CHELSEA are reportedly considering an incredible double swoop for Erling Haaland and Declan Rice.
Meanwhile Ben Chilwell was forced off injured in their 3-0 win over West Ham.
Follow all the latest from the Bridge below…
- Jake Lambourne
GOOD MORNING BLUES FANS
Chelsea are eyeing a stunning move for Erling Haaland.
Sky Sports claims the Borussia Dortmund star has caught Frank Lampard’s eye.
Haaland has 17 goals in 14 games and could join Timo Werner in attack at Stamford Bridge.
The outlet also claims Chelsea remain keen on West Ham midfielder Declan Rice.
But Frank Lampard is reportedly ready to axe seven current stars.
Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger, Jorginho, Danny Drinkwater, Marcos Alonso, Victor Moses and Ross Barkley all have no futures under Lampard.
Meanwhile, West Ham are lining up an audacious January move for Olivier Giroud.
The Mirror claims David Moyes is ready to chance his luck and make an offer for the World Cup winner.
Giroud has found himself playing a bit-part role at Stamford Bridge.
And he could be tempted by a move to the opposite side of London in a bid to save his Euro dream with France.
Finally, PSG are reportedly set to move for Rudiger next month.
Le Parisien claims the German, who has made just one Premier League appearance this term, is being targeted by Thomas Tuchel.
PSG are light on numbers at the back, and experienced Rudiger is seen as the man to fill the void left by Thiago Silva.
The Brazilian has ironically ousted Rudiger from the current Chelsea side.
- Anthony Chapman
NOT A KEPA
Chelsea will struggle to find a buyer for £71million flop Kepa Arrizabalaga and his £150,000-a-week wages.
That’s according to Rob Green, who played for the Blues the same season Kepa was signed from Athletic Bilbao for Maurizio Sarri.
Green told The Athletic: "It’s a tough sell. It’s a numbers thing.
“Chelsea and [their director] Marina Granovskaia are not in the business of losing money.
“They have an asset which is depreciating greatly but with football clubs in the financial state they’re in, it’s going to be tough to put something together.
“I’m not even talking just about selling, even a loan is going to be a struggle.
“The transfer fee and the wages is the biggest obstacle to resolving the situation."
- Anthony Chapman
ROUD NOT TO
West Ham are lining up an audacious January move for Olivier Giroud.
The Mirror claims David Moyes is ready to chance his luck and make an offer for the World Cup winner.
Giroud has found himself playing a bit-part role at Stamford Bridge.
And he could be tempted by a move to the opposite side of London in a bid to save his Euro dream with France.
- Anthony Chapman
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
Chelsea could be ready to axe SEVEN players from their squad next summer.
According to Sky Sports, centre-backs Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger are not wanted by Frank Lampard.
Wing-backs Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses are also out of his plans.
Meanwhile, midfield trio Danny Drinkwater, Ross Barkley and Jorginho all face the chop.
- Anthony Chapman
OK COMPUTER
Here is how the Premier League will finish this season thanks to a computer simulation.
Liverpool will apparently retain their title, with Leicester coming an impressive second.
Man United will claim third spot for the second successive season, with Chelsea also claiming a Champions League place.
Meanwhile, Fulham, West Brom and Sheffield United will go down, with Arsenal narrowly avoiding the drop.
- Anthony Chapman
COSTA BUSINESS
Diego Costa will not be renewing his Atletico Madrid contract.
Fabrizio Romano claims the ex-Chelsea star is now set for a free transfer either in January or next summer.
Costa would prefer to leave as soon as possible but is willing to wait if there are a lack of offers.
- Anthony Chapman
RICE AND EASY
Chelsea remain keen on signing Declan Rice.
The West Ham anchorman is seen by Frank Lampard as a long-term replacement for N’Golo Kante, says Sky Sports.
But the Blues may need to clear out some dead wood first.
- Anthony Chapman
EXCLUSIVE BY SUNSPORT'S MARTIN LIPTON
FA disciplinary beaks are on standby to hold emergency Christmas hearings — to prevent club chiefs “gaming” the system.
With games 48 hours apart for some clubs over the festive period, the chance to circumvent the disciplinary framework for red-card suspensions would have been an option.
In previous years, clubs have appealed against bans for players to ensure they were available for the next match, knowing that hearings could not be held in time.
But FA chief Mark Bullingham and Prem bosses have agreed that panels can sit virtually on Sunday and Monday to ensure any appeals are heard instantly.
- Anthony Chapman
ERL’S COURT
Chelsea are eyeing a stunning move for Erling Haaland.
Sky Sports claims the Borussia Dortmund star has caught Frank Lampard’s eye.
Haaland has 17 goals in 14 games and could join Timo Werner in attack at Stamford Bridge.
- Anthony Chapman
INTER THE DRAGON
Inter Milan have put Premier League clubs on alert after revealing ex-Spurs star Christian Eriksen has been TRANSFER LISTED after just one year.
CEO Giuseppe Marotta reportedly told Sky Italia: "Yes, I can confirm that Christian Eriksen is on the transfer list. He's going to leave in January.
“He's not functional to our plans and he had difficulty here at Inter. I think it's right that Christian goes away to find more space."
- Anthony Chapman
RUDI HELL
PSG are reportedly set to move for Antonio Rudiger next month.
Le Parisien claims the German, who has made just one Premier League appearance this term, is being targeted by Thomas Tuchel.
PSG are light on numbers at the back, and experienced Rudiger is seen as the man to fill the void left by Thiago Silva.
The Brazilian has ironically ousted Rudiger from the current Chelsea side.
- Anthony Chapman
HAIL CESAR
Frank Lampard has praised Cesar Azpilicueta after the Chelsea captained returned from seven games out to marshal the defence against West Ham.
Azpilicueta is set to continue in place of the injured Reece James against Arsenal on Boxing Day.
Lampard said: "The defence were great. Thiago was the leader but Azpilicueta came in and did brilliantly.
"As full-backs, you have to defend your zone when they're crossing the ball again and again.
"They're very good at set-pieces so it's something that we've worked on a lot in training and personnel like Thiago Silva clearly help a lot.
"Some of our defending of the box this season has been really good and consistent and that has to stay, particularly against opponents like we had."
Credit: Alamy Live News - Anthony Chapman
SILVA LINING
Frank Lampard is in awe of Thiago Silva's quality despite his advancing years.
He said: "I remember playing in the Premier League at 36 and couldn't play like he is playing week in week out.
"I was in and out of the team and could feel it at that stage in my career.
"I know he's been a great player for a long time, but the pressures of the Premier League when you've played in France for so long, no disrespect. But he's exceeded (my expectations) probably, but really I shouldn't have been surprised.
"I can see the quality, the preparation, the desire to win headers and he is very studious about the game. He has been a great addition on and off the pitch."
Credit: Alamy Live News - Craig Mahood
TRAINING PICS
Attention turns to Arsenal now as Blues look to close the gap on leaders Liverpool and add to theit London rivals' woes.
- Craig Mahood
LAMPARD ON INJURIES
Lampard has given an update on three key members of his playing squad who look set to miss Saturday's game.
He had hoped to have Hakim Ziyech back for the Arsenal game but that now seems unlikely.
Reece James and Ben Chilwell remain doubtful for the game.
On Ziyech, he said: "He had a knee injury at the start of the season and he now has a muscle injury.
"You have to wait to recover. It's not a long-term concern and we hope to have him back in the next week or so.
"And hopefully he can offer what he did before because he was offering great things.
"We missed that in a way but that's football, that's a squad and it's what happens when players are playing at high level every two or three days."
On the full backs: "They're both doubtful. We're not sure whether they will be fit for either game," said Lampard.
- Craig Mahood
'BEST ARSENAL'
Lampard has told his Chelsea players to ‘expect the best Arsenal’ in the derby on Saturday.
The Boxing Day fixture sees the two sides at opposite ends of the table, but Lampard says form goes out the window when it comes to derby games.
He said: “When you play a derby form does go out the window.
“Sometimes the idea of playing the derby is the spur that the team needs to try to get a result.
“So we have to expect the best Arsenal, which is a really good footballing team, with really good players, well-coached, rotations in their team, lots of threats in attacking areas.
“That's what I expect, so we have to prepare for that.”
- Craig Mahood
NO COMMENT
Frank Lampard has refused to be drawn on Arsenal’s ‘crisis’ ahead of the meeting on Boxing Day.
It’s the Gunners worst ever start to a Premier League season but Lamps wasn’t going to comment on whether or not the North Londoners were in a relegation battle.
He said: “I don't want to talk about what their battle is, they're just a good team with a good manager, they've had some tough results recently,' said Lampard.
“It's not my concern where they're at, my concern is the team at face value and they're a high quality team.
“When you play a derby form does go out of the window, we have to expect the best Arsenal, well coached and lots of rotation.
“I'm very at pains not to talk about other managers' situations, I don't know about the thousands of things he has to do on a day-to-day, like he doesn't know mine.”
- Craig Mahood
LAMPS ON WERNER 'STRUGGLES'
Frank Lampard has responded to the Timo Werner comments earlier in the week where he said he was 'struggling with the demands' of the Premier League.
Lampard said he praises his honesty and the lack of goals isn't an issue – as he is there creating chances.
Lampard said: "Honesty is a good thing. Whether it gets taken in the right context or not, I’m not sure.
"We crave honesty and then sometimes hang on every work. I don’t want to speak for him but I don’t think saying Timo underestimated the league is quite the right way of translating of what he actually feels.
"I know he wanted to come here and be successful and he understood the rigours of the Premier League.
"It’s just the fact that when you get here, it’s different challenges. I don’t think you can talk about too much until you’re here and he was talking about his experiences.
"He’s getting a lot of chances and he will score a lot of goals for us.’
"I talk to him all the time. I don’t sense frustration.
"As a striker you want to score regularly because that’s how you’re judged but at the same time every striker has moments and patches where the ball doesn’t drop for you, for whatever reason.
"The positive thing is he’s getting chances in games. The goals will come.’
- Craig Mahood
WHAT A DRILL
We've all done this in our past.
Never got paid for it, mind you….
- Craig Mahood
OK, OLI?
- Craig Mahood
LAMPARD SPEAKS
Frank Lampard is speaking to the press ahead of the Boxing Day derby against Arsenal.
We'll bring you the best bits here!
- Craig Mahood
AU REVOIR, ANT
Antonio Rudiger appears to be a man in demand this window.
His comments the other day about ‘not being happy’ with his situation at Chelsea appear to have attracted interest throughout Europe.
Milan, Barcelona, Roma and Premier League clubs have been linked with the German in recent days.
Now La Parisien claim PSG boss Thomas Tuchel is mulling over a move for Rudiger.
They claim Tuchel is an admirer of Rudiger and the player’s name was mentioned to Leonardo (PSG sporting director) following Thiago Silva’s departure in the summer.
- Craig Mahood
HIGH JUMP
Abraham gaining air
- Craig Mahood
GAB FIT
Gabriel Martinelli has taken to social media to announce he is fit and ready to go again.
Widespread fear amongst Arsenal fans unraveled last night after the youngster had to be taken off injured early with a kick to the shin.
Arteta had tried to calm those nerves yesterday saying it was ‘just a bit of swelling’.
But Martinelli has confirmed on Twitter that he is fit and looks now to be included against Chelsea on Boxing Day.
He posted: “Feeling fine and ready to go again.”
- Craig Mahood
LUNCHTIME RECAP
A round-up of what has been said today
- First-team stars 'hugely impressed' by youngster
- Chilwell injury 'not serious'
- But left-back out of Xmas and New Year games
- Inter Miami and West Ham join race for Giroud
- Rudiger 'a target for Barcelona'
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