Chelsea

Chelsea continue their preseason tour of the United States with an east coast visit to brand new MLS club Charlotte FC on Wednesday at Bank of America ...

Still, the spread is just 1.5 goals, indicating that while many expect Chelsea to emerge victoriously, there is respect for the fight Charlotte are expected to put up. 112 mins to kick: Christian Pulisic is back in his home nation, and he's exploring sights throughout Chelsea's travel across the country. Thomas Tuchel admitted his forward room is jam packed, and he will be looking to establish some continuity on the field through the season to keep his best players in form. 95 mins to kick: All eyes will be on the Chelsea attack today. 22 mins to kick: Chelsea are not the only Premier League team in the United States dealing with inclement weather. It results in a bad pass from Kovacic to Hudson-Odoi on the right flank. +61 mins to kick: The new kickoff time is in just a few minutes as lineups are announced, but the seats at Bank of America Stadium are still very sparse. A nervy moment for the Chelsea goalkeeper, but he handled the pressure with ease. A Hakim Ziyech cross from deep down the left is right in Pulisic's path, but as he comes flying in with a karate kick, he just can't reach it. When asked what his goal from the friendly is, Charlotte FC head coach Christian Lattanzio said, "I would like to have a team that competes to give a good game to Chelsea, and therefore to our supporters so they enjoy the experience. Meanwhile, the attacking ranks are overflowing, and departures may be necessary to cull the roster. Chelsea, meanwhile, topped Club America 2-1 in the preseason opener on Saturday, needing goals from Timo Werner and Mason Mount to overcome a Reece James own goal.

The long transfer sage between Chelsea and Sevilla for France international Jules Kounde has eventually come to breakthrough with the Blues having a bid ...

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel recently spoke in a press conference saying that his side needed at least one more signing this summer in order to challenge with Liverpool and Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. - Report: Chelsea Decide Against The Signing Of Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo The long transfer sage between Chelsea and Sevilla for France international Jules Kounde has eventually come to breakthrough with the Blues having a bid accepted by the Spanish side.

Chelsea needed to sign defenders this summer and in landing Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly for around €40m, they have made a wonderful choice.

Having first arrived as a defender who was rather coy with the ball, he waved goodbye to the passionate San Paolo fans as one of the best ball-playing centre-backs in Serie A -- rarely afraid to fire pinpoint passes through crowded areas in the middle of the pitch instead of opting for an easy ball to his full-back or a central defensive partner. With centre-backs always being in the thick of the action defensively -- having to read the game perfectly and time their interventions to the split second -- the odd misjudgement comes with the territory. He plays with his head up, is calm in possession, dominates his opponents and plays with a certain "aura" -- another banned word in many analytics departments -- which is not necessarily common for modern-day defenders. Though his numbers show that he's still behind the likes of Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk overall, he compares favourably with Man City's Ruben Dias and Rudiger, who is now at Real Madrid. Not bad company to keep. Becoming a star at Napoli since his arrival from Genk for around €8m in 2014, Koulibaly has made his name in Serie A and when asked what his weak points were, one chief scout from the Italian league told ESPN: "What weak points? In an age when even the traditional top European clubs are almost exclusively looking for value and potential from new arrivals, a €40m transfer fee for a 31-year-old in the final year of his contract may appear somewhat extravagant.

Sevilla want to accept Chelsea's bid over that of Barcelona as it offers straight cash while Barca were proposing players such as Memphis Depay.

Chelsea are confident of signing Sevilla defender Jules Kounde after making an improved £55million offer on Wednesday. - Chelsea are now confident of landing the Sevilla defender Jules Kounde Chelsea make improved offer of £55MILLION for Sevilla defender Jules Kounde as they look to see off competition from Barcelona... with the France star having already agreed personal terms with the Blues

Chelsea expect to agree a fee with Sevilla for Jules Kounde today for around €60 million, including add ons. Sevilla want a deal wrapped up by Thursday latest ...

Sevilla want a deal wrapped up by Thursday latest when they travel to Portugal. Kounde very open to— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) #CFCmove and expects to know his next club by end of week. Chelsea expect to agree a fee with Sevilla for Jules Kounde today for around €60 million, including add ons. This is pretty much in line with our most recent reported bid of €55m, not including add-ons, a fee below Sevilla’s initial demands.

Chelsea co-owner Jose Feliciano reportedly joked in public that the Blues will sign Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.

This includes joking about the London club signing Ronaldo and Neymar while in LA. Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly are still high-profile players that have joined the Blues so far. According to The Athletic, Chelsea co-owners Behdan Eghbali and Jose Feliciano have been publicly speaking during the club’s time in Los Angeles for pre-season.

The Blues are signing a perfect replacement for Azpilicueta as Tuchel transforms his defence.

Of course, Tuchel will have his own plans for Kounde and they could even be as a wing-back in order to give James some more centre-back time of his own, something used as a tactical rarity more than a go-to system. He allows Tuchel to not only move away from his often too rigid 3-4-2-1 and embrace a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2, but he inversely he is able to be a part of a secure backline that does have to play in a three man defence. This does mean that Tuchel could use him there and partner Koulibaly to help the size matchup, but he also offers cover for Reece James at right-back. His determination to "hurt everybody in every league and competition" straight away was vital to the kickstart to his position that he had. "We will absolutely focus on our strengths and the qualities that we absolutely have and build a team that nobody wants to play against." The German loves his sides to be problem solvers themselves, to be thinkers and adaptable.

Chelsea have increased their bid for Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde to the €65 million (£55m/$66m) asking price provided by the Spanish outfit, ...

While the Blues have seen a fleet of outgoing faces following uncertainty surround the transition to the Todd Boehly era, the club now look to be moving forward with a belated transfer agenda. Having been turned down with a recent move for the defender, the Blues have returned with a package they hope will appease Sevilla, who have been reluctant to let one of their star performers depart the club this summer. Chelsea have increased their bid for Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde to the €65 million (£55m/$66m) asking price provided by the Spanish outfit, GOAL can confirm, with the Blues tabling a fresh transfer offer in their attempt to bring the Frenchman to Stamford Bridge.

And then Charlotte won a penalty in the last seconds of the game for a share of the “spoils”. And then it still wasn't over. Confusion reigned but eventually ...

- Second half XI (3-4-3): Mendy - First half XI (3-4-3): Mendy Alonso, Kovačić, Jorginho (c), Hudson-Odoi

Chelsea continue their preseason tour of the United States with an east coast visit to brand new MLS club Charlotte FC on Wednesday at Bank of America ...

Still, the spread is just 1.5 goals, indicating that while many expect Chelsea to emerge victoriously, there is respect for the fight Charlotte are expected to put up. 112 mins to kick: Christian Pulisic is back in his home nation, and he's exploring sights throughout Chelsea's travel across the country. Thomas Tuchel admitted his forward room is jam packed, and he will be looking to establish some continuity on the field through the season to keep his best players in form. 95 mins to kick: All eyes will be on the Chelsea attack today. 22 mins to kick: Chelsea are not the only Premier League team in the United States dealing with inclement weather. It results in a bad pass from Kovacic to Hudson-Odoi on the right flank. +61 mins to kick: The new kickoff time is in just a few minutes as lineups are announced, but the seats at Bank of America Stadium are still very sparse. A nervy moment for the Chelsea goalkeeper, but he handled the pressure with ease. Thiago Silva puts in a poor tackle on Swiderski in midfield and concedes a foul, but takes the brunt of it physically as well. A Hakim Ziyech cross from deep down the left is right in Pulisic's path, but as he comes flying in with a karate kick, he just can't reach it. When asked what his goal from the friendly is, Charlotte FC head coach Christian Lattanzio said, "I would like to have a team that competes to give a good game to Chelsea, and therefore to our supporters so they enjoy the experience. Chelsea, meanwhile, topped Club America 2-1 in the preseason opener on Saturday, needing goals from Timo Werner and Mason Mount to overcome a Reece James own goal.

Chelsea lead their second pre-season friendly of the summer at half time thanks to a goal from U.S star Christian Pulisic.

Another 45 minutes in the tank for the Italian, who has looked far fresher in Chelsea's opening pre-season fixtures than he did for much of the second half of the last campaign. The Croatian's first outing of pre-season and he didn't miss a beat as he moved the ball forward at pace throughout the opening 45 minutes. This was business as usual for Silva. Even though he spent much of the half in a back four rather than a back three, the 37-year-old was comfortable on the ball and was never pulled out of position.

The 23-year-old has been the peak of Chelsea's interests since negotiations fell through with Sevilla last summer. football.london understands that the Blues ...

The departure of Christensen and possibly Azpilicueta will leave the Blues with just Trevoh Chalobah playing as a right centre-back. football.london understands that the Blues are in advanced negotiations with Sevilla over a deal that could see Todd Boehly fork out £50million for the Frenchman - which is better than the original £56 million. The Blues had turned to Ake as a choice for Thomas Tuchel as he makes up for the loss in centre-backs this summer.

Thomas Tuchel is desperate to sign another defender ahead of the new Premier League season and has revisited his interest in Kounde. Last year, Sevilla remained ...

Chelsea have now tabled a bid in the region of £51m (€60m) for Kounde and 'expect' to conclude an agreement with Sevilla today, reports suggest. Experienced Senegalese star Koulibaly has since joined Chelsea from Napoli for around £32m. The Blues apparently held an interest in former academy graduate Nathan Ake but were turned down by the now- Manchester City man. The impending arrival of Kounde at Stamford Bridge would complete Tuchel's overhaul of his defence. Chelsea 'expect' to agree a fee with Sevilla for defender Jules Kounde as their lavish summer spending continues, according to reports. He made 32 appearances as Sevilla finished fourth. The former Bordeaux man was reportedly frustrated that he was unable to join Chelsea last year but enjoyed a successful season in the Spanish top-flight.

Even though Barcelona are said to be very interested in the Frenchman, the Blues' intensity in this deal looks set to pay off. Yesterday, Chelsea had an ...

This source has been fairly reliable during the whole Kounde to Chelsea saga so it would not be a surprise if this was reported by more reliable journalists tomorrow. According to InfoSevillismo, via Blue_Footy, the Kounde to Chelsea operation will become official tomorrow. Reports have been relentless during the past couple of days regarding the Kounde to Chelsea deal.

Chelsea were beaten on penalties in the early hours of Thursday morning following a 1-1 draw with Charlotte FC.

Off-the-ball, it was the three-back formation but when in possession, Chelsea would then change to a four-back system. It was a defeat in the Blues' second match, but some things may have excited supporters and Tuchel alike. With just over a couple of weeks to go until the new Premier League campaign kicks off, everyone is eagerly waiting the announcement. It was a special moment for the American to score on his home soil, and he did so with a clever and delicate finish. Trevoh Chalobah was adjudged to have handled the ball and Daniel Rios scored from 12 yards – and the match went to a penalty shootout, much to everyone's bemusement. Was it worth the wait for Chelsea supporters?

All your latest Chelsea morning headlines on Thursday with key updates on Frenkie de Jong, Jules Kounde and the Premier League.

It's a record that manager Thomas Tuchel will want to keep up this season when his side takes to the field for the first time in 2022/23. Saturday, August 6 at 5:30pm is when Tuchel's side take to the field for the curtain raiser to a season which promises so much. Their 104 points collected from opening day victories which equates to 64% is just behind the 110 points City have accumulated on opening days over the last decades. The 23-year-old did not respond to that fan, whether that's a good sign or not for Chelsea fans remains to be seen. The Blues are reportedly the 25-year-old's preferred destination but his number one priority is to indeed remain put in Spain. This has made a transfer for the Red Devils almost impossible. Kounde, whilst driving his car out of the Ciudad Deportiva Jose Ramón Cisneros Palacios, was congratulated for his impending big move away with a fan saying to him: "Good luck wherever you go, have a great time.

Chelsea lost 5-3 on penalties to Charlotte FC after it ended 1-1 after 90 minutes at the Bank of America Stadium.

His decision making in the midfield was excellent, as well was his passing and distribution. After playing as a centre-back against Club America, the 21-year-old was deployed in midfield against Charlotte FC, showcasing his versatility to Thomas Tuchel. His performance did himself no harm in his wish to make it at Chelsea and be part of the first-team next season. Just like against Club America at the weekend, Thomas Tuchel made wholesale changes at half-time. A good first run out for the attacker. Daniel Rios stepped up and slotted past Edouard Mendy to take the game to, surprisingly, penalties. He made no mistake, slotting past Kristijan Kahlina to send Thomas Tuchel's side into the interval with a lead.

The England international fluffed his lines in a shootout against the MLS expansion side which resulted in the Premier League heavyweights suffering a shock ...

They will hope that victory over Chelsea inspires them to complete a play-off push in the MLS Eastern Conference, as they currently sit just outside of that pack in eighth place, while the Blues will be back in action on Saturday when facing London rivals Arsenal at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The Blues took the lead at Bank of America Stadium through USMNT star Christian Pulisic, but saw Daniel Rios restore parity from the spot in the 92nd minute, leading to a test of nerve from 12 yards – with Gallagher scuffing a tame effort straight down the middle. Conor Gallagher is desperate to prove his worth at Chelsea after returning to Stamford Bridge from a loan spell at Crystal Palace - but he endured a game to forget against Charlotte FC after getting an attempted Panenka penalty all wrong.

Conor Gallagher took one of the worst penalties seen in a very long time as Chelsea were beaten in a shoot-out by Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC.

Chelsea lose on penalties to Charlotte FC— B/R Football (@brfootball) But Charlotte FC, who were only formed in December 2019, were handed the opportunity to level the scores in the dying seconds of the game when Trevoh Chalobah was penalised for blocking a shot with his hand. Conor Gallagher took one of the worst penalties seen in a very long time as Chelsea were beaten in a shoot-out by Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC.

Hello and welcome along to football.london's coverage of Chelsea transfer news on Wednesday! The Blues' pre-season preparation is starting to ramp up now, ...

You can live stream the game from the app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device. Hang on, there could still be a twist in the Broja tale. However, a deal does not appear imminent, with the Hammers still said to have a long way to go with Chelsea. Tuchel's words seem consistent with this, suggesting that he would like to see Broja stay. If Chelsea can sign him for a sensible deal then obviously he would be a good signing. The club announced the forward would be best served by returning to London for treatment on an injury, but speculation has only increased amid transfer interest in the 20-year-old. Whether it is realistic or not, I’m not sure but if they can get it over the line for something sensible then it's a no-brainer." The Blues' intention was always to observe returning stars before making any decisions. With just one year left on his current Chelsea deal, Jorginho will be able to leave the club for free next summer. Between him and his agent he has always been in the news at Chelsea despite largely being a brilliant professional and key senior figure. In the transfer market, things are beginning to move swiftly for the German manager, with two new additions made. With a similar issue also building for N'Golo Kante, Tuchel could have a deja vu from his defensive loss this summer. The Blues' pre-season preparation is starting to ramp up now, with yet another friendly coming up.

Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi has been criticised for his performance in Chelsea's friendly defeat to Charlotte.

With Robert Lewandowski confirming his move to Barcelona, it seems unlikely the Blues are to add another striker to their ranks this summer, as they prioritise other areas to strengthen. With Armando Broja reportedly set to leave the club this summer, the opportunity is there for someone to come through from nowhere and compete with Kai Havertz for the striker role. With the striker enduring five consecutive spells away from the club leading up to this summer, it is likely his future still does not have him at Stamford Bridge.

Christian Pulisic scored but was unable to prevent a Chelsea defeat against Major League Soccer side Charlotte as Thomas Tuchel's team lost on penalties ...

Chelsea will look to bounce back from the defeat when they face Arsenal in the Florida Cup on Saturday evening. USMNT star Pulisic opened the scoring in the 30th minute after seizing on a blocked effort from Michy Batshuayi, while Sterling showed impressive flashes after coming on at the start of the second half. Christian Pulisic scored but was unable to prevent a Chelsea defeat against Major League Soccer side Charlotte as Thomas Tuchel's team lost on penalties after drawing 1-1.

Chelsea News: Thomas Tuchel has explained why Timo Werner, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ross Barkley and Cesar Azpilicueta were absent from the Blues' clash with ...

They said: "The key is to basically work with Tuchel to come up with the best players that are available. I think it's a combination of moves, and there's five or six that we're going to look to make." Tuchel said: "Kepa has some pain that disturbs him to feel free in his movements.

Chelsea Transfer News: The Blues have been linked with a move for Adrien Rabiot recently and Arsenal could stifle Thomas Tuchel's hopes of wrapping up a ...

He wrote: "In agreement with the club and for personal reasons, I will stay in Italy to finish my physical training." Amid the routine commotion of a summer transfer window, Rabiot has confirmed that he won't be joining Juventus on their pre-season tour of the United States due to 'personal reasons'. Arsenal could hand Chelsea a devastating blow in the summer transfer window this summer, with Mikel Arteta seemingly in a position to stifle Thomas Tuchel's Declan Rice backup plan.

Raheem Sterling made his first Chelsea appearance vs Charlotte FC after signing from Manchester City.

Operating primarily from the left of the attack, Sterling was a constant thorn in Charlotte’s side with his speed and directness, something his new manager touched on during the post-match press conference. One man who did manage to find the back of the net in the shootout for Chelsea was Raheem Sterling and all in all, the £45 million signing from Manchester City was pretty impressive on debut. In the end, it was Conor Gallagher’s dreadful spot kick that allowed the hosts to secure a 5-3 victory in football’s equivalent of the lottery draw.

Raheem Sterling scored a penalty on his Chelsea debut in Charlotte but it was overshadowed by a dreadful attempted Panenka from Conor Gallagher.

His shot barely rose more than an inch off the ground and was easily caught by sub keeper George Marks. But Gallagher's attempt to dink the ball into the net ended in humiliation. The England international was unable to mark his debut in normal time with a goal but he came close.

The future of Sevilla's Jules Kounde is very close to being determined, with Chelsea having reportedly placed a new bid for his services on Wednesday.

Gissing also mentions that Sevilla director Monchi is waiting on Barcelona's next step in their pursuit of the defender. The report states that the West London side have made a new bid of £52-55 million for the central defender. After their pursuit of Matthijs de Ligt petered out due to the player preferring Bayern Munich, Chelsea zeroed in on the Frenchman as an alternative.

Chelsea are kidding themselves if they think a new forward isn't a must, Thomas Tuchel needs midfield steel - and to sell deadwood... FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED ...

Think of the money that those sort of players could accumulate in the transfer window and the replacements that could be bought - Jules Kounde and a striker to begin with. Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho are also competent options. Everybody knows that a big squad is required in the modern game - and the return of five substitutes in the Premier League this season will require greater depth - but still, Chelsea are carrying far too many passengers. There are plenty of players in the squad who have only ever shown flashes of their brilliance and who, in the depths of a brutal campaign, will not get regular game-time. Chelsea fans finally got a glimpse of the front three that they can expect to lead their team into the new season - unless they dramatically sign a new striker in the coming weeks. Tuchel opted to play Havertz as a central striker in the second half in North Carolina with England duo Sterling and Mount flanking him. Think back to last season's pair of domestic cup final defeats against Liverpool and the way Chelsea wilted in the glare of a penalty shootout would not have happened in previous teams. The same goes for both Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ross Barkley. Both have been at the club for years but neither have ever had a constant run in the side. They are tidy in possession but neither possesses the desire to carry out the dirty work that midfielders must do - especially when they play as a pair. Chelsea urgently need defenders and a new striker so it seems central midfield is way down the list of priorities for Tuchel and new owner Todd Boehly. Kai Havertz was the lone Chelsea forward in the second half but is not a natural goal scorer It seems pretty obvious that when Chelsea allowed Romelu Lukaku to return to Inter Milan on loan that they should have been prioritising the signing of a new No 9.

Chelsea Transfer News: Benjamin Pavard has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, and Manchester United are ready to swoop in.

Pavard has built a reputation on both the international and domestic stage for his versatility across the backline. But, with Kounde yet to put pen to paper, Pavard is said to have been lined up as an option. football.london understands that the west Londoners are readying a bid for the 23-year-old, which will be submitted this week.

Chelsea Transfer News: Timo Werner has been heavily linked with an exit from Stamford Bridge for some time now and Thomas Tuchel has spoken on the striker's ...

I would be very happy as a young guy having a contract at Chelsea Football Club. I would be one of the happiest people on the planet." In pre-season, you can show that you want to play, that you are a guy who wants to be in the starting eleven. Speaking to football.london, following the west Londoners' 1-1 draw with Charlotte, Tuchel explained why Werner was not in the squad. It is not different to last season, and it was the same when Romelu came. "The manager always has different ideas, different thoughts and what you need in different games. "I could be happy everywhere," Werner said.

Charlotte FC defeated Chelsea in a penalty shootout to settle a 1-1 score in regulation in front of 52673 fans at Bank of America Stadium.

Charlotte, N.C. — Charlotte FC defeated Chelsea in a penalty shootout to settle a 1-1 score in regulation in front of 52,673 fans at Bank of America Stadium. Charlotte FC dramatically tied the game at 1-1 when Daniel Rios scored in the second minute of stoppage time. Charlotte FC defeats Chelsea in front of more than 50,000 fans at Bank of America Stadium

Chelsea fell to defeat in their second friendly of the summer as Charlotte FC earned a win via penalties.

That's what we are so sure, and that's why it was like for us top of the list." The introduction of his leadership was expected but Sterling has also proposed a level for Callum Hudson-Odoi to reach. The main point is his intensity and the amount of repetition of intensity that he delivers. It's exactly what we need to raise the level of our players, that they understand what is needed. The Chelsea boss was not happy with the lack of quality produced by his side, particularly in the second period. Tuchel said: "Second half, it took us half an hour to show some quality and then it was maybe for ten minutes, so it was not good at all.

Good morning and welcome to the football.london's live blog for all of today's Chelsea transfer news and updates from Thomas Tuchel's friendly against ...

According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are feeling confident that a £55m bid is in line with Sevilla's demands. Just as the Blues looked to have made their decisive move in a year long game of chess, the board gets given another shake up and things could leave their hands once more. However, the Todd Boehly-Clearlake ownership model promises to be different. Arsenal could hand Chelsea a devastating blow in the summer transfer window this summer, with Mikel Arteta seemingly in a position to stifle Thomas Tuchel's Declan Rice backup plan. football.london understands that the west Londoners are readying a bid for the 23-year-old, which will be submitted this week. Jules Kounde has been left out of Sevilla's 31-man squad to travel to Portugal for their second training camp of the summer. Thomas Tuchel on Chelsea's second-half performance: "It took us half an hour to show some quality and then it was maybe for ten minutes, so it was not good at all. And, Pavard, whose contract at the Allianz Arena expires in two years, is said to be in the Blues' sights. Werner, who sees his contract at the club expire in 2025, has featured 37 times for the Blues in Premier League since Tuchel took over from Frank Lampard, directly contributing towards just eleven goals. The Chelsea boss was not happy with the lack of quality produced by his side, particularly in the second period. Heading into today it appears vital that Todd Boehly moves quickly to secure a deal for the Frenchman as Barcelona's unpredictable financial tales keep the Blues on their feet once more. Broja, who sees his contract at Stamford Bridge expire in 2026 after signing a new long-term deal last summer, featured 38 times for the Saints, directly contributing toward ten goals.

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel has accused his side of lacking “effort” and “hunger” in their pre-season defeat to Charlotte FC in North Carolina.

Simon Johnson Simon Johnson It was not good enough.

Chelsea are locked in discussions with Jules Kounde as the Stamford Bridge outfit looks to beat Barcelona to the central defender's signature, according to ...

Romano told GIVEMESPORT: “They are discussing with the player, but Kounde is also speaking to Barcelona, so it is another battle with them after the Raphinha situation. Romano understands that Chelsea are holding talks with Kounde as they look to get the deal over the line as soon as possible. The Blues have already been frustrated by the La Liga giants after seeing Raphinha opt to head to the Nou Camp despite already agreeing a fee with Leeds United, so they are looking to avoid a repeat of that failed swoop.

Jules Kounde is set to leave Sevilla this summer and has been linked with Chelsea over the last 12 months.

Kounde was widely expected to be Chelsea's first signing of the summer having made early progress over a deal. The Blues were said to be confident of agreeing a deal with Sevilla, though reports suggest that Barcelona have not given up hope. football.london understands that Chelsea made good progress over a deal with the Spanish side earlier this week with a deal worth £55 million, including add-ons, close to being agreed.

Chelsea might need to appoint a new captain next season and Raheem Sterling has been tipped for the role.

Raheem Sterling will be an incredible addition to the Chelsea squad - there is absolutely no doubt about it. He is diligent in his play and shows leadership qualities on the pitch. Terry, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard have all already backed Mount to become captain. With Cesar Azpilicueta supposedly on his way out, Thomas Tuchel has a decision to make. You hear young players all the time talking about how Raheem Sterling did this and how he helped them with that. You can’t build your team around someone who might be leaving at the end of the season.

Chelsea continued their pre-season tour of the United States with a draw versus MLS side Charlotte FC, before losing on penalties in an important warm-up ...

The last game in the States should be a good one." I was able to spend some time in the summer and now to meet up with the team in the States was great for me. I'm looking forward to continuing to grind and get better."

That is exactly what he is going to get coming into Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea side next season. The Blues aren't on the level of Manchester City or Liverpool at ...

- Thomas Tuchel Refuses To 'Point The Finger' At Ruben Loftus-Cheek And N'Golo Kante - Thomas Tuchel Wanted Romelu Lukaku To Stay At Chelsea, The Striker Believes He Never Should Have Left Milan - ‘Number One Priority’ - Thomas Tuchel on Chelsea Signing Raheem Sterling

When Chelsea made an offer of £55m for Sevilla centre back Jules Kounde there was every confidence that not only would the deal progress, but it would go on ...

It is something that Kounde himself has already done in Sevilla, housing new players in a previous abode of his own. As Kounde has no experience of living in London and would be moving to a new city at 23 years old, any help he can get would massively help his adjustment period at Chelsea, should he join. The recipe for him to avoid was demonstrated last summer in Romelu Lukaku. The spiralling factors that led to the ultimate disaster was unpredictable, but it has created a wariness and a blueprint that nobody involved in the £97m deal will forget.

The financing arrangements consist of a roughly £300mn revolving credit facility and a £500mn term loan, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter ...

It looks like Jules Kounde's transfer to Chelsea could be completed as early as today according to reports from Spain.

- Thomas Tuchel Refuses To 'Point The Finger' At Ruben Loftus-Cheek And N'Golo Kante Hopefully Chelsea can get this deal over the line so Thomas Tuchel and his coaching staff can start figuring out how to implement the Frenchman into their team for the next campaign. Another report also claimed that Chelsea offered double the salary that Barcelona were willing to offer the 23-year-old, a figure that would mean Kounde will be the Blues' top earner.

Chelsea and Sevilla are on the same page when it comes to the transfer of Jules Kounde. The Blues desperately want him and the Spanish side want to sell him as ...

This has promoted claims that Chelsea are 'confident' that they can complete the deal for Kounde in the coming days. Unfortunately for the Spanish side, it has been reported that Todd Boehly has offered Kounde €12-13million a year, double what Barcelona are willing to offer him. Chelsea and Sevilla are on the same page when it comes to the transfer of Jules Kounde.

A big challenge for Chelsea FC's new owners, an investment group led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, was how they'd be able to keep the English soccer ...

But again, since the owners receive distributions from the holding company or the team, it’s really all the same money. The interest payments on the debt are usually paid from holding company cash flow and/or the owners. Shares in the soccer team are the holding company’s primary asset.

Benjamin Pavard is the latest defender to be linked with Chelsea as Todd Boehly prepares for Cesar Azpilcueta departure.

Chelsea are not the only team interested in the 26-year-old. Pavard is similar to Azpilicueta in the sense that he can play centre-back and right-back at a high level when needed. There are a couple of current first-team squad members set for a departure before the transfer window closes, Cesar Azpilicueta among them.

When Chelsea forked over £7 million to Marseille in August of 2012 for a young Spanish defender, nobody quite knew what to expect.

Of course, I believe I speak for many when I state that Chelsea would be making a mistake in letting Azpilicueta exit. After he’s spent a decade with the club, one can only hope that the answer is no. The versatile defender could play anywhere along the back line, a trait that is obviously seen as a positive to any manager. This has raised questions about his status for Saturday’s London Derby in Orlando against Arsenal, which leads to an even bigger inquiry: have supporters already witnessed Azpilicueta’s last match in a Chelsea shirt? Chelsea has been fighting to try and retain its leader, but Barcelona is offering Azpilicueta favorable terms that include a longer guaranteed contract and more playing time. He is a player that the Blaugrana love, and it’s not hard to understand why that’s the case.

Chelsea are close to agreeing £55m fee for the Sevilla defender, but Barça are hoping to fund a bid by selling off a stake in their merchandising arm.

Chelsea missed out on Nathan Aké after Manchester City decided not to sell the Netherlands defender, and they were also frustrated in their attempts to strengthen their attack when Barça won the race to sign Raphinha from Leeds. However, others have questioned whether Barça have the funds available after signing Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich. Thomas Tuchel needs to strengthen his defence after losing Antonio Rüdiger and Andreas Christensen on free transfers.

Two days after making FIFA history, Chelsea Women's star Sam Kerr has picked up yet another award on the back of a phenomenal campaign for the Blues.

From playing as a kid, to being in the game and now on the global cover! Kerr took to Instagram after the news had broken and said: "One of your FIFA23 cover stars. The Australia captain became the first female footballer to appear on the cover of EA Sports FIFA video game, in a ground-breaking season for the platform which will be featuring women's teams for the first time since it's creation.

The Blues are trapped at third place in the Premier League. There is so little competition above or below them that something drastic needs to be done to ...

The only signings on the cards so far are defenders being used to fix the hole bore in the back of the team from the departures of Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger. They aren't going to change the club's trajectory. The main issue is that Sterling is not Hazard, they are not nearly the same player, and though the Englishman will likely be a major asset to the outfit, the current Chelsea star hasn't had a talisman to push them on and challenge the top two spots in the league.

Chelsea transfer target Jules Kounde has reportedly 'shocked' everyone at Sevilla by turning up for their pre-season tour, despite not making the squad.

Barcelona still fancy their chances of signing the centre-back and have urged Kounde to wait. While he has had links with a move away from his La Liga employers for some time, now looks like the time for him to move on. According to The Sun, though, Kounde has taken it upon himself to be a part of the squad.

Interest from Chelsea in Sevilla defender Jules Kounde has intensified to the point that GOAL has learned that the France international defender is now ...

A switch to west London is considered to be the most likely outcome at this stage, but reports in Spain continue to suggest that Barcelona may make a late play for Kounde as they look to further bolster their defensive unit. Kounde is willing to listen to what Chelsea have to say and is looking into the possibility of unpacking his belongings at a house that Lukaku last occupied. Interest from Chelsea in Sevilla defender Jules Kounde has intensified to the point that GOAL has learned that the France international defender is now exploring the possibility of moving into the house recently left vacant by Romelu Lukaku following his loan move back to Inter.

All your latest Chelsea morning headlines on Friday with updates on Leroy Sane, Benjamin Pavard and Timo Werner.

He answered: "Show quality, take your place and defend your place. I would be very happy as a young guy having a contract at Chelsea Football Club. I would be one of the happiest people on the planet." "Hamstring problems and we didn't take the risk," the Chelsea boss said before being asked whether he had seen Werner's aforementioned comments regarding his future. football.london understands that the west Londoners are readying a bid for the 23-year-old, which will be submitted this week. "I think that Bayern Munich will give him the season to prove himself. Promoted Stories

ESPN pundit Stewart Robson claims Sevilla defender Jules Kounde would be a superb signing for Chelsea this summer. France international Kounde, 23, ...

However, the 32-year-old’s linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge. He’s quick. “He’s got a good spring.

Chelsea want to address another key area after they sign two more centre-backs, claims transfer insider Dean Jones.

Speaking to GMS, the transfer insider said: “I think that they’re still trying to push ahead with it. They want two centre-backs and they still want, ideally, a wing-back, so they’re still in the same situation that we knew they were in.” Jones has told GIVEMESPORT that Chelsea want two more centre-halves and a wing-back before the window closes.

After 48 hours of rampant speculation, uncertainty and confusion, the Jules Kounde saga appears to be nearing a conclusion, with Chelsea emerging as the ...

The Premier League giants have tabled an offer too good to refuse, not just for Sevilla but for Kounde as well. Such a lucrative offer put Barcelona in the back seat, paving the way for Chelsea to take the lead. However, Barcelona had played a key role in convincing Kounde to revert his decision to not train with the Sevilla team in Portugal. The defender informed the club of his desire to train, which fueled speculation of a late intervention from the Catalans, yet again.

Thomas Tuchel is ready to sell four Chelsea stars after completing a deal for Jules Kounde but could be stuck with the unwanted players as the Blues ...

According to The Telegraph, Tuchel is prepared to sanction the departures of a number of first-team regulars, although whether Chelsea can attract suitable offers remains to be seen. Tuchel is keen to add another star defender to his squad, having seen Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen depart at the end of last season. Thomas Tuchel is ready to sell four Chelsea stars after completing a deal for Jules Kounde but could be stuck with the unwanted players as the Blues struggle to attract offers.