LIONEL MESSI almost signed for Chelsea, it has been revealed.
Meanwhile details of some of the brutal transfer clauses Marina Granovskaia wanted inserted into loan deals for Callum Hudson-Odoi and Fikayo Tomori to Bayern Munich and West Ham respectively have emerged.
Get all the latest updates from Stamford Bridge here…
- Kiro Evans
REECE LIGHTNING
Reece James got off the bench to make his England debut last night – to cap off what have been a great few months for the right-back.
Along with establishing a place in the Chelsea first team, he also scored a screamer in the opening game of the season against Brighton
He made clear in a tweet last night what it all meant to him.
- William Pugh
GOOD MORNING CHELSEA FANS
Olivier Giroud admits he will consider his Blues future in January after featuring just once in the new Premier League season.
The veteran striker, 34, who overtook Michel Platini to become France’s second all-time top scorer behind Thierry Henry with a brace against Ukraine last night, told RMC Sport: “I’ve been close to moving to Serie A.
“They appreciated experienced players there, but the transfer didn’t materialise.
“For the future we will see what happens. I will decide by evaluating the opportunities I will have.
“I’m not ruling out anything, but for now I don’t see me returning to Ligue 1.
“I’d like to play at the highest level in Europe for another two or three years, then maybe I’ll go to the United States.”
Meanwhile, captain Cesar Azpilicueta has heaped praise on Reece James and hailed the added competition provided by the England defender.
He told the club's website: “The competition with Reece is very strong.
“As I have said before, this is Chelsea and you have to fight for your place in the team along with many other good players. This has been the same since I arrived here in 2012.
“Reece is a fantastic boy, he’s a huge talent and he has lots of quality. I’m happy to try to help him and the team wherever I can.
“It’s a huge challenge every day to work hard, prove yourself and fight for your place in the team. I want to play as much as possible, that is my target, but of course I want to help the team first and foremost.”
And finally, Italian broadcaster Sport Mediaset is reporting that Inter Milan could make a loan move for defender Marcos Alonso in January.
The Spanish left-back was surprisingly named in boss Frank Lampard's Champions League squad.
But his future is far from clear, with reports of a bust-up with Lamps after the 3-3 draw with West Brom that saw him subbed off at half-time.
- Joe Brophy
THREE LIONS WHIP
Roy Keane ripped into Covidiots Jadon Sancho, Ben Chilwell and Tammy Abraham after they breached coronavirus rules.
And he called on England boss Gareth Southgate to clamp down hard on the trio.
The Irishman said: “Obviously he's built things up Gareth, he's one of nicest guys you can be. But even now he's gone enough is enough now.
“The stuff is ridiculous. How many warnings can you give these players? Enough is enough.
“Well Gareth's in a great position, the beauty for Gareth is that he has great options. There's so many attacking players who are in good form for their clubs.
“As much as these lads are misbehaving, he's gone, 'I've had enough (of the off-field stuff) let's make the changes.'”
- Joe Brophy
RIGHT BACK AT IT
Cesar Azpilicueta has heaped praise and the added competition provided by Reece James.
He told the club's website: “The competition with Reece is very strong.
“As I have said before, this is Chelsea and you have to fight for your place in the team along with many other good players. This has been the same since I arrived here in 2012.
“Reece is a fantastic boy, he’s a huge talent and he has lots of quality. I’m happy to try to help him and the team wherever I can.
“It’s a huge challenge every day to work hard, prove yourself and fight for your place in the team. I want to play as much as possible, that is my target, but of course I want to help the team first and foremost.”
- Joe Brophy
FRENCH CONNECTION
Cesar Azpilicueta has confirmed reports that Chelsea’s defence are currently communicating in French.
He told the club's website: Yes it’s true, we were communicating in French
“I speak French, as does Thiago, and obviously Kurt does as well. It was a good way for us to talk at the back. Edu [Mendy] in goal speaks French too, so it was the best way for us.
“We try to help out as much as possible with the players that don’t speak English at the moment and it is no problem for us. Thiago also speaks the same language as Jorginho, so he can communicate with him too.
“I think language is secondary though. Football is a universal game and for people like Thiago, he’s been around the game for a long time and can lead others even without speaking the language so well.
“We want to make the adaptation as easy as possible for the new players and if we have to speak French in defence until the guys understand English, then that is fine.”
- Joe Brophy
SHOW MUS GO ON
Charly Musonda has posted an update on his training after he was reportedly told that he has just a 20 per cent chance of ever playing football again following his horror knee injury.
The Chelsea star, 23, has endured a hellish four years after suffering a nasty cruciate ligament tear.
Now, Belgian journalist Kristof Terreur has claimed doctors have given Musonda just a 20 per cent chance of ever playing again.
View this post on Instagram
Inside today’s training. #ThisIsMyStory And how I keep training and believing despite the odds, that one day I will be back.
A post shared byCharly Musonda Junior (@musonda) on
- Joe Brophy
REECE OF CAKE
Reece James' stunning effort in the Premier League opener against Brighton has been named Chelsea's goal of the month.
- Joe Brophy
COURT IN THE BUFF
Belgium are in crisis after Thibaut Courtois became the THIRD goalkeeper ruled out for Sunday's game against England.
Roberto Martinez's side travel to Wembley for the Nations League clash with the Real Madrid star initially set to start.
But, ahead of Thursday's friendly against Ivory Coast, it was confirmed that Courtois had left the camp.
And the hip injury will keep the 28-year-old out of action as the Group B favourites go head to head on Sunday.
- Joe Brophy
TELL TALES
Manchester United reportedly considered making a move for Chelsea defender Emerson Palmeri.
Speaking on the Here We Go podcast, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the Red Devils would have moved for the Italian had their move for Alex Telles failed.
Telles eventually joined United from Porto on deadline day while Emerson had been heavily linked with a move back to Serie A following Ben Chilwell's arrival at Stamford Bridge.
- Joe Brophy
ROUD TO SUCCESS
Olivier Giroud admits he will consider his Chelsea future in January after featuring just once in the new Premier League season.
The veteran striker, 34, who overtook Michel Platini to become France’s second all-time top scorer behind Thierry Henry with a brace against Ukraine last night, told RMC Sport: “I’ve been close to moving to Serie A.
“They appreciated experienced players there, but the transfer didn’t materialise.
“For the future we will see what happens. I will decide by evaluating the opportunities I will have.
“I’m not ruling out anything, but for now I don’t see me returning to Ligue 1.
“I’d like to play at the highest level in Europe for another two or three years, then maybe I’ll go to the United States.”
- Joe Brophy
MOUNT A COMEBACK
Chelsea star Mason Mount has been named on the bench for England's friendly against Wales.
- Joe Brophy
NOT O-KAI
Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has criticised Kai Havertz for “disappearing” in Chelsea and Germany games this season.
He said to ESPN: “It’s weird. Some of the things he did [against Turkey] were really delicate and simple and well executed.
“But then he disappeared for long periods so he kind of played the way he does for Chelsea.
“He’s kind of nowhere and then he will have a lovely touch or a nice pass with the perfect weight.
“He will do something that keeps you interested.
“Officially he has two assists but he was in and out of the game and that’s not what you would expect from a guy who has cost so much money.”
- Joe Brophy
COR BLIMEY
England U19s' friendly clash against Scotland has been abandoned at HALF-TIME following a positive Covid-19 test during the match.
The Young Lions went into the break at St George's Park leading 3-1, only to be told that the fixture has been called off.
Players were told that a member of the backroom staff had received a positive test, leading the referee to call a halt to the proceedings.
Commenting on the matter, an FA spokesperson said: “England U19's match with Scotland at St. George's Park this afternoon was abandoned in the first half as a precaution in line with COVID protocol.
“We are not in a position to comment further at this time.”
- Joe Brophy
WALK ON
Kyle Walker admitted some of his England team-mates have made mistakes during the coronavirus pandemic – but insists they all know their responsibilities.
The 30-year-old – who himself breached coronavirus rules FOUR times during lockdown – says Gareth Southgate has spoken to the Three Lions about their duties.
Speaking to The ITV Football Football Show podcast ahead of the friendly clash against Wales, Walker said: “He [Gareth Southgate] has reminded us.
“We had a meeting and he talked about our roles and responsibilities – not just on the field but off the field.
“Obviously we're in a difficult period for everyone, but representing England we have to take that on our shoulders and take the burden of that.
“We should know what's right and what's wrong. But I feel that also people do make mistakes.
“Off the field does play a big role in it, but we need our best players to play for England.
“Mason Greenwood and Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, Tammy Abraham, Ben Chilwell – they're all fantastic, top quality players that are playing for big teams.”
- Joe Brophy
GATE OPEN
Gareth Southgate is set to welcome Tammy Abraham, Ben Chilwell and Jadon Sancho back into England training on Friday.
The trio broke coronavirus guidelines by attending Chelsea striker Abraham's surprise birthday party at the weekend, creating the England boss' latest pandemic headache.
After Mason Greenwood and Phil Foden were dropped from this month's squad for their coronavirus gaffe in Iceland, Southgate chose to delay the arrival of Sancho, Chilwell and Abraham by a few days.
Ruled out of tonight's friendly against Wales, all three are now due back on Friday, according to Sky Sports.
- Joe Brophy
ICYMI
Baba Rahman is reportedly wanted on loan by Watford and Middlesbrough – as the defender faces being shipped out for a SIXTH time.
The Ghanaian has failed to kickstart a career at Stamford Bridge and has been sent on loan for five seasons in a row.
He has not appeared in a senior game since the 2015-16 season – the year he joined the club – when Jose Mourinho began the campaign in charge.
Now Goal report the hapless left-back could be off on loan again to the Championship.
Watford and Middlesbrough are both believed to be interested in picking him up for the season.
The domestic transfer window does not close until October 16 meaning clubs in England can still trade with one another.
- John Hutchinson
KANT BE SERIOUS?
Italian news outlet CalcioMercato.com is reporting how Inter Milan tried to offer Christian Eriksen to Chelsea in a swap with N'Golo Kante.
But Frank Lampard and co were quick to tell Inter where to take their offer.
Eriksen has struggled since he joined Inter from Tottenham, and the Italians look ready to cut their losses.
- John Hutchinson
ALON WAY AWAY
Italian broadcaster Sport Mediaset is reporting that Inter Milan could mnake a loan move for defender Marcos Alonso in January.
The Spanish left-back was surprisingly named in boss Frank Lampard's Champions League squad.
But his future is far from clear, with reports of a bust-up with Lamps after the 3-3 draw with West Brom that saw him suibbed off at half-time.
- John Hutchinson
MORE ON TOMORI
Chelsea's fierce negotiator Marina Granovskaia reportedly ordered West Ham to pay the Blues £50,000 every time Fikayo Tomori did not play.
The centre-back pulled out of a late deadline deal loan move to the Hammers after the clubs had agreed the terms of the temporary switch – including the brutal clause.
And it has since emerged revered director Granovskaia negotiated the clause which would bagged Chelsea £50k each time the defender was left out of David Moyes' team.
The London rivals had agreed on a significant loan fee and the division of wages.
But Tomori, 22, decided at 10:50pm – just TEN minutes before the transfer deadline – he would prefer to stay and fight for a spot at Stamford Bridge.
- John Hutchinson
ALON WAY BACK
Chelsea have revealed their player list for the Champions League campaign.
And Marcos Alonso's career at Stamford Bridge may not be over as it appeared, as the Spaniard makes the cut.
Even Emerson Palmieri makes it.
LIST A (in squad number order): Kepa Arrizabalaga, Antonio Rudiger, Marcos Alonso. Andreas Christensen (club-trained), Jorginho, Thiago Silva, N’Golo Kante, Tammy Abraham (club-trained), Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner, Willy Caballero, Fikayo Tomori (club-trained), Kurt Zouma, Edouard Mendy, Mateo Kovacic, Olivier Giroud, Ben Chilwell (association-trained ), Hakim Ziyech, Cesar Azpilicueta, Kai Havertz, Emerson Palmieri.
- John Hutchinson
AND HERE'S THE ROCKET
Here is the strike that saw Reece James winb the club's Goal of the Month award.
Pick. That. Out.
- John Hutchinson
REECEY DOES IT
Reece James has Chelsea's September Goal of the Month award.
Over 30,000 fans voted via The 5th Stand app and the club website for the right-back’s goal against Brighton in their opening day win.
It's been a good few days for James, who was called into Gareth Southgate's England squad.
- John Hutchinson
ZOU BEAUTY
Kurt Zouma has been called up to the France squad.
The centre-half has flitted in and out of the Chelsea team this season, but he must have impressed Les Blues boss Didier Deschamps enough.
France play Portugal and Croatia in their Nations League games.
- John Hutchinson
HAV A WORD
Chelsea star Kai Haverts has surprisngly been slammed for 'disappearing' in games for club and country.
Liverpool legend Steve Nicol doesn't seem too caught up in the euphoria with Havertz and thinks he has plenty to work on.
He told ESPN: “It’s weird [with Kai Havertz].
“Some of the things he did [against Turkey] were really delicate and simple and well executed.
“But then he disappeared for long periods so he kind of played the way he does for Chelsea.”
- John Hutchinson
BLUE BEAUTIES
Chelsea were pleased with how their international stars fared in last night's games.
Boss Frank Lampard will now want to see these kind of performances continue for the rest of the season.
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