to spend in January, Hakim Ziyech – who will arrive this summer – was Chelsea’s only signing.
Simon Johnson claimed: “I was talking to someone the other day, they were suggesting that in all likelihood there’ll be one big signing, and then whatever else comes up, swap deals etc, etc.
“The striker which Frank wants is someone who can hold up the ball and play around him, which is very much a Giroud-type striker and that certainly rules out Batshuayi, who increasingly became a peripheral figure.”
SUPER MARIO
Atlanta have reportedly started talks with Chelsea over the permanent signing of Mario Pasalic.
But the Italian side are said to want a discount on the agreed £13.4m fee.
Pasalic, 25, joined the Blues in 2014 but has failed to make a single appearance for the club.
He has been sent on five different loan deals and finally found his feet at Atalanta, where he has made 74 appearances and helped them qualify for the Champions League.
UR SURE?
FC Ural midfielder Petrus Boumal says he would love to play for Chelsea.
The 27-year-old has revealed interest from Everton, Fulham and Bordeaux.
But with his current deal in the Russian Premier League ending this summer, he is on the lookout for a move.
And Cameroon star Boumal is dreaming of idolising Blues legends Claude Makelele and Michael Essien.
He said: “My dream club is Chelsea.
“Makelele and Essien are two players I really loved. I loved watching their style of play, how they move, how they tackle and how they attack the ball.
“They maintained the balance between attackers and defenders. They played for Chelsea and since they played there, I really loved Chelsea.”
JESUS RISES
Chelsea are keen on signing Jesus Corona if they are unable to convince Jadon Sancho to join, reports the Daily Star.
The Blues are said to be resigned to losing Willian and keen to add a winger to replace him.
But Inter Milan and Sevilla are also reported to have made enquiries for Porto's Mexican winger.
Chelsea are also ready to battle Man Utd for Bournemouth's Josh King, who is out of contract next summer.
HAD THE BLUES
Arsenal feared playing Chelsea because “in our heads they were bigger than us”, revealed Bacary Sagna.
He told the club's In Lockdown podcast: “I believe we under-evaluated ourselves. Playing for Chelsea image-wise was something different
“They used their image a lot, they used to have some big players in the national team and we used to talk about them more than they talked about us.
“Maybe in our heads, they were bigger players than us.
“On the pitch, we had as much quality as they had whenever we played, and when we played the Arsenal way nobody could beat us.”
BEATEN TOON IT
Newcastle have opened talks with Philippe Coutinho and lead Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea in the race to sign him, according to reports.
The Magpies have moved to land the ex-Liverpool man ahead of their imminent mega-money Saudi backed takeover.
Reports earlier today suggested the Gunners plan to start discussions with the 27-year-old soon while United and Chelsea have been linked for months.
But the Toon have beaten the Premier League trio to the punch and begun talks with the playmaker and his camp, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo.
UP THE ANTE
Here's what we found out about Antonio Rudiger from his quick-fire Q&A.
- Favourite food: German schnitzel
- Least favourite food: Vegetables
- Guilty pleasure food: Junk food including sweets and McDonalds
- Food he eats to keep healthy: Avocado
- Best meal he can cook: ZERO!
MAUR TO COME
Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly closing in on the permanent signing of Mauro Icardi from Inter Milan.
The Argentinian international has been a huge hit at Parc des Parisiens since arriving on a season-long loan, with the player chipping in with 20 goals in 31 games in all competitions.
It had been claimed that Chelsea were in the running to secure his services with Frank Lampard looking to bolster his attack for next season.
But according to ESPN, it is Les Parisiens that are in pole position to land him, with wife and agent Wanda Nara in negotiations with PSG and Inter.
It is stated that Icardi has a four-year deal on the table in Paris where he will earn £170,000-a-week.
XAV SOME OF THAT
Chelsea could reignite their interest in Xavier Mbuyamba – who has been likened to Virgil van Dijk.
The 18-year-old defender has been heavily linked with a move away from Spanish giants Barcelona.
He spent time at Chelsea on trail last summer, but the Blues would unable to sign him.
But according Spanish source Mundo Deportivo, Chelsea are preparing to make another move for him.
BEING FRANK
Brian McBride has praised Frank Lampard for having patience with Christian Pulisic.
The ex-Everton star told Chelsea's official US podcast: “I think that's the good thing about having a manager who has played the game at such a high level, because Frank was very patient with Christian at the beginning.
“Christian's moved over to a new country, joined a new team and had to establish himself in a new league.
“There could have been the pressure there on him to deliver straight away but Frank understood that he needed to have time to adapt.”
IN THE BAGG
West Brom could reportedly make a move to sign Conor Gallagher on loan if they are promoted to the Premier League.
According to the Athletic, the Baggies are “big admirers” of the 20-year-old.
Gallagher spent the first half of the season out on loan with Charlton before he teamed up with Swansea in January.
For both of the Championship clubs combined, he has scored six goals and made nine assists in 36 league games.
THREE & EASY
The Premier League have finally given the go head for 3pm games to shown live on TV – with some matches even set to be aired for FREE.
Top-flight bosses have dropped its opposition to the game being shown to compensate for them being behind closed doors.
The long-standing blackout was lifted last month, but Prem bosses initially claimed they still wouldn't allow 3pm matches to be broadcast.
But now they have had a “change of heart”, according to The Times – with the previously blocked games now allowed to be shown.
There are 92 Premier League matches left to be played this season, with the restart pencilled in for June 12, although some fear it may be more like June 26.
Every match will be broadcast via some medium to make up for the fact fans are not allowed to watch live from inside the stadium.
TI THE KNOT
Timo Werner should snub Chelsea as him joining would be a “marriage made in heaven”, according to John Aldridge.
The former Reds star told the Liverpool Echo: “Liverpool and Timo Werner are a marriage made in heaven.
“From what I have seen of the striker, he would suit the Reds perfectly and offer a valuable option to Jurgen Klopp.
“He can play in every position across the front three and, in terms of his attributes, he has everything Liverpool would need.
“Especially his finishing.”
TURNED TO ASH
This tweet has been doing the rounds on social media this morning – and the Chelsea fans can't get enough.
The defender left the Gunners to join Chelsea in 2006, where he stayed until his 2014 move to Roma.
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