CHELSEA are in FA Cup action this weekend as they welcome League Two side Morecambe to the Bridge.
On the transfer front, we've the very latest on interest in Moises Caicedo plus an update on the future of Olivier Giroud.
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- Josh Graham
BLUE MOON
Frank Lampard does not need telling he has to turn Chelsea’s season round before it hits the rocks, WRITES MARTIN LIPTON.
After all, the Blues boss spent the first decade of Roman Abramovich’s reign as a key member of the Stamford Bridge dressing room.
But Lampard also recognises that Chelsea is now a different club to the one it was when the Russian took charge. Still, absolutely, with the same expectations – to win silverware, to compete, to go close.
Yet without the same impatient demands, the same sense of every single match being a potential reason for judgement, the period when a draw was viewed as little more than a defeat which earned a point.
And a club which, despite all the efforts to portray it as having a revolving door to the manager’s office, is actually far more stable than most.
As Lampard will know, as well, it all changed after one decision when Carlo Ancelotti was sacked 12 months after landing the double, where the club acted in haste – and repented at leisure.
It meant that there needed to be REAL reason to dispense with a manager mid-season, even one that was under-performing.
- Josh Graham
CUP CARNAGE
Wembley chiefs fear a Covid crisis could undermine the credibility of the FA Cup, WRITES MARTIN LIPTON.
Competition bosses are on standby to impose a series of walkovers eliminating teams who cannot fulfil their fixtures, with League One Shrewsbury set to be the first to suffer.
And as a signal of the limits they are facing, the FA will hold the first-ever “double draw” for the fourth and fifth rounds on Monday.
Shrewsbury appear certain to be withdrawn from the third round stage = with Southampton likely to get the first walkover – after announcing “several members of the squad and first team staff have tested positive for Covid-19”.
Wayne Rooney’s Derby, meanwhile, will field a mix of under-23 and youth team players for their tie with non-League Chorley, with no first team squad members involved.
But with the FA nervously awaiting the results of Covid tests over the coming 24 hours, the danger of a slew of games being abandoned and clubs booted out is a real one.
The FA is paying for this week’s round of tests at the 44 clubs in action from outside the Prem, including Chelsea's opponents Morecambe who postponed their last two games due to an outbreak, with all teams told they have a 72-hour sample deadline ahead of their ties.
- Gary Stonehouse
MORNING, CHELSEA FANS
Andreas Christensen's knee injury could deny fellow defender Fikayo Tomori a loan switch to Leeds or Newcastle.
Chelsea are focused on Sunday's FA Cup clash against Morecambe after four losses in their last six Premier League matches.
But Tomori, 23, capped once by England, is looking to sort out more game time.
And under-fire boss Frank Lampard could try to keep the 23-year-old as Christensen faces a long lay-out for the knee injury sustained against Aston Villa on December 28.
Danny Drinkwater could end his Chelsea nightmare by joining Turks Kasimpasa on loan.
The ex-England midfielder, 30, last played a senior game for the Blues in March 2018 after joining from Leicester a year earlier.
And Brazilian winger Lucas Piazon has finally left Stamford Bridge, eight years after his final match.
The 26-year-old will have his contract terminated ahead of joining Portuguese top-flight club Rio Ave.
- Ian Tuckey
LUC'S FINALLY OUT FOR BLUES
Lucas Piazon has finally left Chelsea, eight years after his last appearance for the Blues.
Following three first-team outings, seven loan spells and a broken leg, Piazon will finally have his Blues contract terminated, ahead of a permanent move to Rio Ave.
The Brazilian, now 26, arrived in West London as a fresh faced teenager from Sao Paolo in 2011.
He swiftly impressed within Cobham's fabled youth set-up, breaking into Chelsea's first-team set up less than a year later, under Andre Villas-Boas.
After two appearances on the Blues' bench during that first season, he made his debut in September 2012 aged 18, starting a 6-0 League Cup romp over Wolves and even assisting a goal for Ryan Bertrand.
An appearance in the next round against Manchester United followed, as did a Premier League debut that December against Aston Villa, with things looking promising for the attacking midfielder.
But after signing for Malaga on loan in January 2013, Piazon would never feature for Chelsea again.
After 14 goalless appearances for the LaLiga side, Piazon was soon walking the well-trodden path from Chelsea to Vitesse. He bagged 11 goals and eight assists in 31 appearances for the Eredivisie side, but that wasn't enough to get him back in the Blues' plans.
- Ian Tuckey
NO TEMPORARY FIKS
Fikayo Tomori's hopes of a loan move away from Chelsea look to have been scuppered by a knee injury suffered by Andreas Christensen.
Tomori had been hoping to secure a temporary deal this month after finding his first team chances limited at Stamford Bridge this season.
But centre-back Christensen has undergone scans on the injury suffered in the draw with Aston Villa.
And the club fear that will leave him sidelined for a period.
That leaves Chelsea boss Frank Lampard short of defensive options.
And Tomori is now seen as needed in the first team squad for the foreseeable future.
Newcastle had shown an interest in taking the 23-year-old on loan until the end of the season. And Leeds have also been linked with Marcelo Bielsa seeing key defenders ruled out through injury.
- Ian Tuckey
MORE TO CAMBE SOON!
Chelsea are showing how seriously they are taking Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie at home to League Two promotion hunters Morecambe.
And the future of Blues' boss Frank Lampard will certainly be all at sea if they suffer a shock exit against the coastal team – after earning just four points from their past six Premier League matches.
- Ian Tuckey
HE HAZ BEEN MISSED
Eden Hazard has never quite matched his Chelsea form since joining Real Madrid in June 2019.
And amid injuries, with the Belgium playmaker hitting the big 30 on Thursday, he faces a real fight to finally live up to his £115million transfer fee.
- Ian Tuckey
NEVIN BREAKS DOWN CHELSEA LOSS
Chelsea legend Pat Nevin has explained Frank Lampard’s thought process during the 3-1 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.
Nevin, writing for the club’s official website, said: “Maybe after that opener, Frank could have gone safe and changed from 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1, we had the players on the pitch to do it.
“The thing is, he would have wanted to get control back and get on the front foot, so being negative at that moment would have been alien to his outlook.
“Why shouldn’t we press and go for the equaliser, that is the Chelsea way, especially at Stamford Bridge under Frank Lampard.
“Do you shut up shop while under the cosh or go all out to get a goal back before half-time and know you are still in the game.
"We went with the latter and that commitment followed by a rare error by N’Golo [Kante] led to the third.”
- Ian Tuckey
JANUARY SALES
The January transfer window is in full swing with plenty of arrivals expected before deadline day on February 2.
However, Premier League clubs will also be looking to balance the books by offloading their unwanted players this winter and there’s plenty of high-profile talents on offer.
Here, SunSport take a closer look at each club’s most likely January departure according to bookmakers Paddy Power.
- Ian Tuckey
DANNY CAN'T PASA UP THIS CHANCE
Danny Drinkwater could end his Chelsea nightmare by joining Turks Kasimpasa on loan
The Blues midfielder, 30, is eager to reignite his career that has taken a dramatic fall from grace since his switch to the Blues.
Drinkwater joined Stamford Bridge from Leicester for £35million in 2017 following his stunning title success with the Foxes.
But he has made just 23 appearances for the Blues and hasn’t made a senior appearance since March 2018.
Drinkwater had loan spells with both Burnley and Aston Villa but made six appearances between them.
During his time with Villa, he was sent away from the club’s training ground after headbutting team-mate Diogo Jota.
- Ian Tuckey
VICH PICKINGS FOR AXED BOSSES
ROMAN ABRAMOVICH has spent a staggering £110.5MILLION paying off sacked managers since becoming Chelsea owner in 2003.
And amid a horror run of results, there’s a real fear Frank Lampard COULD be next to face the swing of the Russian’s axe.
SunSport understands Blues chiefs are NOT considering dumping the ex-Derby chief yet.
But Chelsea have had their head turned by Thomas Tuchel’s sudden availability after he was sacked by Paris Saint-Germain before Christmas.
Since buying the Blues from Ken Bates, Abramovich has seen 12 managers come and go – including Jose Mourinho twice.
Only ONE of them left on their own terms – Europa League winner Maurizio Sarri, who quit Chelsea to pursue his dream at Juventus after just one year in London.
- Ian Tuckey
LEEDS OK FOR KAYO
Chelsea's one-cap England defender Fikayo Tomori is being linked with joining Leeds this month.
Fikayo Tomori has struggled for game time with Chelsea this seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty The Stamford Bridge youth product has fallen out of favour with boss Frank Lampard this term, with just 45 minutes of league action.
Thiago Silva's summer arrival pushed Tomori down the pecking order.
And the BBC suggest Elland Road manager Marcelo Bielsa is ready to take advantage.
The Argentine is in the market for a new defender after Robin Koch suffered a long-term knee injury.
- supal
PALM READER
NAPOLI reportedly need to offload two players before they can make their move for Emerson Palmieri.
The Italian club are interested in signing the Chelsea outcast on loan this month.
But according to Corriere dello Sport, Napoli must first make room for his arrival.
Everton target Arkadiusz Milik is expected to be one of the players that is sold this month.
Napoli are also reportedly planning to offload either Kevin Malcuit or Faouzi Ghoulam.
- supal
STAT ATTACK
- supal
POLLS APART
MANCHESTER UNITED will win the Premier League this season, according to SunSport readers.
Jurgen Klopp's reigning champions had opened up a commanding lead atop the table just over two weeks ago after thumping Crystal Palace 7-0 at Selhurst Park.
But the Reds are now winless in their last three games, having most-recently lost to Southampton on the back of draws with Newcastle and West Brom.
- supal
LOAN RANGER
Danny Drinkwater looks set to end his Chelsea nightmare, albeit temporarily, by moving to Turkish side Kasimpasa on loan, according to reports.
The Blues midfielder, 30, is eager to reignite his career that has taken a dramatic fall from grace since his switch to the Blues.
Drinkwater joined Stamford Bridge from Leicester for £35million in 2017 following his stunning title success with the Foxes.
But he has made just 23 appearances for the Blues and hasn't made a senior appearance since March 2018.
Drinkwater had loan spells with both Burnley and Aston Villa but made six appearances between them.
During his time with Villa, he was sent away from the club's training ground after headbutting team-mate Diogo Jota.
- supal
NO PAT ON THE BACK
Chelsea legend Pat Nevin has explained Frank Lampard’s thought process during the 3-1 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.
Nevin, writing for the club’s official website, said: “Maybe after that opener, Frank could have gone safe and changed from 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1, we had the players on the pitch to do it.
“The thing is, he would have wanted to get control back and get on the front foot, so being negative at that moment would have been alien to his outlook.
“Why shouldn’t we press and go for the equaliser, that is the Chelsea way, especially at Stamford Bridge under Frank Lampard.
“Do you shut up shop while under the cosh or go all out to get a goal back before half-time and know you are still in the game. We went with the latter and that commitment followed by a rare error by N’Golo [Kante] led to the third.”
- supal
ON THIS DAY
- supal
ROUD AWAKENING
OLIVIER GIROUD is reportedly set to stay at Chelsea this month despite interest from Juventus and Inter Milan.
Goal claims the French striker, 34, will see out the remainder of his Stamford Bridge contract after a mixed season under Frank Lampard.
Giroud struggled for minutes during the first few months of the new term, with Tammy Abraham preferred in attack.
But the Chelsea pensioner showed his class when called upon and has ended up scoring nine goals in 15 games.
Despite fighting his way back into contention, it was thought Giroud was exploring new avenues this winter in order to keep his starting place for France at the Euros.
- supal
HAVE YOUR CAIC
Chelsea are said to be in touch with Independiente del Valle over midfielder Moises Caicedo – after the Ecuadorian club denied they were in talks with Manchester United over the 19-year-old.
The Express claim the Blues are the latest club to pursue the full Ecuador international.
But reports also suggest any interest from United has cooled.
- supal
ROMAN EMPIRE
ROMAN ABRAMOVICH has spent a staggering £110.5MILLION paying off sacked managers since becoming Chelsea owner in 2003.
And amid a horror run of results, there’s a real fear Frank Lampard COULD be next to face the swing of the Russian’s axe.
SunSport understands Blues chiefs are NOT considering dumping the ex-Derby chief yet.
But Chelsea have had their head turned by Thomas Tuchel’s sudden availability after he was sacked by Paris Saint-Germain before Christmas.
Since buying the Blues from Ken Bates, Abramovich has seen 12 managers come and go – including Jose Mourinho twice.
Only ONE of them left on their own terms – Europa League winner Maurizio Sarri, who quit Chelsea to pursue his dream at Juventus after just one year in London.
- supal
FIK OF IT
LEEDS could look to bring Chelsea outcast Fikayo Tomori to Elland Road this month, according to reports.
The England international has fallen out of favour with boss Frank Lampard having been limited to just 45 minutes of league action.
Tomori, 23, broke into the Chelsea first team last season under their transfer embargo making 15 league appearances.
But the summer arrival of Thiago Silva has pushed Tomori down the pecking order.
And BBC write how Marcelo Bielsa is ready to take advantage.
The Argentine is in the market for a new defender following the long-term knee injury to Robin Koch.
- William Pugh
JANUARY SALES
The January transfer window is in full swing with plenty of arrivals expected before deadline day on February 2.
However, Premier League clubs will also be looking to balance the books by offloading their unwanted players this winter and there's plenty of high-profile talents on offer.
Here, SunSport take a closer look at each club's most likely January departure according to bookmakers Paddy Power.
- supal
I GINK IT’S NOT ALL OVER
Forgotten Chelsea midfielder Marco van Ginkel is back in full training with loan club PSV Eindhoven as the injury-hit 28-year-old battles to rebuild his career.
The eight-cap Holland star has had temporary spells with AC Milan, Stoke and three times Dutch giants PSV after joining the Blues from Vitesse in 2013.
And he told ESPN: “The knee is doing well, we are doing well. For the last two weeks, I have been doing everything with the group again.
“Now that I am so close again, it is starting to itch again.”
- supal
ROUD NOT TO
OLIVIER GIROUD has reportedly emerged as a target for Atletico Madrid.
The Spanish side could land the Chelsea star as a replacement for Diego Costa.
BBC Sport claim that Atletico Madrid are one of the clubs interested in Giroud.
The 34-year-old's impressive spell of form has caught the eye of Diego Simeone.
Despite his slow start to the 2020-21 campaign, Giroud now looks back to his best.
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