IT'S all go at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea prepare for a busy summer transfer window, and the potential return of the Premier League.
But Tammy Abraham has joined Antonio Rudiger in airing his concerns about Project Restart due to his dad's asthma.
Follow all the latest updates and gossip from West London below…
-
SIX OF THE BEST
Join Tammy Abraham at 6pm tomorrow as he takes fans through a 20-minute workout.
-
JOR MY INSPIRATION
Tammy Abraham normally draws inspiration from the men with whom he shares the highs and lows, the stresses and strains of playing for Chelsea.
But there is still no official date for Chelsea to return to training and coronavirus lockdown plays mind games with all of us.
Which may explain why Abraham, 22, has turned to a critically-acclaimed documentary about basketball superstar Michael Jordan to try to find a path out of the mess we are in.
Abraham, who has scored 13 goals in 25 Premier League appearances this campaign, said: “He was just before my time so I didn’t get to watch much of him. So watching this just motivates me.
“There’s one thing that caught my mind. Michael Jordan lost a game and he made up things in his head about what someone said to him.
“That person didn’t actually say it, but he used that to go into the next game and to drive him on to be the best.
“The incident did happen against Liverpool where I missed a penalty and received a lot of abuse and for me it’s just like Michael Jordan, it’s about coming out and proving them wrong.”
-
FAMILY TAM
Tammy Abrahamfears giving his asthmatic dad coronavirus if football returns too soon.
Abraham lives with his family and is ready to play for Chelsea ‘tomorrow’ as long as it is safe.
The England striker’s father, Anthony, is also eager for his son to get back in action but asthmatics are at high risk of contracting Covid-19.
Abraham, 22, said: “If I was to return to the Premier League and God forbid I do catch this disease and bring it home, it is the worst thing possible.
“To go out on the pitch is a big thing for me. But my dad is asthmatic and the last thing I need is to catch the virus myself or be in contact with anyone with the virus.
“I’ve got his full support going back. He is one of my biggest fans — parents are always there for you.
“The Premier League and the Government have to come to a decision whether or not it’s safe enough to play again and we take it on from there. I am ready to play tomorrow if it is safe.”
-
'I'D RATHER GO BROKE'
Troy Deeney has blasted the plans for Project Restart.
Watford’s outspoken skipper has been a key figure in talks among Premier League stars.
And he insists he will not put a return to action before his family’s health — even if it means going broke.
He cannot see how:
Football can return in June if people cannot get haircuts before July.
Penalty areas will be packed while the rest of the nation is social distancing.
Players can be tested regularly for Covid-19 when NHS staff and key workers are short of tests.
Deeney was one of the senior Prem players briefed by medical experts on Covid-19 risks during a conference call on Wednesday.
He said: “I am not even talking about football at the moment — I am talking about my family’s health and that is it.
“What are they going to do, take money off me? I’ve been broke before so it doesn’t bother me.”
-
MADD TROPHY HUNTER
United and Chelsea target James Maddison is keen for the Premier League to resume and has told Leicester his priority is to win silverware.
The Foxes' once-capped England midfielder, 23, told Arsenal legend Thierry Henry on a Puma Football Instagram Live chat: “It has only really come in the last year or two, but my biggest goal now is to win trophies.
“In my house I have a trophy cabinet and there are… individual awards but no trophies.
“We have Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter finals and hopefully we get to play that.
“My mouth gets wet when I walk around the Leicester training ground and the stadium and see the pictures of them winning the league and here the players talk about it.”
-
NO HURRY SAYS MURRAY
Brighton's Glenn Murray cannot understand the Premier League’s rush to get back next month.
The striker believes top-flight chiefs should wait to see the impact of easing the lockdown BEFORE staging matches.
Prem players were told in a conference call that plans for phase one of Project Restart include returning to training while still social distancing.
Murray, 36, speaking on Sky’s Football Show, said: “Phase two hasn’t been drawn up yet but I think they’re looking at a mid-June restart for the Premier League.
“Football isn’t a necessity, it’s a game, it’s a sport. What if we go through all this rigmarole of trying to get back and we have a second peak and have to stop anyway?“I can’t understand why we’re in such a rush to get back.
“Why not see how the country deals with stopping the lockdown first before we even start unnecessary sports when people are dying all around us and the death rate is still high?”
-
AWESOME THREE SPIRIT
Gary Neville has claimed the Premier League's best ever attacking three was Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez – but you might be surprised at what the stats for goals and assists say.
One fan has tweeted figures suggesting not even Liverpool's electric current trio of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, nor Arsenal's sparkling spearhead of Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry Robert Pires, can match Chelsea's finest.
And those Blues' triple treaters include a MIDFIELDER in now-manager Frank Lampard, Chelsea's all-time top scorer on 211 goals, who linked up spectacularly with Nicolas Anelka's pace and Didier Drogba's power.
Their feats in2009-10 easily topped the list for a single season – on 101 goals and assists.
Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane were next best with 85 from 2017-18.
Prem table-toppers Salah, Mane and Firmino amassed 82 – three more than the Gunners' trio led by four-time Golden Boot winner Henry in 2002-03.
-
BALE IN FIRE-SALE?
Gareth Bale could leave Real Madrid on a FREE this summer as Spanish football counts the cost of the coronavirus pandemic, reports say.
MailOnline say ex-Spurs wideman Bale, who has been linked with his old club and Manchester United, and James Rodriguez, another rumoured Old Trafford target, could exit the Bernabeu for nothing
Colombian Rodriguez was sent out on loan to German giant Bayern Munich, while Bale was on the verge of moving to the Chinese Super League side last summer before Real's president pulled the plug.
Rodriguez flourished in the German League, even admitting he wanted to remain there.
And the fire-sale could continue over at fierce rivals Barcelona too.
Philippe Coutinho, Samuel Umtiti, Ousmane Dembele and even £108m signing Antoine Griezmann are among those who could go.
Brazil playmaker Coutinho has been regularly kinked with Chelsea, as well as United, plus old club Liverpool and, recently, Newcastle.
-
BARGAIN G-RAB
Schalke winger Rabbi Matondo is a bargain back-up option for Manchester United in case they miss out on £100million-rated Chelsea target Jadon Sancho.
That's the claim from the Manchester Evening News, who suggest Old Trafford chiefs regard 19-year-old Matondo as a similar safe option to his Wales colleague Daniel James.
Chelsea and United have been the Premier League club's most strongly linked with Borussia Dortmund's England attacker Sancho, 20.
But such a huge summer switch seems less likely now after the coronavirus lockdown hit football's finances.
United have also been linked with a third Wales international, James' ex-Swansea team-mate Joe Rodon, a centre-back aged 22.
Wideman James has surprised many by becoming a Premier League regular in his first season at Old Trafford.
-
CESC NAMES HIS GO-TO GOAT TWO
Cesc Fabregas has named “GOATs” Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi in a dream five-man team of stars he played alongside.
Monaco's ex-Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Fabregas selected Gunners' record scorer Henry and Barcelona legend Messi in a silky side with no defenders.
Joining Henry himself in an Instagram Live chat for Puma Football, Fabregas also named David Silva and[Andres] Iniesta.
And in goal was a third Spaniard, Porto's ex-Real Madrid hero Iker Casillas.
Fabregas told Henry: “You're up front, definitely. I would always put you in my all-time XI
“Iniesta and Silva. These are the two players that I always felt, wow! I'm enjoying so much in midfield.
“I know I'm not playing with any defender, but I don't really care!
“I will just go with one goalkeeper who will save everything, two magicians in midfield and two GOATs upfront.”
-
LOOKING BACK IN ANGER
Noel Gallagher claims the Premier League season would have been voided ages ago if it was Manchester City or Chelsea rather than Liverpool who were 25 points clear.
The Oasis star thinks the Reds should have been handed the title by now – but with no relegation and promotion ditched for the Prem and Championship.
He told talkSPORT:“I think it should have been voided weeks ago. Just give them the trophy, they’ve won it anyway.
“The cynic in me think if it wasn’t Liverpool going for the title, if it was City or Chelsea, it would have been voided already.
“I don’t think anybody should go up or go down They should be looking towards next season now.
“If they try and finish this season then the next few seasons are going to be chaos.”
-
BITTER FATE
A massive 700,000 pints of beer could be wasted at London's football stadiums – because there's no one to drink it.
Seven thousand kegs of beer are sitting unused across venues like Wembley, the Emirates and Stamford Bridge.,
This amounts to a staggering £3million in sales.
An industry source said: “Stadiums usually stock up on four games worth of beer in advance.
“Its thought £500,000 worth of beer will go to waste by July in the London stadiums as no ones there to drink it. “
Another issue for stadiums is the beer lines from kegs to pumps won’t have been cleaned since the coronavirus lockdown – and some stagnant beer and water will have been left in them.
-
TAKE A PAY-COUT
BRAZIL legend Rivaldo has advised Philippe Coutinho to take a pay cut if it helps to reignite his Barcelona career.
Chelsea, Newcastle and even old club Liverpool are linked to the playmaker for a transfer once his loan stint at Bayern Munich ends.
But Rivaldo, 48,wrote on Betfair: “Chelsea are the favourites to sign Coutinho and I don't believe they will be put off by his recent injury.
“After all, next season is still very distant and he will have enough time to a completely recover.
“On the other hand, if the transfer doesn't go forward and he stays at Barcelona perhaps a salary reduction, based on the player's decision, could earn plaudits from the board and maybe show that he is eager to remain at the club and finally prove his worth.
“Yes, there are many clubs already reducing their players' salaries because of coronavirus crisis, but if the player takes a step forward in that themselves it would be seen as the attitude of someone interested in remaining at the club.”
-
MADD FOR SILVERWARE
United and Chelsea target James Maddison is keen for the Premier League to resume and has told Leicester his priority is to win silverware.
The Foxes' once-capped England midfielder, 23, told Arsenal legend Thierry Henry on a Puma Football Instagram Live chat: “It has only really come in the last year or two, but my biggest goal now is to win trophies.
“In my house I have a trophy cabinet and there are… individual awards but no trophies.
“We have Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter finals and hopefully we get to play that.
“My mouth gets wet when I walk around the Leicester training ground and the stadium and see the pictures of them winning the league and here the players talk about it.”
-
WIDER SCREEN
TV chiefs have been told to “widen” access” for armchair football fans if and when the Premier League season resumes.
Sky and BT Sport are due to 47 of the remaining 92 games – all to be played behind closed doors – on their subscription networks.
SunSport has reported plans to use YouTube channels, Amazon, or the Prem’s own in-house network to allow access to the other 45 matches but they could also go on Sky Freeview channels.
There will be no demand that terrestrial broadcasters show games.
The matches will be set out over seven weekends, with two confirmed midweek dates, now likely to start on Friday June 19, with suggestions the opener will be Spurs’ home match with Manchester United.
Four matches could be played on Saturday and Sunday with staggered kick-offs across the entire afternoon and evening, with a Monday night game as well, although that may be subject to change.
-
NO RUSH OVER COUTINHO
Chelsea and old club Liverpool have been told to be patient over Bayern Munich loanee Philippe Coutinho.
The Brazil playmaker's agent Kia Joorabchian believes the Barcelona flop should only be focused on recovering from injury to play some part in the resuming Bundesliga campaign.
Joorabchian told talkSPORT:“He’ll probably miss a chunk of the Bundesliga. Hopefully he’ll be fit for the tail end of the season.
“We have not spoken to anybody about any deals whatsoever.
“I think at the moment everyone’s concentration is regarding this pandemic and how football can restart the season in a secure environment and over the health and safety of everybody.
“I think the transfer side of things and where he will go or where people will go will come into play down the line when things have got back to some sort of normality.”
-
PREM GETS GREEN LIGHT
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden has declared it is now up to football to formulate a return to action in June.
The coronavirus pandemic led to all levels of the game being halted over two months ago, with only the Premier League and Championship likely to see out the season.
On Thursday, Dowden chaired a meeting with chief executives from the Premier League, English Football League and Football Association and described talks as “positive”.
Discussions were also held about “widening access” for fans, in a hint of proposals to make football free-to-air in some capacity while games take place behind closed doors.
Dowden said in a statement: “Today's positive meeting I hosted with the football authorities progressed plans for the resumption of the professional game in England.
“We all agreed that we will only go ahead if it is safe to do so and the health and welfare of players, coaches and staff comes first.
“The government is opening the door for competitive football to return safely in June.
-
CHANGE OF PJAN
Chelsea are in talks with Juventus over a summer swoop for Miralem Pjanic with Jorginho going the other way, according to reports.
The Bosnian had looked all set to join Barcelona having agreed terms.
But the deal looks set to fall through as Arthur Melo is not willing to move to Turin in exchange.
According to the Guardian, this has opened the door for Chelsea, with Maurizio Sarri keen to reunite with the Brazilian-Italian, who he took to Stamford Bridge from Napoli.
-
BAKA HOT TIP FOR PSG
Chelsea flop Tiemoue Bakayoko is being linked with a shock move to PSG.
The one-cap France midfielder, 25, has been on loan with old club Monaco and then AC Milan over the past two seasons.
Now Le 10 Sportsay French champions PSG are prepared to pay up to£26.5m for the anchorman – although the Blues want £31m.
-
BAN ON THE RUN
THE Football Association's appeal over Chelsea’s FIFA transfer ban goes to court in June.
The FA were fined nearly £300,000 when the Blues were handed a two-window ban, later halved on appeal.
That meant Chelsea could sign players in January, although they brought in no-one.
-
-
MOURINHO IN BUND FIGHT
Jose Mourinho urged his fellow managers to “stay home and watch Bundesliga” if they do not want the Premier League to resume.
The Tottenham boss made it clear he is itching to return to the dugout during the League Managers' Association meeting.
According to The Mirror, Mourinho took a cheeky swipe at the managers that do not want football to return yet.
He allegedly told them: “If you don't want to play, stay home and watch Bundesliga!”
-
PULISIC HOOPING TO RETURN
Chelsea star Christian Pulisic is back in London after staying at his family's home in Pennsylvania since the start of coronavirus lockdown.
And the 21-year-old has been passing the time by playing basketball and video games.
The winger added: “In times like these it's nice to be able to spend time with family, finding shows to watch, playing video games and being able to work out.
“We're training, following all the government guidelines and hopefully we're back playing soon.
“I'm a big fan of golf and basketball and I've got a miniature hoop here so I can shoot at my house.”
-
CASH AND GO
N'Golo Kante is Chelsea's sole representative on the Sunday Times Young Sporting Rich List.
The Frenchman is seventh on the list of Brit sports stars under 30 who earn a huge packet.
The No1 slot is occupied by Gareth Bale, who earns four times what Kante takes home.
Former Blues Mo Salah and – surprisingly – Daniel Sturridge are also on the list, which is dominated by Manchester United, who have five players on there alone.
The only non-footballing star is Anthony Joshua.
-
CHELSEA LOOK OUT FOR PENSIONERS
Maureen also revealed she has been watching all the soaps to Mount as he checked in on her in a video the club shared on YouTube.
The England starlet was told by the fan: “We find things to do don’t we?
“I don’t do a lot really, just sit and watch television.
“All the soaps, I’m sure it’s not what you watch.
“Yeah a lot better, I’ve been out about six months really, but I’m getting there.”
Source: Read Full Article