CHELSEA fans are eagerly awaiting news of when the Premier League may return.
But they have had a boost on the transfer front with the door open for a move for West Ham's Declan Rice.
Follow all the latest news and transfer updates from the Bridge below…
DEADLINE ON THE TABLE
Premier League chiefs have been handed a four-week Uefa deadline to produce their restart plans.
The directive has come from Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and general secretary Theodore Theodoridis.
But the chances of any football in Europe getting the green light have suffered a blow.
AGerman virus expert suggested players would still be at Covid-19 risk, despite the Bundesliga’s safety plans for resuming on May 9, while Italy’s resumption plans were deemed “insufficient”.
SunSport reported Uefa’s revised August 2 deadline for seasons across the continent to be completed.
But a new circular stated: “National Associations and/or Leagues should be in a position to communicate to Uefa by May 25, 2020, the planned restart of their domestic competitions — including the date of restart and thecompetition format.”
DEC'S VERSATILE
Jamie Carragher reckons Chelsea target Declan Rice could be deployed as a centre-back.
The Liverpool legend said: “To be honest, he reminds me a little bit of myself. I started in midfield and became a centre back. I’m a big fan of him.
“There’s a slight criticism in terms of how he receives the ball, there’s an art to that.
“If you go to the ball and you’re not in a great position, players won’t give you the ball. But he can pass and I think he’s got something about him.
“At centre back, everything will be in front of him. I think that’s why I was never going to be a great midfield player. In terms of stepping out with the ball, I think he’d be perfect in a back three.
“Of course, he has to improve in certain areas but every young player has to improve.”
TROPHIES TALK
Arsenal fans: We're a bigger club than Chelsea, Aubameyang will never move.
Chelsea fans:
WAGE TO GO
Willian could price himself out of a move to Arsenal by demanding the same three-year deal Chelsea rejected.
The Blues star, 31, will become a free agent in the summer with his contract at Stamford Bridge expiring at the end of the season.
Arsenal have been offered the chance to snap the Brazilian up as a cut-price replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has been linked with Barcelona, Inter Milan and even Chelsea.
But the Gunners may well be put off by the winger's huge demands.
Willian is currently on around £120,000 per week as he looks set to be entering the final months of his time at Chelsea.
However, he is holding out for his next contract to be for another three years, almost taking him up to his 35th birthday.
FORWARD THINKING
Arsenal are looking to sell Chelsea target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for just £30million.
Mikel Arteta is desperate not to lose his 20-goal top scorer for nothing next year.
The £60m Gabon striker is about to enter the final year of his Emirates contract — and has rebuffed all the club’s efforts to extend his stay.
Now Gunners hierarchy appear happy to let him leave for half of what they paid for him, with the coronavirus pandemic slashing funds in the transfer market.
With the threat of a fourth successive season out of the Champions League looming, Arsenal have already agreed a 12.5 per cent pay cut with most of their players to tide them through the global crisis.
Now former Gunners midfielder Arteta is facing a major issue to overhaul his squad — and with a severely restricted transfer budget.
THROWBACK
This was Sky Sports' first promo video for the Premier League back in its inaugural season in 1992/93.
Brilliant!
SWAP IS ON
Arsenal have been offered the chance to sign Chelsea winger Willian as a cut-price replacement for skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, reports MARK IRWIN.
But the Gunners are now balking at Willian’s contract demands — as he prepares to quit Stamford Bridge as a free agent.
The Brazilian ace is understood to be demanding a three-year deal which matches his current £120,000-a-week salary.
Cash-strapped Arsenal are reluctant to tie themselves to such a long-term agreement for a player who will be 32 in August.
But Willian’s agent Kia Joorabchian has become an increasingly influential figure at the Emirates over the past year.
He also represents the Gunners’ technical director Edu — and negotiated the signings of David Luiz and the on-loan Cedric Soares.
FAB GESTURE
Cesc Fabregas has offered to defer his entire £130,000-a-week wages for four months to help Monaco through the coronavirus crisis.
The former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder has already accepted a 30 per cent pay cut for the next four months but has now gone one step further.
The kind-hearted gesture from the highly-decorated Spaniard will save Monaco more than £2million.
Fabregas, whose own great-grandmother, 95, contracted the virus, is also believed to have offered to top up the wages of Monaco’s training ground staff — who have seen their income slashed by nearly a third.
His actions come after top European clubs have been locked in discussions with their players to take pay cuts during the pandemic.
KOREA CHANGE
It seems like someone has been mucking about with North Korea's Wikipedia page.
See if you can spot the change.
AUBA AND OUT
Arsenal are ready to sell captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for just £30m, writes SunSport's Mark Irwin.
With the players having already agreed a wage cut, it is clear that the Gunners will have a severely restricted transfer budget this summer.
And they will therefore stick rigidly to Raul Sanllehi's policy of selling any player who reaches the final year of their contract without signing a new deal – including Aubameyang.
The Gunners are also reported to be in a strong position to bring in Willian on a free transfer to add some extra firepower up front.
Technical director Edu has an excellent relationship with Willian's agent Kia Joorabchian and the Gunners are believed to be front runners for the Chelsea star's signature.
However, they will want him to modify his demands of a three-year deal on his current £120,000-a-year salary for the transfer to go through.
UNDER THE HAMMER
Declan Rice is the star name up for grabs as West Ham prepare for a huge squad overhaul.
Club insiders say ‘nobody is safe’ from the cull which will be triggered partly by cash flow issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic but also because boss David Moyes wants to reshape the squad for the long term.
And although Moyes would rather keep £70million-rated Rice, Chelsea are keen to re-sign the prospect they let go at 15.
Manchester United and Arsenal have also been linked with the England holding midfielder, 21, who has become a key player for the Hammers.
N’Golo Kante, talented rookie Billy Gilmour and Jorginho are competing for two midfield spots at Chelsea.
It is most likely Brazil-born Italy international Jorginho, 28, would be allowed to leave to make way for Rice’s return.
GOOD MORNING BLUES FANS
Yesterday was a busy day as Premier League stars abroad face a two-week quarantine headache with clubs set to recall stars for training restart.
Prem chiefs have also been given a four week deadline by Uefa to produce restart plans for the season plan to resume in June before mid-July finish and start next season in August after coronavirus delay.
And the House of Commons was told the government is in talks with England’s top flight to return ASAP to boost bored fans and to 'support whole football community'.
In transfer news, Chelsea will 'pull the plug on Philippe Coutinho transfer despite Barcelona being willing to take a £66MILLION hit on flop'.
But the Blues look set to recoup the £40m transfer fee they blew on flop Bakayoko with PSG keen on a move.
But in a blow to the West Londoners, Ajax keeper Andre Onana is set to snub Lampard in favour of a Barcelona return.
And everyone’s apparent target Declan Rice could be sold as West Ham prepare for huge overhaul of their squad meaning a return to Stamford Bridge could be on.
But Chelsea 'will be forced to cut transfer budget' after failing to agree a pay-cut deal with the players and they will have to rely on kids, according to Gary Neville.
Elsewhere, Billy Gilmour revealed he got 'stick' for being a Burberry child model but the Chelsea wonderkid was able to see funny side.
Didier Drogba flopped in his bid to become Ivory Coast FA president as ZERO ex-players voted for the Chelsea legend.
Arjen Robben also hinted at a shock retirement U-turn as he admitted he gets 'tickle' to play again.
Blues legend Cesc Fabregas has offered to defer his ENITRE £130,000-a-week wages to help Monaco during coronavirus.
And finally, Mason Mount showed off his new lockdown moustache as he plays video games to pass time.
ALL HANDS ON DEC
Declan Rice is the star name up for grabs as West Ham prepare for a massive squad overhaul.
Club insiders say ‘nobody is safe’ from the cull which will be triggered partly by cash flow issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic but also because boss David Moyes wants to reshape the squad for the long term.
And although Moyes would rather keep £70million-rated Rice, Chelsea are keen to re-sign the prospect they let go at 15.
Manchester United and Arsenal have also been linked with the England holding midfielder, 21, who has become a key player for the Hammers.
N’Golo Kante, talented rookie Billy Gilmour and Jorginho are competing for two midfield spots at Chelsea.
It is most likely Brazilian Jorginho, 28, would be allowed to leave to make way for Rice’s return.
FOUR YOU TO SORT IT
Premier League chiefs have been handed a four-week Uefa deadline to produce their restart plans.
The directive has come from Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and general secretary Theodore Theodoridis.
But the chances of any football in Europe getting the green light have suffered a blow.
A new circular stated: “National Associations and/or Leagues should be in a position to communicate to Uefa by May 25, 2020, the planned restart of their domestic competitions — including the date of restart and the competition format.”
FAB MOVE
Cesc Fabregas has offered to defer his entire £130,000-a-week wages for four months to help Monaco through the coronavirus crisis.
The former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder has already accepted a 30 per cent pay cut for the next four months but has now gone one step further.
The kind-hearted gesture from the highly- decorated Spaniard will save Monaco more than £2million.Fabregas, whose own great-grandmother, 95, contracted the virus, is also believed to have offered to top up the wages of Monaco’s training ground staff — who have seen their income slashed by nearly a third.His actions come after top European clubs have been locked in discussions with their players to take pay cuts during the pandemic.
WILL TO WIN
ARSENAL have been offered the chance to sign Chelsea winger Willian as a cut-price replacement for skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
But the Gunners are now balking at Willian’s contract demands — as he prepares to quit Stamford Bridge as a free agent.
The Brazilian ace is understood to be demanding a three-year deal which matches his current £120,000-a-week salary.
Cash-strapped Arsenal are reluctant to tie themselves to such a long-term agreement for a player who will be 32 in August.
But Willian’s agent Kia Joorabchian has become an increasingly influential figure at the Emirates over the past year.
THE GAME IS AFOOT
Europe's major leagues are ready to give football fans a huge lockdown tonic – with the Prem and especially the Bundesliga firming up plans to resume action.
England's top flight clubs will tuck into “Project Restart at a meeting on Friday while the German League could resume as early as May 9 – although in Spain LaLiga chiefs are being more cautious.
Read the full story here.
DON'T BLUEK BACK IN ANGER
Chelsea have posted throwback footage of their famous win at Liverpool in 2014 when Demba Ba capitalised on Steven Gerrard's slip to set the Blues on the way to a 2-0 victory.
ICYMI
HAV SOME OF THAT
Chelsea are set to rival Man United for the signing of Kai Havertz, 20, according to reports.
The Bayer Leverkusen star is set to leave the Bundesliga club at the end of this season and could join one of the Premier League big boys.
The Athletic report that Chelsea's interest in Philippe Coutinho has been “exaggerated” though, but are interested in Havertz.
CASH WOE
Gary Neville reckons Frank Lampard will be relying on the academy again next season after Chelsea failed to agree wage cuts with their players.
Neville told Sky Sports: “We have seen in the last few days, Chelsea have not been able to successfully negotiate pay cuts and deferrals with their players.
“This is only coming back one way, when it comes to June 30, Chelsea will invest less in the transfer market, they will invest less in players.
“So if players had taken the pay cuts and deferrals, there would have been more to invest in the summer.
“This is coming back to players, this means young players in academies knocking on the first team door are going to have a great opportunity.
“That’s the good coming out of the terrible thing that is happening at the moment.”
MACIAL HAIR
Mason, I moust-ache you a question… What is that on your face?
Chelsea star Mason Mount has used his time off from football playing video games and growing some new facial hair… or so it seems.
The usually fresh faced Blues midfielder has been on lockdown for weeks since coronavirus put a stop to Premier League action.
And if a recent Instagram post is the be believed, he is now sporting a brand new moustache and goatee.
Read the full story here.
BREAKING NEWS!
Premier League football is looking to return ASAP with chiefs holding crunch talks with the government.
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Oliver Dowden told the House of Commons that he is speaking with Prem chiefs about a plan to bring football back to the public sooner than expected.
He said: “I personally have been in talks with the Premier League with a view to getting football up and running as soon as possible in order to support the whole football community.”
Read the full story here.
TOMOR-ROW'S KIDS
Tammy Abraham has told Fikayo Tomori “We're growing up too quick” after the defender posted a throwback picture of the pair playing together.
Tomori shared a snap of the pair together with the FA Youth Cup back in 2015.
Since then they have both broken into the Chelsea first team, with Canadian-born star Tomori impressing in defence.
TAKE ONE ON THE CHIN
Ross Barkley has revealed his lockdown beard.
In fairness, it doesn't look to bad!
PRICE DROP
Lionel Messi’s estimated price tag is at just under £101million as the world's most expensive players have seen their valuations drop due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Barcelona legend, 32, is the only person in the list above the age of 30, while Jadon Sancho, Kai Havertz and Joao Felix are the youngest to feature with the trio aged just 20.
Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo isn't even included in the top 25 most valuable players as Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe sits top of the pile.
The CIES Football Observatory recently stated how players could see their value drop by 28 per cent with clubs losing money due to the Covid-19 crisis.
And according to Transfermarkt, every footballer has seen their stock drop, which includes the six Premier League players in the top ten.
Mbappe, still only 21, has been named as the most valuable player in world football, with the 2018 World Cup winner's price tag estimated at £162m.
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