CHELSEA are turning their attention to an FA Cup trip to Leicester after an impressive 2-1 victory at home to Man City secured Liverpool the title.
And The Sun can exclusively reveal that Frank Lampard expects to sign Declan Rice from West Ham and convert him to a centre-back.
Follow all the latest transfer updates and gossip from West London below…
BLUES INJURY UPDATE
Chelsea are set to miss out on three players for their FA Cup clash with Leicester today (4pm).
Callum Hudson-Odoi has been struggling with an ankle knock and is still searching for fitness.
Fikayo Tomori also missed the matches with Aston Villa and Man City, but isn't expected to return until next week against West Ham.
Marco van Ginkel recently signed a new deal despite being sidelined for nearly two years with a serious knee injury and is working his way back to fitness.
GOOD MORNING CHELSEA FANS
SunSport's Duncan Wright has exclusively revealed that the Blues want Declan Rice to lead their defence next season – and are growing confident they will wrap up a deal to sign the West Ham star this summer.
Frank Lampard is desperate for someone to come into the heart of his back line and help drive a challenge for the Premier League title next season.
Hammers star Rice is the man he wants, with Lampard keen to shift him from the holding midfield position he currently plays in back to his natural home in the centre of defence.
Chelsea have sounded out their London rivals over a deal this summer and believe they can get their man for around £45million.
And though he has forced his way into the England squad on the back of his displays in midfield, SunSport understands Rice himself would be open to changing positions.
The 21-year-old played at centre-back in the recent game against Wolves and Hammers boss David Moyes has said he is as good in the back line as he is in midfield.
While Lampard has challenged Christian Pulisic to be Chelsea’s answer to title-winning Liverpool wingers Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.
He said: “He has the ability to match the Raheem Sterling’s, who are now producing numbers from wide areas, and Mo Salah’s and Mane’s.
“It’s important he understands what is needed to do that because he certainly has the talent to do that.
“He needs to try to get to that sort of level.
“I’m delighted to have him at the minute. He works very hard every day and he has to set his sights as high as he possibly can.”
HAV IT YOUR WAY
Kai Havertz could join Chelsea as early as July, admits Leverkusen boss Peter Bosz.
Bosz said that at the moment, he expects Havertz to participate in both the German Cup final in July and the Europa League match with Rangers in August.
But, he added: “That's all dependent on nothing happening before then.”
PUL OF PRIDE
Frank Lampard has challenged Christian Pulisic to be Chelsea’s answer to title-winning Liverpool wingers Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.
He said: “He has the ability to match the Raheem Sterling’s, who are now producing numbers from wide areas, and Mo Salah’s and Mane’s.
“It’s important he understands what is needed to do that because he certainly has the talent to do that.
“He needs to try to get to that sort of level.
“I’m delighted to have him at the minute. He works very hard every day and he has to set his sights as high as he possibly can.
“Because he broke through at such a young age in Germany and moves to us and it’s a big move, obviously people’s expectations rise.
“But we have to take his age into consideration.
“But there’s no doubt his quality — we can see that — and he is very keen to improve and work, and particularly happy at the minute because he missed some time with injury.
“And if he wants to learn — and he does — he can do that on the training pitch in how he sees the game and when he looks at players around him, who have made that sort of jump.”
SHUFFLE THE DEC
SunSport's Duncan Wright has exclusively revealed that the Blues want Declan Rice to lead their defence next season – and are growing confident they will wrap up a deal to sign the West Ham star this summer.
Frank Lampard is desperate for someone to come into the heart of his back line and help drive a challenge for the Premier League title next season.Hammers star Rice is the man he wants, with Lampard keen to shift him from the holding midfield position he currently plays in back to his natural home in the centre of defence.
Chelsea have sounded out their London rivals over a deal this summer and believe they can get their man for around £45million.
And though he has forced his way into the England squad on the back of his displays in midfield, SunSport understands Rice himself would be open to changing positions.
The 21-year-old played at centre-back in the recent game against Wolves and Hammers boss David Moyes has said he is as good in the back line as he is in midfield.
That is ultimately where Lampard sees the former Chelsea trainee playing.
WERNING LIGHT
Roberto Di Matteo has hailed new Chelsea signing Timo Werner and revealed he tried to sign him at Aston Villa.
As quoted by Metro, he said: “When I was at Schalke he was at Stuttgart and he was just coming on to the scene.
“During the second part of the season, before I left, I was planning with my sporting director
“I was saying I wanted to sign this guy, he’s good. He was young, quick, technically good. I said “can we not sign this boy Timo”.
“We didn’t in the end and then I resigned and so on. Then I went to Villa. Stuttgart, the season after, they got relegated, and so I enquired again to sign him, but then Leipzig signed him on.”
Di Matteo added: “I’m a big fan of his and he’s developed really, really well as well. ‘He’s a goal scorer, he scores goals, so he can guarantee a certain amount of goals for the team, which is very good, and he’s very pacey as well, he’s fast.”
NICE LITTLE WERNER
Timo Werner scored twice during his final game for RB Leipzig today before his £53million move to Chelsea.
The German striker arrives at Stamford Bridge by far the highest paid player following Eden Hazard's departure from the club last summer.
HAVEN'T GOT A HOPE
Liverpool are unlikely to land Chelsea target Kai Havertz this summer, says former Reds player Jason McAteer.
He told the Racing Post: “Takumi Minamino has come in but it looks as if Xherdan Shaqiri and Adam Lallana are going to leave so others are going to have to step up.
“But who? That's the problem. No agent will need any encouragement to link their players to an Anfield move – I'm sure Timo Werner's people were making a lot of the running when there was talk of him joining the club – but are they going to play regularly?
“Talk of Bayer Leverkusen's Kai Havertz arriving at the club therefore seems unlikely. Liverpool broke records to sign Alisson and Virgil van Dijk, but the rest of the team were not necessarily signed for huge fees.
“They haven't gone about their business that way and I don't see it happening.
“And it is going to be a big year with the Euros at the end of the season, so top players are going to want to play regularly, something that Klopp is not able to provide for everyone.”
SOAR POINT
Joe Cole also questioned the work Arsenal's technical director Edu in giving Cedric Soares a new contract.
He told BT Sport: “Cedric – if you're looking to go and compete with Liverpool and Chelsea and you go and sign a 29-year-old full-back who's arguably not played at that level where he's regularly competing against top sides, and you're asking him make a difference, then giving him a four-year contract.
“If I'm an Arsenal fan, I would be asking questions of Edu and the people making these decisions.
“I feel sorry for Arteta because he's got a lot of promise as a young coach.”
BRAZIL NUTS
Joe Cole has slammed Arsenal chief Edu over his transfer policy after giving David Luiz a new deal.
The Chelsea legend said on BT Sport: “The one person I feel sorry for in all this is Mikel Arteta.
“Because he looks like a great coach and it looks like there is some kind of system he is trying to implement.
“We know David Luiz has been a top player and won everything in the game, but the performances this season, I don't know who's taking the decision to make him another year's contract.
“Arguably one of their biggest games of the season, Arteta left him out.
“For me that's a big signal, he's left his most experienced player out of the biggest game against Man City – and then you give him another years contract. [It's] muddled thinking.”
BEER WE GO AGAIN
Fans may once again be allowed to get on the booze in sight of a Premier League pitch with clubs set to campaign to end the 25-year ban on doing so.
Supporters have been banned from drinking alcohol from their seats since 1985 but things could be about to change.
The Times report multiple clubs are believed to be negotiating over the law largely due to fears it “encourages binge drinking” among football fans.
TalkSPORT suggest Sunderland, Ipswich Town, Doncaster Rovers, Accrington Stanley, Port Vale, Forest Green Rovers, Lincoln City, Tranmere Rovers and Northampton Town are in favour of a pilot scheme.
Further clubs such as Gillingham, Newport County and Grimsby Town have shown interest in the movement.
A further issue that will have to be decided is whether booze can be served mid game with the potential for fans to be coming and going and obstructing others – a complaint regularly heard in rugby.
BEER WE GO
Premier League clubs are reportedly set to launch a petition for fans to be able to drink in their seats’ and end English football's 25-year booze ban.
Supporters have been banned from drinking alcohol from their seats since 1985 but things could be about to change.
The legislation states that fans can drink away from their seats and 15 minutes either side of a game.
The Times report multiple clubs are believed to be negotiating over the law largely due to fears it “encourages binge drinking” among football fans.
There is no such booze ban for other popular sports in the UK like rugby and cricket and clubs are considering pushing the Premier League to change the status quo.
One suggestion is that a trial period with the law change could take place amid social distancing.
Because when fans are eventually allowed to return to stadiums it could prevent them congregating together on the concourses if they were permitted to take their drink to their seat.
A top-flight chairman told The Times: “The ban actually encourages binge drinking, because you have fans trying to down three or four pints in an hour or less. A law change could promote more responsible drinking and behaviour.”
TIMO TIME
Timo Werner has achieved a fairy tale ending in Germany after becoming RB Leipzig's ALL-TIME top goal scorer with a double against Augsburg.
The 24-year-old played his final Bundesliga game before sealing a £53million move to Chelsea this summer.
TAG YOU'RE IT
Chelsea could be one step closer to completing a deal for Leicester's Ben Chilwell after Ajax confirmed Nicolas Tagliafico will be allowed to leave the club.
The Blues and Leicester have both been linked with left-back Tagliafico but Frank Lampard has made it clear English ace Chilwell is his no1 target.
Brendan Rodgers' Foxes are thought to view Tagliafico as the man to replace Chilwell at the King Power Stadium and his guaranteed availability could accelerate the transfer chain.
Ajax boss Erik Ten Hag confirmed the Dutch side will listen to good offers for 27-year-old Argentine defender Tagliafico.
He told Het Parool via Voetbal: “For [Andre] Onana and [Donny] Van de Beek, another year at Ajax could certainly be an option, for Tagliafico – because of his age – something different.
“In preparation I will try Lisandro Martinez at that position.”
PUL POWER
A recap of Pulisic tearing Man City to shreds…
LACE 'EM UP
Arjen Robben has sensationally come out of retirement to make an emotional return to FC Groningen.
The former Chelsea man retired last summer after ten trophy-laden seasons with Bayern Munich.
But the 36-year-old spoke in a video on Twitter to say he is returning to boyhood club Groningen.
Robben came up through the youth teams there before playing two seasons from 2000-2002 in the first-team.
FEELING BLUE
Chelsea's 2020-21 home kit has been “leaked” and fans blasted the new “hideous” and “lazy” design.
The jersey was revealed online by Footy Headlines, who have a track record of successfully leaking football kits ahead of their official release – including Chelsea's third strip this season.
But some Blues fans will hope they are wrong on this occasion.
The kit, with black around the edges, sports a massive Three Mobile logo printed on the centre and some have called to “bring back Adidas”.
One said: “Looks a bit plain something doesn’t seem right.”
Another said: “Adidas kit is way better than Nike.”
One added: “Terrible shirt bring back Adidas.”
It was announced at the start of the year that Chelsea ended their shirt sponsorship deal with Yokohama Tyres.
ED TURNER
Chelsea icon Joe Cole has questioned why Arsenal technical director Edu extended the contracts of David Luiz and Cedric Soares.
He told BT Sport: “The one person I feel sorry for in all this is Mikel Arteta. Because he looks like a great coach and it looks like there is some kind of system he is trying to implement.
“We know David Luiz has been a top player and won everything in the game, but the performances this season, I don't know who's taking the decision to make him another year's contract.
Arguably one of their biggest games of the season, Arteta left him out.
“For me that's a big signal, he's left his most experienced player out of the biggest game against Man City – and then you give him another years contract. [It's] muddled thinking.”
Before adding: “Cedric – if you're looking to go and compete with Liverpool and Chelsea and you go and sign a 29-year-old full-back who's arguably not played at that level where he's regularly competing against top sides, and you're asking him make a difference, then giving him a four-year contract.
“If I'm an Arsenal fan, I would be asking questions of Edu and the people making these decisions. I feel sorry for Arteta because he's got a lot of promise as a young coach.”
RED ALERT
Jurgen Klopp believes Jadon Sancho “would look very good” in red but does not expect Liverpool to sign the Borussia Dortmund forward.
Many expect the Reds to enhance their frontline after winning the Premier League title but reported target Timo Werner has signed for Chelsea.
And talk of Sancho entering the Anfield radar is certainly news to ex-Dortmund boss Klopp.
The German remarked to Bild: “A red jersey would look very good on Jadon.
“But I don't think such a transfer will take place this summer.
“He is a very interesting player.
“If he moved to Liverpool, I would be the most surprised of all!”
KAI OF RELIEF
Bayer Leverkusen hope to fend off interest in Kai Havertz but coach Peter Bosz has acknowledged that a deal could be completed by August.
Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United are among the sides competing for the German forward, 21, ahead of the summer transfer market.
Bosz told reporters: “I don't feel that he is thinking too much about transferring. Neither are we.
“I certainly don't have the impression that this will be his last game for the club.
“He is still under contract with us and I have to assume that he will be with us next season too.
“That will include the German Cup final next month and the next Europa League game against Rangers in August.
“Of course, that's all dependent on nothing happening before then.”
CHELSEA PRIDE
DON'T DILLY-BALY
Liverpool have not given up hope of signing Kalidou Koulibaly, according to reports in Italy.
Speculation is rife that the Napoli defender has already agreed to join Manchester City in a deal worth over £72million.
However the prospect of aligning Koulibaly with Virgil van Dijk is said to be too good to dismiss for Jurgen Klopp's team.
TuttoMercatoWeb report on a Liverpool plan to launch an official bid for the centre-back in the coming days.
As well as Liverpool and City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle have all been linked with a move.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is determined to bring in the full £90m asking price he has set for the 29-year-old.
TRIED TO ROB HIM
Former Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo has revealed he tried to sign Timo Werner twice while he was at Schalke and Aston Villa.
He said: “When I was at Schalke he was at Stuttgart and he was just coming on to the scene. During the second part of the season, before I left, I was planning with my sporting director.
“I was saying I wanted to sign this guy, he’s good. He was young, quick, technically good. I said 'can we not sign this boy Timo'.
‘We didn’t in the end and then I resigned and so on. Then I went to Villa. Stuttgart, the season after, they got relegated, and so I enquired again to sign him, but then Leipzig signed him on.”
Before adding: “I’m a big fan of his and he’s developed really, really well as well,’ added the former midfielder. He’s a goal scorer, he scores goals, so he can guarantee a certain amount of goals for the team, which is very good, and he’s very pacey as well, he’s fast.”
FEEL THE BUR-N
Ex-Chelsea star Craig Burley has claimed Manchester United have an advantage over Chelsea in the race for the top four.
Speaking on ESPN FC, he said: “There's no doubt that Chelsea have to make sure they nail this top four.
“Fifth place as you know may get Champions League football, but it might not.
“United have improved and we know United's run-in is particularly easy.”
TIM FOR A CHANGE
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