CHELSEA are close to securing the signing of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, after Rennes' manager confirmed the stopper WILL join the Blues.
And Frank Lampard is reportedly set to step up his pursuit of Declan Rice after concluding that N'Golo Kante is not a holding midfielder.
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Get all the latest transfer gossip and updates below…
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JUR NOT HAPPY
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was furious with some of his players and staff for CHEERING after Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen was sent off.
French football journalist Julien Laurens reported that as Christensen was dismissed, “the Liverpool players in the stands clap and sort of celebrate”.
This reportedly left the German gaffer furious, who turned around and shouted: “Are you crazy? We never ever do that, ok.”
Speaking after the game Klopp, 53, explained more about the incident.
He said: “It was not one of my subs but another member of staff and I told him already what I think about it and he's good with that.
“But in the moment that's something I don't want to see.”
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HOLD THE LINE
Chelsea are actively looking to sign a new holding midfielder, according to The Athletic via Chelsea News.
Frank Lampard reportedly does not count N'Golo Kante as a holding midfielder, which leaves the Blues looking again at Declan Rice.
The Blues are expected to bid for Rice, however are unlikely to match West Ham's £80m asking price.
The move could therefore hinge on whether or not Rice chooses to hand in a transfer request.
Chelsea are also reportedly willing to offer Ross Barkley in exchange.
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BURNED BRIDGES
Chelsea do not have the option to buy back youngster Tariq Lamptey – leaving Blues fans devastated.
Frank Lampard sold the 19-year-old to the Brighton for £4million in January as he approached the final six months of his contract.
Following his dazzling display against Newcastle, one fan said: “Are we going to buy Lamptey back in the future for a fortune after letting him go?”
Another said: “How long until Chelsea try to buy Tariq Lamptey back?”
A third added: “Lamptey was amazing tonight. Sadly for him Chelsea have Reece James but no doubt in my mind Lamptey will do great things.”
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GOOD MORNING BLUES FANS
Chelsea are still waiting to confirm the signing of Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Mendy is expected to complete a £20million transfer in the coming days and the move has been confirmed by Rennes manager Julien Stephan.
He said: “We're looking for a goalkeeper, it's no secret.
“Edouard will certainly leave us for Chelsea.”
Once the final details of Mendy's transfer are sorted, Chelsea will reportedly turn their attention to West Ham midfielder Declan Rice.
The Blues are rumoured to be preparing a big money offer for the England international.
However, they face a difficult task in convincing West Ham to sell after the Hammers issued a hands-off warning to Frank Lampard and co.
Meanwhile, Tiemoue Bakayoko's return to AC Milan could be on the verge of collapse with the Italian side unsure if they can afford the Frenchman's wage demands.
Paris Saint-Germain are keeping tabs on the situation as they also consider a move for the 26-year-old.
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RUDIGER ABSENCE EXPLAINED
Frank Lampard has clarified Antonio Rudiger's omission from the Chelsea squad for their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool today.
Fikayo Tomori and club captain Cesar Azpilicueta were preferred on the bench while new signing Thiago Silva is not yet match fit.
The decision sparked speculation the German defender could be headed for the Stamford Bridge exit door but Lampard moved to dismiss those rumours.
He said: “We have five centre-halves at the club and I can't pick a squad that has three of them on the bench.
“That is the way it is, I have to pick a squad via training and situations and that was the selection today.”
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MENDY QUARANTINE RULES
Chelsea fans may be concerned new goalkeeper signing Edouard Mendy will have to quarantine before making his Premier League debut.
As it stands, all arrivals to the UK from France must self-isolate for 14 days.
However, SBNation reports the government provides exemptions for “international elite sportsmen”, meaning Mendy could be free to join up with his new teammates sooner rather than later.
Mendy, 28, also tested positive for coronavirus a few weeks ago so should be available if he tests negative and doesn't show any symptoms.
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BAKAYOKO TWIST
AC Milan are in talks with Chelsea over a loan move for Tiemoue Bakayoko but could face competition from Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG were also interested in the Frenchman before his move to Chelsea in 2017.
The 26-year-old spent last season on loan at Monaco.
Milan are reportedly struggling to meet Bakayoko's wage demands.
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GIROUD STAYING PUT
The agent of Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has ruled out a move to Roma for his client.
Giroud had been linked to the Italian side as a possible replacement for Juventus-bound Edin Dzeko but Roma have instead signed Arkadiusz Milik from Napoli.
But his agent Michael Manuello has said a move is no longer a possibility.
Giroud, 33, has been an unused substitute in both of Chelsea's Premier League matches this season.
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THIAGO IN BLUE?
According to the Athletic, Chelsea were offered the chance to sign new Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara earlier this summer.
The report claims both Chelsea and London rival Arsenal were given the chance to sign the Spain international as Bayern Munich attempted to drive up the player's transfer fee.
However, both teams turned down the opportunity.
Thiago made his Liverpool debut today in the Reds' 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
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ZAPPACOSTA SCORES
Davide Zappacosta scored for Genoa on his return to Serie A today.
Zappacosta's loan move to Genoa was confirmed last week and he was on the scoresheet in their 4-1 win over Crotone this afternoon.
The 28-year-old joined Chelsea from Torino in the summer of 2017 but spent last season on loan at Roma.
Genoa have also been linked with a move for Tottenham left-back Danny Rose.
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BYE BYE BAKAYOKO
Tiemoue Bakayoko has endured a difficult summer.
Bakayoko had been on loan at Monaco last season, but the French side refused to trigger the option to buy at the end of the loan deal.
Reports suggest that Bakayoko could still head back to France, with PSG having contacted the representatives of the Frenchman.
AC Milan have been linked with Bakayoko for some time and remain interested, with the two sides set to battle it out for the signature of the midfielder.
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BLUES TO BID FOR RICE?
West Ham have told Chelsea Declan Rice is not for sale this summer, according to 90min.
The Blues are rumoured to be preparing a big bid for the England international and will pull the trigger once the signing of Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is complete.
Rice is Chelsea manager Frank Lampard's top target for the base of his midfield.
However, the Hammers are determined to hold onto their man, even if Chelsea offer big money.
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MENDY LATEST
After Kepa Arrizablaga's error in Chelsea's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool today, fans are wondering when they can expect Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to arrive.
Canal journalist Eric Bresnard has said the deal is done and is likely to be announced some time this week.
The French side were hoping to get the best possible deal and even asked for one or two Chelsea players to head in the opposite direction.
A fee of around £25million is believed to have been agreed and Rennes manager Julien Stephan confirmed on Saturday evening Mendy was headed to Stamford Bridge.
“We're looking for a goalkeeper,” he said. “It's no secret.
“Edouard will certainly leave us for Chelsea.”
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BACK-AYOKO
Chelsea and AC Milan are still in talks over a move for Tiemoue Bakayoko.
Bakayoko played for the Rossoneri in the 2018-19 season and is Stefano Pioli's No1 target in midfield.
The 26-year-old would move to the San Siro on loan initially with an option to make the deal permanent for £27million.
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HAD A LUK
Chelsea almost made a move for Real Madrid flop Luka Jovic before the signing of Timo Werner, according to reports.
Spanish outlet AS claims the Blues enquire about Jovic's availability before the £50million swoop for Werner.
Jovic remains at Real Madrid despite the Spanish champions' best efforts to loan out the Serbia international.
Injuries and poor form have seen him drop out of Real boss Zinedine Zidane's first-team plans.
The 22-year-old has been linked with Monaco, AC Milan and Napoli this summer.
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KICK OFF AT THE BRIDGE
Chelsea and Liverpool have kicked off at Stamford Bridge, it should be a cracker!
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RUDIGER AXED
Frank Lampard has axed Antonio Rudiger from his matchday squad, sparking rumours that the centre back could be set to leave Chelsea before the end of the transfer window.
Rudiger played a part in persuading Germany teammates Timo Werner and Kai Havertz to join the Blues over the summer, but could now be on his way out.
Rudiger was in fact linked with today's opponents last month as Jurgen Klopp eyes defensive cover for Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, but it remains to be seen where Antonio Rudiger's future lies.
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LIVERPOOL TEAM TO FACE CHELSEA
This is how Liverpool line up against the Blues.
1 Alisson, 66 Alexander-Arnold, 4 Van Dijk, Fabinho, 26 Robertson, 5 Wijnaldum, 14 Henderson, 8 Keita, 10 Mane, 11 Salah, 9 Firmino
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CHELSEA TEAM NEWS
Here's the side that Frank Lampard has named to take on Liverpool.
1 Kepa, 24 James, 4 Christensen, 15 Zouma, 3 Alonso, 5 Jorginho, 7 Kante, 17 Kovacic, 19 Mount, 29 Havertz, 11 Werner.
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READY FOR ACTION
Stamford Bridge hosts its first home game of the season as Chelsea take on current Premier League champions Liverpool at 4.30pm.
It should be an absolute cracker of a game.
It's also the first time the sides have met since a sideline confrontation between managers Frank Lampard and Jurgen Klopp in July.
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HALF AN HOUR UNTIL TEAM NEWS
Team news for Chelsea's clash with Liverpool will be at 3.30pm for kick off at 4.30pm.
Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and Christian Pulisic are all set to miss out, but Timo Werner is set to play after suffering a slight knock against Brighton last time out.
Meanwhile new Liverpool signing Thiago could feature for the Reds after his paperwork was completed in time for him to appear today.
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WERNER WARNS BLUES FANS
Timo Werner has admitted that Chelsea are unlikely to win any silverware this season, despite a £200 million spending spree.
Speaking to BILD ahead of today's clash with rivals Liverpool, Werner said:
“We have to be honest with ourselves and say that we probably won’t win the Premier League or the Champions League this season.
“If it works anyway, all the nicer. But that’s not what the club expects.
“I like to compare that to Liverpool a few years ago. In the first year, the team didn’t win a title either. In the second year they were in the Champions League final, in the third they won it and in the fourth, the title in the Premier League followed.
“With our Chelsea project, too, we want to develop step by step so that we have greater chances for the title after each season.”
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PREPARATIONS
Frank Lampard passes on some instructions to Jorginho in training this week ahead of today's clash against Liverpool.
Jorginho however is expected to drop to the bench to be replaced by the returning Mateo Kovacic.
Kick off is at 4.30pm, with team news coming an hour before.
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BYE BYE BAKAYOKO
Tiemoue Bakayoko has endured a difficult summer.
Bakayoko had been on loan at Monaco last season, but the French side refused to trigger the option to buy at the end of the loan deal.
Reports suggest that Bakayoko could still head back to France, with PSG having contacted the representatives of the Frenchman.
AC Milan have been linked with Bakayoko for some time and remain interested, with the two sides set to battle it out for the signature of the midfielder.
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READY TO RUMBLE
Chelsea club captain Cesar Azpilicueta is relishing the prospect of this afternoon's clash against Liverpool.
Speaking to Chelsea's official website before the game, he said:
“It is a rivalry between Chelsea and Liverpool which we have had from a long time ago,’
“In the Champions League back in the day, and in the league, the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, so when you arrive at these kind of games, now they are the current champions and Chelsea is a club that wants to be at the top, we want to be back at our best.
“So it is up to us to raise our level to compete against them and play our football. With the ambition and determination with which we have started the new season.
“We have to go for everything and it is a big test early in the season.
“It is a big game so everybody is looking forward to it. The preparations have gone well and we have tried to get into the best shape possible for this game.”
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