Sport

CHELSEA have added Thiago Silva to their long list of summer signings, but they're not done yet.

Kai Havertz is seemingly next, while bids for Declan Rice and Gianluigi Donnarumma are reportedly being lined up.

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Get all the latest transfer gossip and updates from Stamford Bridge…

  • EXCLUSIVE

    Chelsea are ready to push their summer spend above £250million by finally making a firm offer for Declan Rice, writes Duncan Wright.

    Any move for Rice would be a costly one, but Frank Lampard still wants the midfielder from West Ham, who rate him at £80m and will not make it easy to strike a deal.

    Lamps sees 21-year-old midfielder Rice — who also plays in defence — as the ideal man to help the club get back in the Premier League title mix.

    The Stamford Bridge outfit are prepared to play the long game, knowing West Ham need to sell before they buy.

    And if David Moyes can't sell the likes of Felipe Anderson then he may have no choice but to let Rice go.

  • MORNING CHELSEA FANS

    Chelsea announced their third signing in as many days on Friday when they confirmed Thiago Silva has joined the club on a one-year deal.

    And after the arrivals of Ben Chilwell and Malang Sarr this week, the Blues are looking to add Declan Rice to their ranks.

    SunSport have exclusively revealed how Chelsea are ready to push their summer spending to above £250million by finally making a firm offer for the West Ham man.

    Frank Lampard still wants Rice from West Ham, who rate him at £80m and will not make it easy to strike a deal.

    Lamps sees 21-year-old midfielder Rice — who also plays in defence — as the ideal man to help the club get back in the Premier League title mix.

    Meanwhile, Diego Costa is reportedly “open” to joining Tottenham to reunite with Jose Mourinho.

    Atletico Madrid want to sell the 31-year-old after a disappointing season saw him score just five times.

    According to the Daily Star, Tottenham have been offered the chance to sign Costa, but the North London club have concerns over the striker's age and fitness levels.

    And finally, Chelsea are reportedly considering selling Marcos Alonso to Sevilla.

    Should they sell the Spaniard, who struggled to keep a spot in the team, they are likely to bank £18m.

  • PUSH 'N PUL

    Chelsea icon Pat Nevin has backed Ben Chilwell to form a formidable partnership with Christian Pulisic down the left flank.

    He said: “At Chelsea will Ben Chilwell have an intelligent, skilful, pacy winger to work with who has a superb football brain?

    “One who has vision, can see a pass and crucially knows when to vacate the space for his mate hammering down the line on that left-hand side?

    “A player who on top of that is selfless and keen to build a partnership out there with one-twos, dummies and the ability to draw defenders to make space?

    “I may well have given something close to a perfect description of Christian Pulisic just there. That could be one extraordinary partnership if they click.

    “We have others who can play out there of course and a Callum Hudson-Odoi, Hakim Ziyech or Mason Mount linking up with Chilwell would be also be chilling concept for most Premier League defences.”

  • BRAGGING RIGHTS

  • STRIKE THE RIGHT DEAL

    Premier League sides are spoilt rotten with options if they are looking for a proven striker with European experience.

    Out of favour Barcelona star Luis Suarez, former Chelsea flop Gonzalo Higuain, unattached Edinson Cavani and Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa have all been linked with shock moves to the Premier League.

    But which out of the experienced veterans would be the best bet for an English side?

    SunSport delves into some of the key stats surrounding the four.

  • DEVIL BLOW

    Leicester have lined up Monaco defender Fode Ballo-Toure to replace new Chelsea signing Ben Chilwell.

    Manchester United are also believed to be keen on the defender to provide competition for Luke Shaw.

    But in a blow for the Red Devils, reports in France now claim Leicester officials have begun talks for the eight-cap former France Under-21 international.

    Monaco are said to want £18m for Ballo-Toure – a fee well within the King Power club's grasp following Chilwell's £50m sale.

    And the Monte Carlo club has already secured a replacement for him in Atletico Madrid's Brazilian left-back Caio Henrique, 23.

  • TV TIMES

  • FIVE ALIVE

    The Premier League ‘battle of the bench’ will rumble on until next week – just days before the start of the season. 

    Top sides featuring Manchester United, City, Liverpool and Arsenal are still trying to get the numbers to put the issue of FIVE subs back in the agenda for the next campaign.

    The group has grown but is not enough to get it to a majority but they hope to have that by Friday when they are due to raise it formally. 

    Some clubs are being tempted by the option of joining in despite the obvious advantages for the bigger squad. 

    One leading executive said: “The majority is still in favour of sticking with three subs. But a couple are now seeing the argument behind expanding it.”

  • CHELSEA'S THIRD OPTION

  • BLUES SECOND OPTION

  • BLUE BEAUTY

    Chelsea have finally completed a stunning free transfer for legendary centre-back Thiago Silva.

    Silva is the latest arrival at Stamford Bridge this summer, with Leicester City left-back Ben Chilwell joining a few days earlier for £50million.

    RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner and Ajax playmaker Hakim Ziyech were captured by Chelsea before the end of the Premier League season.

    And even if he doesn’t make any more signings, despite Kai Havertz being expected to join from Bayer Leverkusen, Lampard can field a number of exciting teams and formations as he looks to close the gap on Liverpool.

    Here is the first option Lampard could go for.

  • SILVA STAR

    Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia has spoke of her joy at the club's signing of Thiago Silva.

    Speaking the club's website, she said: “We are delighted to be able to add a player of Thiago Silva’s proven world-class credentials to our squad.

    “Having performed at the highest level for many years, we have no doubt his experience and quality will complement the many exciting talents we already have here.

    “Thiago will be an excellent fit and we hope he can add some new trophies to his impressive list of honours.”

  • WINDOW SHOPPING

    It's been a productive window for Frank Lampard, but he's done yet;Kai Havertz and Thiago Silva look to be joining the ranks too.After being banned from making any purchases in the last two windows, Chelsea are making up for lost time with their new signings. Here's a reminder of the business that's been done so far. In

    • Timo Werner (RB Leipzig) £53m
    • Hakim Ziyech (Ajax) £36m
    • Xavier Mbuyamba (Barcelona) Undisclosed
    • Ben Chilwell (Leicester) £50m
    • Malang Sarr (Nice) Free

    Out

    • Pedro (Roma) Free
    • Willian (Arsenal) Free
    • Nathan (Atletico MG) £2.7m
    • Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid) £50million
    • Josh Grant (Released)
    • Marcel Lavinier (Released)
    • Richard Nartey (Released)
    • Jamie Cumming (Stevenage) Loan
    • Trevoh Chalobah (Lorient) Loan
    • Ike Ugbo (Cercle Bruges) Loan
    • Izzy Brown (Sheffield Wednesday) Loan
    • Jamal Blackman (Rotherham) Loan
    • Marc Guehi (Swansea) Loan

    CHELSEA FIXTURES

    Here are the Blues' upcoming games when the Premier League season resumes on September 12.

    Of course take note of the matches against the 'Big Six' clubs too.

    SPAIN BOUND?

    Following their busy spending spree, Chelsea are reportedly considering selling Marcos Alonso to Sevilla.

    Should they sell the Spaniard, who struggled to keep a spot in the team, they are likely to bank £18 million.

    The left-back has also caught the eye of Inter Milan.

    TOP DROG

    Chelsea legend Didier Drogba is poised to appeal to FIFA after Ivory Coast football chiefs blocked his bid to become the nation's FA president.

    Chelsea legend Drogba, 42, has been a candidate for the top job for several months, but an electoral commission rejected him on Thursday, leaving just two rival contenders in the hunt.

    Drogba's campaign manager Eugene Diomande confirmed they would be appealing, he said: “”We won't plead to the electoral commission – they are a clique who are in no way independent.

    “They're just a bunch of friends who decide over a cup of tea.  Appealing to them would mean us admitting that they have authority.

    “We will take our case before FIFA. A lot of their written recommendations have not been respected.”

    GOALS GALORE

    Fans have been sharing footage of Chelsea's newcomers making light work of Kepa in training.

    While it's good news for Chelsea that Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech appear to be running rings around keepers, it's not so great that it's their own keeper who can't keep up.

    RICE RUMOURS

    Chelsea are reportedly prepared to sell N’Golo Kante as they seek to raise funds to sign Declan Rice.

    The Frenchman has previously been linked with a Stamford Bridge exit, with Antonio Conte keeping an eye on his former player.

    Conte prized Kante from Premier League winning Leicester and since being at Inter Milan has looked to the Premier League to bolster his squad.

    SILVA SERVICE

    Thiago Silva is another big name that Chelsea have added to their squad this window.

    Silva departed Paris Saint-Germain, reportedly in search of Premier League football.

    Upon singing his one-year deal, he said: “I am so happy to be joining Chelsea.

    “I am delighted to be a part of Frank Lampard’s exciting squad for next season and I’m here to challenge for honours.

    “See you soon Chelsea fans, I look forward to playing at Stamford Bridge very soon.”

    Chelsea's business does not stop there, they're closing in on a club record deal to sign 21-year-old Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen.

    STAT ATTACK

    Here are some of Thiago Silva's impressive achievements.

    The Brazilian has earned 89 caps for his country and has captained his national side, as well as PSG and AC Milan.

    During eight years with the French side, he won the league title seven times – no player has won Ligue 1 more times than him.

    Can he add a Premier League title to his impressive haul?

    SILVA TOUCH

    Chelsea confirmed the signing of Thiago Silva on a one-year contract, with an option of a further 12 months.

    Fans took to Twitter to share their delight that the news was finally confirmed.

    Even Mason Mount got in on the action, sharing this now infamous Glastonbury moment…

    BREAKING

    Chelsea have confirmed the signing of former Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva with this Tweet.

    Echoing a chant which may ring around Stamford Bridge when fans are allowed back, Chelsea teased their fans with simply writing 'Oh Thiago Silva'.

    CHILWELL THE NEW COLE?

    New Chelsea signing Ben Chilwell is ready to follow in Ashley Cole's footsteps by becoming one of Chelsea's great left-backs.

    The former Leicester man penned a five-year deal earlier this week and is ready to draw inspiration from Blues legend, Cole.

    Chilwell told Chelsea's website: “It’s great for myself, I’ve got that benchmark of what a great Chelsea left-back is.

    “I grew up watching Ashley Cole play so I know how respected he is here and again that was a big reason for me wanting to come.

    “I feel like I’m still young and I want that sort of career that he had at Chelsea for myself as well.”

    BURST BUBBLE

    Things were looking rosy for Frank Lampard, with Chelsea agreeing deals with Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz, but his bubble has just been burst.

    Eight Chelsea stars are now in Covid-19 self isolation, just two weeks before the start of the season.

    With players returning from their summer breaks,a fresh outbreak of Coronavirus has spread through the training ground.

    Several stars, including Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham, are adhering to government guidelines and were already quarantining after returning from destinations which were deemed high risk.

    FROM PARIS WITH LOVE

    Chelsea are closing in on a deal to bring Thiago Silva to Stamford Bridge, after Paris Saint-Germain confirmed the defender's exit.

    After eight years of service, the 35-year-old ran down his contract, reportedly in a bid to play in the Premier League.

    Silva's final appearance for the club came in the Champions League final where PSG were outclassed by Bayern Munich, but a move to Chelsea would see him compete in a domestic league with far stiffer competition.

    Frank Lampard's young squad would certainly benefit from the excellent leadership qualities that Silva possess.

    They're even, reportedly, prepared to bend their over-30 contract rule for the Brazilian.

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