Sacking confirmed, £70m Toney bid, Mudryk injury, Klopp exit
Jurgen Klopp exit
Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham will be on red alert as Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is being targeted by the German men's national team for their vacant head coach role, according to reports.
The 56-year-old has had huge success at Borussia Dortmund before he made the switch to Merseyside in 2015, playing a huge part in their transformation. Bringing along his Gegenpressing style of play, Klopp made a team that made intensity their main aim and pressing their main playmaker within games.
Boehly transfer instruction
Former Chelsea defender Gary Cahill has claimed that the key difference between the success his side had at the club and the current struggles the Blues face now is down to squad building and transfer strategy.
It comes as the west London outfit are still in the midst of a huge change under the new ownership, following on from Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital winning the race to take over the club last May. Since then, switches have been made amongst every department, from backroom staff to the players.
Marina return
Former Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia has made two returns to the club in the past year following her exit from the Blues in summer of 2022, it has been reported.
The Russian-Canadian business executive joined the club in 2010 and then the board in 2013 until she was appointed director in 2014, serving in that role for eight-years. Granovskaia was often in charge of transfer business and contract renewals, with plenty of debate over the deals she conducted.
Top four odds
Chelsea have been given an outside shot of finishing in the top four this season based on odds from Best Gambling Sites.
Odds for finishing in the top four:
Manchester City 1/25
Arsenal 2/7
Liverpool 1/3
Manchester Utd 7/4
Newcastle 15/8
Tottenham 15/8
Chelsea 5/2
Mudryk message
England men's national team head coach Gareth Southgate has given a four-word verdict on Mykhailo Mudryk following his side's clash with Ukraine on Saturday.
The Chelsea star featured on the left-wing for his nation in a huge game in the context of the European Championship qualifiers for 2024. Ukraine sat second in the group, knowing that a win over the Three Lions in Poland could bring them closer to usurping them to top spot and land qualification.
Flick decision
Hansi Flick has been dismissed as German national team head coach follow his side's 4-1 defeat to Japan on Saturday evening. The side consisted of former Chelsea stars Kai Havertz and Antonio Rudiger.
Elye Wahi admission
Lens striker Elye Wahi has opened up on his failed move to Chelsea as he left Montpellier this summer, with interest from the Blues throughout. Speaking to L'Equipe, he said: "I didn't want to go there just for the sake of it."
Toney price tag at £70m
Brentford would be willing to accept £70million from Chelsea for Ivan Toney in January, according to reports. The Bees striker is currently midway through an eight-money ban relating to breaching FA betting rules but can return to action in the new year.
It is no secret that Chelsea will be on the hunt for a striker once the transfer window reopens. While Nicolas Jackson joined in the summer, he is very much viewed as one for the future and has been thrown in the deep end early due to Christopher Nkunku’s injury.
Goals have been hard to come by for Chelsea in the past year and Mauricio Pochettino could turn to a proven Premier League goalscorer. Toney will have 18 months on his contract remaining when the January window opens.
The piece claims Brentford would be reluctant to let him leave but, for £70million, they may play ball. Toney scored 21 goals in all competitions for the Bees last season.
Lukaku agent blames Saudi Pro League
Romelu Lukaku’s agent has astonishingly blasted the Saudi Pro League for making his Chelsea exit difficult.
While the striker ultimately secured a late loan move to Roma, Chelsea were hoping to get him off the books permanently.
Speaking to Belgian outlet RTL, Lukaku’s agent, Sebastien Ledure, believes the Saudi Pro League’s lavish spending priced his client out of a move. He said: "It was very difficult [for European clubs to buy Lukaku]. [It was] even impossible at the start of the transfer window to talk about a loan solution.
"The owners of Chelsea were looking for a definitive solution, a transaction, a permanent transfer. And the real change that happened this summer was the arrival of Saudi clubs on the international transfer market.
"They have set the bar so high in terms of the transfer compensation offered to European clubs, and in this case to Chelsea, that it has become very difficult for European clubs to line up and therefore, on the one hand, you have a club that is not opposed to a transfer.”
Steven Gerrard 'deal' revisited
Remember when Chelsea came within a whisker of signing Steven Gerrard in 2005?
Weeks after lifting the Champions League trophy, the former Liverpool captain had a decision to make.
Relive the full story below.
Bobby Vincent column on Poch's dilemmas
Bobby Vincent shares his insight on how Mauricio Pochettino might be feeling ahead of the Premier League's resumption next weekend.
Chelsea summer signings ranked
A look at how Chelsea's summer signings stack up.
Terry backs Poch
John Terry believes Mauricio Pochettino can become a success at Chelsea - despite the club's poor start to the campaign.
“I love Poch,” Terry said. “I’ve been around him and I promise you now he is a top, top manager and he will get us to the levels we need to be at.”
Cucurella update after failed transfer
Chelsea star Marc Cucurella has shared an unexpected update during the international break after his failed summer transfer exit. The Spanish defender rejected moves to RB Leipzig, Real Sociedad, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla in order to fight for his place at Stamford Bridge.
The 25-year-old also rejected a move to West London rivals Fulham on deadline day after a loan move to Manchester United collapsed. Given his stance on wanting to stay, it was quite surprising to some to see his most recent update while many of his team-mates are away representing their countries.
Read the full story here
Mudryk injury scare
Mykhailo Mudryk could be returning to west London with an injury following a duel with Kyle Walker that did not go the way of the Chelsea man.
Walker was able to succesfully repel the advancements of Mudryk on many occasions with that statement highlighted twice in the late stages as Walker first eased Mudryk's lightening run out of play before he dispossessed the 22-year-old after his failed Cruyff turn which saw him fall to the deck holding his calf.
Earlier in the half he received treatment after being on the end of a firm Marcus Rashford challenge but managed to continue, however this time he requested to be replaced.
Tammy Abraham transfer suggestion
Chelsea could solve their problems in front of goal next summer by re-signing striker Tammy Abraham.
Nicolas Jackson looks set for a strong first season with the club after signing from Villarreal in the summer but there is no doubt that the Blues need more depth in the central striker position. Armando Broja is on the verge of returning to first-team action after a long layoff through injury, while Christoper Nkunku is also absent.
However, bringing Abraham back to Stamford Bridge could solve a number of problems.
