POTENTIAL Kepa replacement Thomas Strakosha says he feels ‘completely honoured’ to be linked with a club like Chelsea.
The former Lazio goalkeeper says it is “a dream” for him to play in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, the Blues are still prepared to enter the bidding for Robert Lewandowski as the saga of the Pole’s transfer to Barcelona drags on.
And a potential swap deal with defender Merih Demiral heading to Stamford Bridge and Jorginho joining Juventus has been mooted.
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Out of this Strakosh-phere
Ex-Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha had declared it’s a dream to be linked with Chelsea.
The Blues are considering making a swoop for the Albanian free agent as a replacement for Kepa if he leaves.
And Strakosha is over the moon.
He told Fabrizio Romano: “I’m really honoured to be linked with a top club like Chelsea, it’s a dream.
“I’m dreaming of Premier League since I was a kid.”
Alonso spotted on luxury yacht
Marcos Alonso is enjoying the start of his summer holidays by relaxing on a luxury yacht in Ibiza.
The Chelsea star is letting his hair down alongside glamorous pals including Miss Italia 2019 Carolina Stramare.
Dubbed the “Italian Megan Fox”, Carolina donned a red bikini as she relaxed onboard.
Not content with just sunbathing on the boat, Alonso and another pal took a jetski out for a spin in the glorious sunshine.
Lukaku’s keen on Inter return
Romelu Lukaku has a great desire to return to Inter Milan, according to the club’s CEO.
Inter’s chief executive Alessandro Antonello said of Lukaku: “There is a great desire of the player to return.
“The economic and financial feasibility must be checked and some technical problems must be solved.
“We will try to do it in the necessary time.”
Chelsea line up Lewandowksi transfer
Chelsea are lining up Robert Lewandowski as a back-up target for Gabriel Jesus after Arsenal took a huge step towards signing the Brazilian, according to reports.
Chelsea had hoped to sign Jesus, 25, to solve their centre forward woes, with Timo Werner also struggling for goals following his 2020 transfer.
In fact, the German is regularly forced out wide by Thomas Tuchel, with Kai Havertz leading the line as a false nine.
Tuchel is desperate for an elite striker to finally solve his forward dilemma, with the boss keen on his wealth of Premier League experience and versatility.
But with Arsenal leading the race for the Manchester City star, Tuchel has turned his attention to Lewandowski as a back-up option, according to Christian Falk.
Chelsea must offload Romelu Lukaku
Chelsea should get rid of striker Romelu Lukaku and ‘send him off in a cab’ back to Inter Milan this summer, according to talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan.
The former Crystal palace claimed getting a £20m loan fee for the striker would be a good deal, arguing
He told talkSPORT: “It’s interesting that they are going to put him out on loan and want a £20m loan fee because it means they can keep him on their balance sheet and still demand money for him.
“So if Chelsea can keep him on their balance sheet and put him out on loan and get £20m for him, they are actually making a monetary transaction that makes financial sense.
“In 18 months time or a year’s time, Inter might then find themselves in a better position and Chelsea might be able to punt Lukaku out for £70m or £80m, and they will actually make money from a transaction.
“So from a footballing point of view, if Tuchel doesn’t want him then it’s a no-brainer, he’s got to go.
““He’s already made his position clear, he’s already virtue signalled his way back to the Italian fans by telling them, ‘I would like to come home one day’ – well, off you go then, we’ll send you there in a cab!”
Chelsea enter Lewandowski transfer race
Chelsea have thrown their hat into the ring to sign Robert Lewandowski, according to German outlet Bild.
But the Blues reportedly find themselves behind Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona in the race to sign the striker.
Lewandowski is said to be already in talks with both PSG and Barcelona but reportedly prefers a move to Catalonia, with Mundo Deportivo reporting that the Pole has already signed a three-year contract around £175,000-a-week with Barca, worth £27million in total.
Optimistic for 2023?
Chelsea have a horror start to the year, with a home clash to City on Jan 2.
An away day at Liverpool is then sandwiched in between a home game with Crystal Palace.
February sees Tuchel take his side to Spurs for a return fixture on the 25th.
Chelsea also take on Leeds and Everton at home – which will see Lampard set for a Stamford Bridge return – in March.
April is another busy period with six games crammed in, as Chelsea play United on the 22nd and Arsenal a week later, both away.
Chelsea also play Brentford at home in between meaning they face three games in seven days.
May brings a close to the campaign with Chelsea travelling to Bournemouth on the 6th and Forrest at home on the 13th.
A trip to champions City follows on the 20th before the Blues end their season on the 28th at home to Newcastle.
Chelsea before the new year
With the World Cup kicking off in Qatar on November 21, Chelsea play only two league matches that month.
They host Arsenal on the 5th and then travel to Newcastle on the 12th.
The World Cup is due to end on December 18 and only eight days later the Blues return to league action.
They host Bournemouth on Boxing Day before a New Year’s Eve trip to Nottingham Forest.
A tough start for Tuchel’s lads
Chelsea face old manager Frank Lampard in their opening game – amid a horror start to the season.
Thomas Tuchel’s side travel to Lampard’s Everton on August 6 to kick-off their Premier League campaign.
It proved an unhappy hunting ground for the Blues last season after losing 1-0 to the Merseysiders in May.
Chelsea will then welcome rivals Tottenham to Stamford Bridge in their second league match on the 13th.
The pick of the month in September is a home game against Liverpool on the 17th, with whom they lost to finals to this year.
October proves a hectic month with six games in total, including a home clash with Manchester United on the 22nd.
Three mobile resume shirt deal
Chelsea’s £120million shirt sponsorship deal with Three has resumed following Todd Boehly’s takeover from Roman Abramovich.
The Blues are now ready to get back to normality, with manager Thomas Tuchel finally set to be backed in the transfer window.
The mobile phone company suspended their agreement with the club in March after former owner Abramovich was hit by UK sanctions over his links to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
With Boehly running the show following Abramovich’s exit, Three are now back in business with the Premier League giants.
They will grace the front of Chelsea’s kit for next season, which is due to be released shortly.
Want fries with that?
Manchester United and Tottenham have been joined by Chelsea in the battle to sign Inter Milan right-back Denzel Dumfries.
The Red Devils and Spurs are both priced as 6/1 favourites with Sky Bet, but Chelsea are just behind at 7/1.
The Dutch international impressed during last summers Euros campaign where the attacking fullback bagged two goals and an assist in Netherlands’ run to the round of 16.
His solid displays in the Euros earned the 26-year-old a £12m move from PSV to Inter Milan.
The right wing-back impressed in his first season in Italy, winning the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana, leading to reports of another move this summer.
Sky Bet odds:
- Manchester United – 6/1
- Tottenham – 6/1
- Chelsea – 7/1
- Bayern Munich – 16/1
Blues urged to flog striker
Chelsea should accept £60million for Romelu Lukaku, claims talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan.
The Belgian arrived from Inter Milan for £97.5m last summer, but has struggled to fit in Thomas Tuchel’s style of play.
Speaking about Lukaku’s future, Jordan said: “If they ship him out for £60million, they’ve got no loss on their balance sheet and they can go again with somebody that might actually want to be there and somebody that might actually do what they’re paid to do.
“He doesn’t really want to be there, so sell him.”
Blues striker shortlist revealed
Chelsea have compiled an attacking wishlist, with Romelu Lukaku likely to leave.
According to the Telegraph, Inter Milan have opened talks with the Blues over bringing the Belgian back to San Siro.
They add that Raheem Sterling, Ousmane Dembele and Christopher Nkunku are among their top targets.
While Manchester City ace Gabriel Jesus is claimed to have been offered their way.
2022-23 Premier League match-ball
The Premier League have revealed their 2022-23 Nike match-ball – and it’s a stunning retro throwback.
The fixtures for the upcoming season were released early on Thursday morning.
And the official Premier League Twitter account followed that up shortly afterwards by sharing two pictures of the new match-ball.
Nike‘s 2022-23 effort is inspired by the iconic 1992-93 Mitre Pro-Max ball used for the first-ever Prem campaign, even featuring the navy blue, red and gold arrows.
The Premier League shared a sneak peek of the ball on Twitter, captioned: “Inspired by the first PL season, 30 years ago.
“The new 2022-23 Nike Flight PL Ball. Out 15 July.”
Chelsea raid Saints for goalkeeper
The Blues have signed young Southampton ace Eddie Beach, according to reports.
According to Football London, Chelsea have beaten off plenty of competition to sign the teenage goalkeeper.
Beach, 18, was a regular for the Saints’ Under-18s last season.
Jorginho no longer ‘untouchable’?
Juventus could offer Merih Demiral to Chelsea in exchange for Jorginho, with the Italian midfielder no longer considered “untouchable”, according to reports.
Chelsea chief Tuchel has a plan to rebuild and could use Jorginho, 30, as a pawn to land a freebie to help ease his woes.
The Italy international was considered “untouchable” by Stamford Bridge chiefs and was even tipped for the Ballon d’Or as recently as last year.
But according to CalcioMercato, Tuchel is happy to move on from the midfielder, who’s hot form cooled late last season.
And Juventus are set to take advantage by offering a straight swap.
Demiral, 24, spent last season on loan at Atalanta, but the Serie A side rejected their £15million option to sign the Turkish international permanently.
The centre-back is not in Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri’s plans.
The Old Lady boss was set to put Demiral on the transfer market for around £25m.
Kounde has agreed a deal with Chelsea
Sevilla defender Jules Kounde has reportedly agreed a five-year deal with Premier League side Chelsea.
Kounde, 23, has been a long term target for Thomas Tuchel’s team as they look to replace departing key defenders.
Both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen are leaving for free and centre-back Kounde seems the perfect fit.
According to Sport, Kounde has agreed a five-year deal with Chelsea but a fee with Sevilla is yet to be struck.
Barcelona are the major competition in landing the centre-back.
Cataluyna Radio claims that Barcelona are in “advanced negotiations” with Sevilla for the French international – but that personal terms have not been agreed with the player.
Chelsea a ‘realistic destination’ for Nkunku
Former Blue Glen Johnson reckons that Christopher Nkunku should move to Stamford Bridge after being linked with Chelsea and Manchester United.
The ex-Chelsea full back spoke to bettingodds.com about the highly-rated midfielder.
Johnson said: “I believe Chelsea is a more realistic destination than Manchester United if both clubs are genuinely interested.
“A player going to a top team that’s had a really good season will be looking for Champions League football… I definitely think that’s where these sorts of players look first.
“If he was to leave RB Leipzig, then I think Chelsea could be a better fit.”
Optimistic for 2023?
Chelsea have a horror start to the year, with a home clash to City on Jan 2.
An away day at Liverpool is then sandwiched in between a home game with Crystal Palace.
February sees Tuchel take his side to Spurs for a return fixture on the 25th.
Chelsea also take on Leeds and Everton at home – which will see Lampard set for a Stamford Bridge return – in March.
April is another busy period with six games crammed in, as Chelsea play United on the 22nd and Arsenal a week later, both away.
Chelsea also play Brentford at home in between meaning they face three games in seven days.
May brings a close to the campaign with Chelsea travelling to Bournemouth on the 6th and Forrest at home on the 13th.
A trip to champions City follows on the 20th before the Blues end their season on the 28th at home to Newcastle.
Chelsea before the new year
With the World Cup kicking off in Qatar on November 21, Chelsea play only two league matches that month.
They host Arsenal on the 5th and then travel to Newcastle on the 12th.
The World Cup is due to end on December 18 and only eight days later the Blues return to league action.
They host Bournemouth on Boxing Day before a New Year’s Eve trip to Nottingham Forest.
A tough start for Tuchel
Chelsea face old manager Frank Lampard in their opening game – amid a horror start to the season.
Thomas Tuchel’s side travel to Lampard’s Everton on August 6 to kick-off their Premier League campaign.
It proved an unhappy hunting ground for the Blues last season after losing 1-0 to the Merseysiders in May.
Chelsea will then welcome rivals Tottenham to Stamford Bridge in their second league match on the 13th.
The pick of the month in September is a home game against Liverpool on the 17th, with whom they lost to finals to this year.
October proves a hectic month with six games in total, including a home clash with Manchester United on the 22nd.
Chelsea’s Premier League fixtures 2022/23
Here are your fixtures for the new season, which kicks off away to Everton on Aug 6…
Blues striker shortlist revealed
Chelsea have compiled an attacking wishlist, with Romelu Lukaku likely to leave.
According to the Telegraph, Inter Milan have opened talks with the Blues over bringing the Belgian back to San Siro.
They add that Raheem Sterling, Ousmane Dembele and Christopher Nkunku are among their top targets.
While Manchester City ace Gabriel Jesus is claimed to have been offered their way.
Maatsen to return to Holland?
Chelsea are in danger of losing ANOTHER defender as young prospect Ian Maatsen is reportedly being eyed up by Feyenoord.
The 20-year-old left-back made his debut for the Blues under Frank Lampard in 2019 during a 7-1 League Cup win over Grimsby.
According to Voetbal International, Feyenoord are now eyeing up the possibility of bringing him back to the club – nine years after they let him go as a youngster.
Maatsen is under contract with Chelsea – with the Blues announcing two years ago that he had penned a new deal which will run until at least the summer of 2024.
After successful loan spells at Charlton Athletic and Coventry, the Holland U18s defender look elsewhere for the benefit of his career.
Premier League Fixtures out TODAY
The 2022/23 Premier League Fixtures will be released at 9am.
Who will your team face first?
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
