CHELSEA lead the Premier League table after their victory over Leeds United.
And on the transfer front, we've got the very latest on Antonio Rudiger's future, while the West London club continue to be linked to David Alaba.
Follow all the latest Chelsea news below…
- Joe Brophy
NEV-ER SAY NEVER
Gary Neville has revealed why he is backing Chelsea for the title over fellow early pace-setters Spurs.
He told the Gary Neville Podcast: “Chelsea are impressing me, they have a real chance.
“I think Chelsea have more of a chance [than Tottenham for the title]. They have Kante, they have Thiago Silva, players that could navigate them to it.
“There’s a winning culture, [Roman] Abramovic wins trophies. They have good players and players that can do the ugly side of the game. They’re a real threat.”
- Joe Brophy
ED FOR THE HILLS
Bayern Munich star Manuel Neuer has become the latest figure to heap praise on Chelsea's Edouard Mendy.
He told L’Equipe: “There are a lot of world-class goalkeepers right now. For example, Edouard Mendy, who moved from Rennes to Chelsea.
“He is a player that we only saw in Ligue 1, who joined a big club and has immediately been successful.
“It’s great to see that. Overall, I’m happy to see so many good goalkeepers because we’re a brotherhood.”
- Joe Brophy
ED UP
Eden Hazard has reportedly cost Real Madrid £65,000 per minute since his £143million move from Chelsea in 2019.
Spanish newspaper AS revealed the staggering sum after it emerged the Blues will end up banking £143m from Real over three years after Hazard completed his switch 18 months ago.
The Belgium international, 29, has played just 26 times for Real since then, scoring only three goals.
- Joe Brophy
KEPA CALM AND CARRY ON
Frank Lampard has claimed that Chelsea are under no pressure to sell flop keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
He said: “There’s no pressure.
“The pressure is to win games and I have to do the right thing to win games, and Mendy has made himself a permanent fixture at this point.
“The pressure to win games means I pick people in form – goalkeeper, striker, winger, whoever. At the same time it’s obviously an opportunity to give Edu a rest and give Kepa a game. He deserves it.”
- Joe Brophy
BILLY THE KID
Billy Gilmour has sent a message to Chelsea fans after Frank Lampard confirmed the youngster would start tomorrow.
- Joe Brophy
NOT FEELING FAB
Cesc Fabregas has also lifted the lid on how Maurizio Sarri's arrival spelled the end for him at Chelsea.
He told Tuttosport: “Sarri wanted to play Jorginho who had joined Chelsea for 60million Euros.
“Playing only League Cup or Europa League games was not enough for me, I’ve always been a started and in the end I left Chelsea."
- Joe Brophy
SARRI STATE
Cesc Fabregas has revealed how Maurizio Sarri insisted on making his players training at 3pm each day – even though it meant missing out on family time.
He told Tuttosport: “Sarri is a good coach but he has strong convictions on a tactical level. He is very superstitious and it’s difficult to make him change his mind.
“For example, he always wanted us Chelsea players to train at 3pm. It was bad for players who have a family like myself.
“We would not be able to see our children for the whole day. They went to school in the morning and they would sleep when we returned home after the training session.
“One day we asked him to let us train in the morning. He said we had to train at 3pm because a professor in Pisa had proved it was the best time for the body.
“I only know that for any player it’s important to spend time with his family.”
- Joe Brophy
HULK DASH
Former Chelsea target Hulk has officially left Shanghai SIPG four years after first joining – and could now move to the Premier League on a free transfer.
The Brazilian star, 34, is now available for nothing in January after rejecting a new deal in China earlier this year.
Hulk claimed: “I am listening to many proposals from Brazil and many places including in Europe.
“[I have offers from] Turkey, Portugal, England, Spain, Italy, Germany – and I also have an offer from China.
“Every day more new proposals arrive.”
- Joe Brophy
NEW LOOK
Frank Lampard has confirmed that Billy Gilmour and Kepa Arrizabalaga will both start against Krasnodar in the Champions League tomorrow.
Chelsea have already sealed their place as group winners following last week’s 4-0 victory in Sevilla.
And Lampard is set to mix his team up so that key figures are given a break for Wednesday’s home clash.
Here's how they could line-up…
- Joe Brophy
FIRST THE WORST
Chelsea would slip to fourth in the table if matches ended at half-time.
- Marc Mayo
UP THE ANTE
Chelsea’s new stars have settled in incredibly well – N’Golo Kante has revealed.
The likes of Thiago Silva and Timo Werner have already made their mark after a busy summer window.
And Kante told the club website: “For sure we have a beautiful squad. Everyone is involved.
“As players we know what is required to be part of the starting 11 and on the bench, because many players have shown that even with less time they play very well. It’s for the manager to decide but as soon as we are on the pitch, we try to give the best for the club.
“We had some new players coming in this season and so far they are doing very well. They feel good and we feel good with them.
“Now they are part of the team we don’t see them as new players because everyone is in a good mood and has the desire to do well for the club.”
- Marc Mayo
TUG OF WAR
Premier League giants are locked in a transfer tug-of-war to sign centre-back Sebastian Walukiewicz, according to reports.
Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are all interested in the 20-year-old Cagliari ace despite him signing a new contract last week.
Although his new deal expires in the summer of 2024, it won't deter Europe's top clubs from launching their move.
According to Italian publication Corriere dello Sport, Inter Milan are also in the mix with Cagliari valuing him at £54million.
The Poland international has shown terrific potential following his breakthrough season last campaign.
Credit: Getty Images – Getty - Marc Mayo
CAPTAIN. LEADER. FORTY.
A very happy birthday to John Terry!
And well done to the Chelsea Twitter for managing to condense his Blues career into only three photos..!
- Marc Mayo
LIKE A BOS
Bosnia star Anel Ahmedhodzic has declared his desire to move to a top European side from Swedish team Malmo.
AC Milan and Chelsea have been named by Bosnian outlet SportSport as monitoring the 21-year-old defender.
After winning the Swedish title this weekend, he declared: "I feel absolutely ready.
"We will see what will happen during the holidays. Until there is something concrete, I am focused on Malmo.”
- Marc Mayo
TIME FOR MOUR
Billy Gilmour has told today's press conference that he has 'grown up' over his spell out with injury.
The youngster told reporters: "When I was injured it was tough, as it was during lockdown as well.
"But when I was off the crutches it was great to get back in the gym and training.
"I have grown up a bit, I have moved into my own place and looking after myself. I am cooking, which is going pretty well."
He added: "The gaffer has been really good with me. I need to work hard here and hopefully get my chance."
Credit: Getty Images – Getty
- Marc Mayo
MODEST FRANK
Jurgen Klopp's claim that Chelsea are Premier League title favourites has not deterred Frank Lampard.
He insisted: "I don't think we think much of it. Liverpool and Manchester City have built a great squad, there are others in contention.
"I think where we are out, we are in good form, but we have players who have come in and City and Liverpool have had a lot of success for long periods. We are trying to reach that."
- Marc Mayo
ZIYECH OUT
Hakim Ziyech is going for a scan later on an injury that will rule him out of the Krasnodar clash.
Callum Hudson-Odoi is also absent due to a hamstring knock.
Frank Lampard said: “I think [Ziyech] was looking good.
“The injury was looking great. I hope it's a minor injury. Long-term I am not worried about him at all.”
- Marc Mayo
GOAL KEPA
Kepa Arrizabalaga is back in the line-up for the Krasnodar clash.
Frank Lampard has confirmed the goalkeeper rotation with Chelsea already qualified for the last-16.
He told reporters: "Kepa starts. It is about attitude and how you play, his situation now is different with Mendy's form.
"Kepa is training brilliantly well and acting brilliantly well. I have no qualms about putting him back in.
"He has been very supportive [of Mendy]. I have seen that.
"I watch from afar and he has been supporting him and training well. That's what I look at. Goalkeepers have to push each other as a group."
Credit: Getty Images – Getty - Marc Mayo
STILL TIM
Timo Werner's form in front of goal does not concern Frank Lampard at this point in time.
Chelsea's attack is firing but there is a sense that there is more to come from the German.
Lampard said: "I have no worries about Timo. he has made a big impact already.
"He has created chances and he is going to be a huge player for this club. I don't think that the Spain vs Germany game had an impact on him, it's just a small moment."
- Marc Mayo
BILLY STARTS
Billy Gilmour is in the line-up for tomorrow's game with Krasnodar.
Frank Lampard has told his press conference that the Scot is getting the chance to impress after overcoming a knee injury.
He said: "Billy will start tomorrow and I don't want to have that thought [about a loan away] until the window opens.
"We have options, but that can quickly change. I will make that decision going forward."
- Marc Mayo
ZOUM ZOUM
Kurt Zouma impressed former Tottenham and England U21 striker Garth Crooks yet again on the weekend.
Back on the scoresheet, the defender was praised by the BBC pundit as Marcel Desailly-esque.
In picking Zouma for his team of the week, Crooks worte: “He's done it again. Kurt Zouma loves popping up in the opposition penalty area on set-plays and getting on the scoresheet.
“I'm not sure who is better at it at the moment, Zouma or his senior partner Thiago Silva. There is no doubt in my mind that the arrival of the former Brazil captain has had an enormous effect on the confidence of Zouma in the same way Marcel Desailly had quite a telling impact on John Terry's game during six years together at Stamford Bridge.
“If Zouma turns out to be anything like the defender Terry was for Chelsea then success is only just around the corner.”
NINTCHDBPICT000624064831Credit: Reuters
- Marc Mayo
MARK OF A GOOD TEAM
Chelsea’s title hopes are high because of good recruitment and a good manager, says Mark Bosnich.
The ex-Blues keeper believes the club can aim for the top with Frank Lampard very experienced at winning trophies.
He told Sky Sports: “I think they’re genuine title contenders.
“[With] the addition of Mendy in goal, Thiago Silva at the back, some of the other young players – Timo Werner, Kai Havertz.
“They’re slowly but surely getting to grips with the intensity of the Premier League.
“It’s going to be very difficult for them, they know that, but they are in very good hands as someone who has won things before and knows how to do it.”
- Marc Mayo
GIME A LIKE
Jose Gimenez appears to have ‘liked’ a post calling for his move to Chelsea.
Eagle-eyed Blues fans spotted the Atletico Madrid defender’s Twitter account appreciating the post – before it was hastily removed.
Hmmm.
- Marc Mayo
NEU KID ON THE BLOCK
Edouard Mendy has been praised as ‘world class’ by Manuel Neuer.
The new Chelsea shot-stopper has settled in remarkably well at Stamford Bridge, leaving the Bayern Munich star impressed.
He told L’Equipe: “There are a lot of world-class goalkeepers right now. For example, Edouard Mendy, who moved from Rennes to Chelsea.
“He is a player that we only saw in Ligue 1, who joined a big club and has immediately been successful.
“It’s great to see that. Overall, I’m happy to see so many good goalkeepers because we’re a brotherhood.”
- Marc Mayo
GO GO N’GOLO
Chelsea’s win over Leeds on the weekend came courtesy of a vital performance from N’Golo Kante.
Former defender Franck Lebeouf praised the Frenchman for beating Kalvin Phillips in the midfield battle.
He told ESPN: “Chelsea should have finished the game earlier [and] scored more goals. But I’m pleased to see what I [saw].
“I think one key of the game [is] the fact that Leeds couldn’t play the game they normally play because N’Golo Kante got the [better] of Kalvin Phillips.
“That was a real fight in the middle of the park and we saw less of Phillip’s leading the game for Leeds than he normally does.
“That was the key [to] tonight’s win for Chelsea.”
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