CHELSEA's transfer plans have been thrown into disarray with West Ham refusing to consider selling Declan Rice until at least the summer.
Meanwhile Atletico Madrid are said to be interested in signing Olivier Giroud to replace Diego Costa, just as Chelsea did in 2018.
Follow all the latest from the Bridge below…
- William Pugh
GOOD MORNING CHELSEA FANS
Boss Frank Lampard has hinted at some possible out-goings in the January transfer window.
Lampard said: "We have a big squad, we will see if that changes – if there are opportunities for players that aren't playing so much.
"That will be a conversation for the player, club and myself.
"Then we will see if we feel we can strengthen in the right way but we are not jumping up and down to do so.
"My focus this year is purely on work, because we have new players, because we have young players. I'm focusing on that. But we'll see. It's a long month."
Chelsea are plotting an audacious move for AC Milan wonderkid Gianluigi Donnarumma, according to respected Chelsea blogger Simon Phillips.
The Blues would face stiff competition from Juventus and AC Milan, but they are believed to have already made contact.
Donnarumma’s contract is set to expire in the summer and the player is free to speak to other clubs over potential pre-contract agreements.
The shot-stopper made his Milan debut at the tender age of 16 and has been a regular feature ever since.
Chelsea’s pursuit of Declan Rice may have to wait until the summer, reports suggest.
Ian McGarry claims the Blues may find it hard to land Rice in the winter as West Ham will not sell until at least the summer – and even then he could yet stay.
McGarry said in the latest episode of The Transfer Window Podcast: “That chase will be upped in this window upcoming, however, the expectation at Chelsea is that perhaps West Ham prefer to sell in the summer and not in the January window.
“However, Chelsea will continue to pursue it in both windows and with the player, as they understand it, intimating that he would certainly be very attracted to a move to west London, then that’s something they will continue to pursue.”
- Joshua Mbu
HASSELBAINK RETURNS
Former Chelsea striker, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, has been announced as the new Burton Albion manager.
Hasselbaink returns to Burton five years after leaving for QPR.
Speaking to the club after his reappointment, Hasselbaink said: “It’s great to be working with Ben Robinson again. We had a really good working relationship last time and hopefully we can get that back on track.
“Burton Albion is a club which is very close to my heart and a really special club for me and my family.
“The job is totally different from the first time, but we are coming in to try as quickly as possible to get us up the league and keep ourselves in League One – that’s our aim and first and foremost that’s what we will be trying to do.
“We know there is enough quality in the playing squad but that’s not reflected in where we are in the table so there is a lot of hard work to be done.”
Credit: Getty Images - Joshua Mbu
CAPTAIN AMERICA
Christian Pulisic was on top form when Chelsea met Man City in June. Fantastic individual performance!
- Joshua Mbu
LAMPARD HINT ON BLUES OUT-GOINGS
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has dropped a hint on whether players will be leaving Stamford Bridge in January.
Lampard said: "We have a big squad, we will see if that changes – if there are opportunities for players that aren't playing so much.
"That will be a conversation for the player, club and myself.
"Then we will see if we feel we can strengthen in the right way but we are not jumping up and down to do so.
"My focus this year is purely on work, because we have new players, because we have young players. I'm focusing on that. But we'll see. It's a long month."
- Joshua Mbu
PULISIC PRAISES GIROUD
Christian Pulisic has hailed team-mate Giroud as the 'most lethal finisher' at Chelsea.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Pulisic said: "I would have to go with Olivier Giroud.
"[He’s a] lethal finisher, especially with first-time shots or volleys. He just always gets a clean contact on the ball.
"He’s really strong in front of goal."
- Joshua Mbu
ROMAN EMPIRE
11 of the 22 trophies below have been won in the Roman Abramovich era.
- Joshua Mbu
DIEGO NO-GO
Wolves have been warned that signing Diego Costa would be a ‘dangerous’ move.
Tony Cascarino has urged Nuno Espirito Santo to think twice about offering Costa a contract after the 32-year-old was released on a free transfer by Atletico Madrid.
Wolves lost Raul Jimenez to a head injury sustained against Arsenal last month.
And SunSport exclusively revealed Costa is being lined up for a stunning Molineux switch to replace the Mexican in attack.
Costa is well known by Premier League fans, having spent three seasons at Chelsea.
The Spainiard scored 59 goals in 120 games while winning two Premier League titles under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
Read more
- Joshua Mbu
THROWBACK
Ahead of Sunday's game against Manchester City, Chelsea have posted a throwback to Chelsea's thumping 6-0 win back in 2007.
- Joshua Mbu
CAN HE HAK IT?
Chelsea host Manchester City on Sunday having won just one of their last six games in all competitions.
The Blues began December in the title conversation, but their poor form has seen them slip to sixth – beneath the likes of Aston Villa.
Frank Lampard's side could get back on track, however, with a morale-boosting win over Man City at Stamford Bridge.
This fixture last season saw the Blues help Liverpool clinch the title, with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Pep Guardiola's stars.
Currently level on points with underachieving City, Chelsea could desperately do with a win this time around to halt their side.
- Joshua Mbu
YOU KANT PASS
Kante being Kante, covering every single blade of grass!
- Joshua Mbu
TOP W-EARNERS
Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Ben Chilwell – all summer signings – top Chelsea's top earners list.
- Joshua Mbu
GET IT DONN
Chelsea are plotting a move for highly rated Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, despite signing Edouard Mendy last summer.
According to respected Chelsea blogger Simon Phillips, the Blues have made contact with Donnarumma whose contract is set to expire this summer.
Chelsea are hoping to persuade the 21-year-old to join, but will face stiff competition from a host of top clubs across Europe.
Rivals Inter Milan and Juventus are believed to also be tracking Donnarumma, hoping to convince him to stay in the Serie A.
The player's future will primarily depend on the how successful negotiations over a new contract with AC Milan go.
Credit: Getty Images - Kostas Lianos
HAVERTZ DOUBT
Jamie Carragher believes Chelsea may have not needed to sign Kai Havertz in the summer.
Havertz joined the Blues from Bayer Leverkusen with plenty of promise but has struggled for consistency throughout the season.
Carragher believes the west Londoners may have been a bit reckless as he wonders whether there was a plan as to how the attacking midfielder would fit in with Frank Lampard's plans.
The Sky Sports pundit wrote in his column at the Daily Telegraph: "I look at Kai Havertz and wonder if Chelsea really needed to sign him last summer?
"He is obviously a player of great potential, but it never works buying a player because he is so highly-rated, unless you have a predetermined idea where he will fit into the side.”
- Kostas Lianos
CITY TEAM NEWS
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola confirmed that "three important players" will miss Sunday's clash against Chelsea.
Guardiola didn't name them as he stated that it will become clear once he names his squad in the weekend.
The City manager said during today's press conference: "The Premier League told us not to [reveal the positive coronavirus test names].
"We have to respect the privacy of the players maybe.
"Tomorrow you will see the line-ups and three important players not there so you will know exactly but I’m not allowed to tell you."
- Kostas Lianos
GAME ON
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard appears confident that Sunday's clash against Manchester City will go ahead at Stamford Bridge.
City's match against Everton was postponed on Monday because of an outbreak of coronavirus within the Manchester giants' ranks.
Lampard said during today's press conference: "At the moment, the game is on.
"We have had a couple ourselves [positive tests] but not on the playing staff"
- Kostas Lianos
ZIYECH FITNESS
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard hinted once more that Hakim Ziyech might play against Manchester City on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.
Lampard confirmed that Ziyech underwent training like normal in the last three days and has made progress after getting injured.
The Blues boss said in a press conference: "He's trained the last two or three days.
"Reece James is out with a small hamstring problem"
- Kostas Lianos
CHELSEA TRANSFER PLANS
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard remains coy about any potential transfer plans amid the winter market.
Lampard will weigh his options throughout the month and see if he needs any changes for the second half of the season.
The Blues manager said during today's press conference ahead of Sunday's clash with Manchester City: "I'm not sure yet. I have ideas. We have a big squad, we will see if that changes.
"We will see if we feel we can strengthen in the right way but we are not jumping up and down to do so. It's a long month."
GETTY IMAGES – GETTY - Kostas Lianos
SANCHO KEEN
Jadon Sancho's representatives would be keen to listen to any offers for the Borussia Dortmund star.
Sancho came close to joining Manchester United in the summer but the Premier League giants withdrew their bid after refusing to match his £108million asking price due to the financial impact of the coronavirus.
According to 90Min, United are still monitoring the situation just like Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City.
There is currently no proof suggesting that Real Madrid and Barcelona will join the race
- Kostas Lianos
EDERSON DOUBT
Manchester City star goalkeeper Ederson has raised questions about whether he will compete against Chelsea on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.
The City shot-stopper announced via Instagram story that he is self-isolating following the recent coronavirus outbreak within the Citizens' ranks, which led to the postponement of Monday's clash against Everton.
The Brazil international wrote: "I just prepared for the photo. My New Year's Eve is isolated."
There is yet no official word as there is still some way to go until Sunday
- Kostas Lianos
WERNER PROBLEM
Former Chelsea ace Scott Minto believes manager Frank Lampard will have to find a fixed role for the underperforming Timo Werner.
Werner has only managed to score four goals in 16 Premier League matches ever since his arrival from RB Leipzig last summer but Minto shared an idea.
He told Stadium Astro: "“If he’s going to play on that left-hand side, Frank Lampard has a decision to make.
"If they are going to play him on the left and have a big man up front, then you have to accept that he is going to come inside and try to link up with [Olivier] Giroud or [Tammy] Abraham and defensively that is going to leave you open – as we saw against Arsenal.
“Or, you stick him up front – you play him on the last defender, try and bring everybody a little bit short, make the opposition defence compact for a ball over the top or slide passes for his pace."
- Kostas Lianos
TUCH AND GO
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has received a boost amid speculation suggesting he could be replaced by Thomas Tuchel.
And that is because Tuchel, who was sacked by Paris Saint-Germain in late 2020, has been linked with a move to Barcelona.
According to BILD, several Barca presidential candidates have named the German manager as a potential replacement to Ronald Koeman who has overseen a poor start in La Liga.
The Blaugrana are sixth in the table with only seven wins and four losses in 15 matches.
Lampard has also been struggling recently as he's only managed one win in the last five Premier League matches
- Kostas Lianos
HAV-ING FUN
Chelsea summer signing Kai Havertz poked some fun on Callum Hudson-Odoi ahead of Chelsea's clash with Manchester City on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.
Hudson-Odoi shared a picture of himself posing on the door of his car and wished everyone a happy New Year.
The winger posted on Instagram: "Happy new year everyone!! Stay blessed, Stay healthy!!"
That prompted a response from Havertz who commented: "Yes you have a G class okey."
That was obviously a joke from the attacking midfielder insinuating that Hudson-Odoi was just showing off his Mercedes
GETTY IMAGES – GETTY - Kostas Lianos
RICE UPDATE
Reports suggest that Declan Rice will be Chelsea's top target throughout the January transfer window.
However, Ian McGarry claims the Blues may find it hard to land Rice in the winter as West Ham appear to prefer to hold on to their midfielder until the summer.
McGarry said in the latest episode of The Transfer Window Podcast: “That chase will be upped in this window upcoming, however, the expectation at Chelsea is that perhaps West Ham prefer to sell in the summer and not in the January window.
"However, Chelsea will continue to pursue it in both windows and with the player, as they understand it, intimating that he would certainly be very attracted to a move to west London, then that’s something they will continue to pursue.”
- Kostas Lianos
ISCO HINT?
Isco has been linked with a host of different clubs ahead of the January transfer window, such as Arsenal, Everton, Sevilla and Chelsea,
The attacking midfielder is reportedly keen on reuniting with Julen Lopetegui in Seville as he coached him in the Spain reserves a few years ago.
However, the Spain international insinuated that he could be interested in joining the Blues as he told Soccer Bible that Stamford Bridge is the ground he would like to play at the most as he has yet to have the chance.
However, Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane doesn’t appear willing to let the 28-year-old go before the summer even though he barely uses him
- Kostas Lianos
ZIYECH RETURN?
Hakim Ziyech could make his long-awaited return to action on Sunday when Chelsea take on Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.
Ziyech hasn't played for the Blues since December 5 when he suffered a hamstring injury during the Blues' 3-1 win over Leeds.
But manager Frank Lampard has revealed that he could make a return against City.
Lampard said: "There’s a possibility he could be fit for Manchester City if it goes ahead on Sunday.
"He’s certainly progressing to the point where he’s very close to fitness."
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