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      Kepa is worse than rival Mendy in EVERY department as Chelsea near £28m transfer for Rennes goalkeeper

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      INCOMING Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy could make light work of Kepa Arrizabalaga – with superior stats in EVERY department last season.
      Comparisons between the Rennes star, 28, and the Blues’ current custodian, 25, do not come out well for the Spaniard.

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      Both men entered last season as first-choice for their team but Kepa was dropped on two occasions, resulting in 33 league appearances.
      Mendy, meanwhile, played 24 of the curtailed 28-game Ligue 1 season, having signed from Reims two days before their opening game.
      And yet, the Senegal international still kept more clean sheets than his new rival, producing nine shutouts to Kepa’s eight.
      Rennes only conceded 19 goals with Mendy in between the sticks, at a rate of 0.79 per game.

      Chelsea’s defence last season was notoriously dodgy, letting in 1.42 goals for every match Kepa played.
      In their Premier League opener at Brighton on Monday, the shot-stopper came unstuck in the face of Leandro Trossard’s long-range strike.
      But an earlier corner showed another of his vulnerabilities, as he unconvincingly came off his line and failed to punch the ball clear.
      In fact, Kepa only stopped 7.2 per cent of crosses last season, in comparison to Mendy’s 10.2 per cent.

      Mendy also comes out on top in save success rate, denying 78.4 per cent of shots he faced with Kepa back at 54.5 per cent.
      That meant the Chelsea No1 made only 1.6 saves per game, with third-placed Rennes calling their man into action 2.5 times per game.
      Despite the scare in his side’s 3-1 beating of Brighton, Frank Lampard insisted he has “very happy” with Kepa.
      The Blues boss said post-game: “I am very happy with Kepa. With the shot I’m not sure if he could’ve done any better.

      “But I saw a bit more confidence in how he was playing. Kepa is here, he’s our keeper and I’m happy with him.”
      Mendy is still expected to arrive with a £27.7million bid accepted, making him Ligue 1’s most expensive goalkeeper but far behind the position’s world record holder – £71m Kepa.
      With the Spaniard not expected to be sold, Chelsea will have two goalkeepers with great potential vying for one spot on the teamsheet.
      Lampard added: “If we are bringing in competition, it will be competition. That’s the nature of Chelsea and it goes throughout the squad.”

      Most expensive flop XI in Premier League history – including Sanchez, Kepa and Torres More

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      Olivier Giroud ‘set for Chelsea stay amid Juventus transfer interest’ with no talks YET over move to Pirlo’s side

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      OLIVIER GIROUD is reportedly ready to stay at Chelsea and fight for his place having NOT held talks with Juventus.
      The Frenchman, 33, will compete with new signing Timo Werner, 24, and Tammy Abraham, 22, at Stamford Bridge next season.

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      Olivier Giroud is reportedly ready to stay at Chelsea and fight for his placeCredit: Getty ImagesIt led to reports in Italy suggesting he had agreed a two-year deal with Juventus, who have stalled in negotiations to sign Luis Suarez, 33, from Barcelona.
      But according to The Athletic, Giroud wants to remain a Blue and has not been in contact with the Serie A champions.
      It is claimed the World Cup winner understands his role as a senior leader at with the club and wants to stay and challenge for the Premier League title this season.
      And with Werner able to play on the left, it offers him and Abraham the chance to feature down the middle for Frank Lampard’s side.

      Giroud signed a new contract in May, that keeps him at Chelsea until next summer.
      The ex-Arsenal forward was largely unused in the opening half of Lampard’s first season as Chelsea boss.
      But injuries and a failed winter move away, gave the Frenchman the chance to reignite his Blues career. 

      Giroud went on to score eight league goals in 13 games after being reintroduced into the starting 11 in February.

      He featured in both France’s recent Nations League wins, starting in Sweden and then coming off the bench against Croatia.
      They won both games, with Giroud scoring from the spot in their 4-2 over Croatia – the team they beat in the World Cup final two years prior. More

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      How Chelsea could line-up at Brighton with Thiago Silva, Chilwell and Ziyech all OUT but Lampard set to hand out debuts

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      FRANK LAMPARD is set to hand debuts to Timo Werner and Kai Havertz when Chelsea face Brighton on Monday.
      The 8.15pm kick-off represents the first real chance for Blues fans to see the fruits of their summer market labour.

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      However, a trio of new stars will be absent in Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell and Hakim Ziyech.
      Chelsea boss Lampard explained in his pre-match press conference that Ziyech is out for the opening weeks of the season with a knee issue.
      Chilwell is suffering from a heel problem while Silva only landed in London this week after his switch from Paris Saint-Germain.
      He said: “Ziyech took an injury against Brighton and he won’t be fit, we hope it will only be a couple of weeks.

      “Chilwell won’t be fit. He has improved this week.
      “Silva is in London but not training until the weekend, so I doubt in contention.”
      Chelsea took on Brighton in a pre-season friendly last month, offering a glimpse into Lampard’s line-up for the real thing.
      A 4-2-3-1 system had Reece James at right-back and Callum Hudson-Odoi also in from the start.

      The duo are likely to play again at the AmEx, depending on whether Lampard wants to risk Cesar Azpilicueta and Christian Pulisic after their injury worries.
      The manager, 42, said: “They’re in contention for Monday, but I have to be careful.”
      New man Havertz could line up on the other flank after reportedly impressing on his first days in training.

      Ziyech’s absence may mean a chance for Mason Mount to impress in behind Werner, reducing Tammy Abraham to the bench.
      In midfield, Billy Gilmour is out injured with Matteo Kovacic suspended after a red card in the FA Cup final.
      Silva and Chilwell’s absences in defence should see Lampard stick with Antonio Rudiger, Kurt Zouma and Marcos Alonso versus Brighton.

      Thiago Silva and wife Isabelle toast to Chelsea transfer in swanky hotel after landing in London from Sardinia holiday More

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      Kai Havertz ‘waived £9m BONUS to seal £89m Chelsea transfer’ from Bayer Leverkusen and link up with hero Lampard

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      KAI HAVERTZ allowed Bayer Leverkusen to KEEP his £9million transfer bonus to ensure he got his move to Chelsea, according to reports.
      The Blues splashed out an initial £72m on the midfielder, 21, last week and new information out of Germany outlines just how keen he was to seal the deal.

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      Kai Havertz waived a £9million loyalty bonus inserted into his Bayer Leverkusen contractCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Sport Bild detail how Havertz’s interest in joining Chelsea was based around his love of manager Frank Lampard.
      The German is said to have been in contact with the former England star for a number of months.
      And the transfer came to a head in late August when Chelsea transfer fixer Marina Granovskaia sat down with Bayer Leverkusen bosses in the south of France.
      With the Premier League side happy to pay an initial £72m up front, negotiations became focused on what would trigger the additional bonus payments.

      Factors such as title wins and qualifying for the Champions League were divvied up to complete the £89m fee, ten per cent of which was due to go to Havertz.
      It is claimed that the player waived this contract clause in order to help Bayer along with the sale.
      However, Havertz is reportedly due to cash in later on in his Chelsea career, as he will instead be due a considerable chunk of the bonus add-ons if the Blues are successful.
      The Aachen-born ace is certainly getting a fair deal with his weekly wage purported to be £310,000-a-week, on a five-year contract.

      Lampard was excited to get to work with his new star when addressing the media on Thursday.
      He told the club website: “He is a player I have been aware of for a long time and as a fellow attacking midfield player, I have paid particular attention to those type of players for some time.
      “I was aware of his talent and in conjunction with the club, we know how we want to go forward and look to improve in the right areas.

      “And for players who are going to be here hopefully to improve and mature, but are already at a very high level, he absolutely fitted the bill for us, so I am delighted to have him.”
      Indeed, it was Lampard’s display in Chelsea’s 2012 Champions League win that first inspired Havertz.
      The Bild report describes how the youngster was “captivated” by the Blues legend’s calmness on the ball and offensive capacity, as well as the club’s rise as a new footballing power.

      Go behind the scenes as Kai Havertz becomes Chelsea’s sixth signing of the summer More

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      Michy Batshuayi aims cheeky dig at Billy Gilmour for taking his No23 shirt at Chelsea after Crystal Palace loan transfer

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      MICHY BATSHUAYI jokingly took a shot at Billy Gilmour for taking his No23 shirt at Chelsea.
      The Belgian striker has rejoined Crystal Palace a second loan-stint but not before signing a 12-month extension with the Blues.

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      Chelsea have confirmed that Billy Gilmour will take Michy Batshuayi’s No23 shirtCredit: PA:Press Association

      And just hours after Batshuayi’s return to south London was finalised, Chelsea announced that Gilmour would be inheriting the No23 shirt at Stamford Bridge.
      The 19-year-old Scotland starlet enjoyed a breakthrough season under Frank Lampard last season while wearing the No47 jersey.
      Gilmour has now been recognised for his increased standing in Chelsea’s squad by picking up the Batsman’s old robes.
      Yet Batshuayi took mock offence at his former colleague swooping in for his number so quickly after he had left the Blues.

      He tweeted: “Oh… I thought you were my guy @billygilmourrr… Love bro make me proud.”
      Gilmour quickly responded to write: “Your my bro always Michy.”
      Crystal Palace have already confirmed that Batshuayi has reclaimed the No23 shirt at Selhurst Park.
      The £33million signing scored seven times in just 13 games during his first stint at the Eagles.

      His second deal to return to Palace will include an option to buy at the end of the loan.
      Chelsea fans meanwhile will have to wait to see Gilmour in his No23 shirt with the midfielder still sidelined with a long-term injury.
      The former Rangers academy ace sustained knee ligament damage in a 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace back in July.

      Frank Lampard says Chelsea star Billy Gilmour will be out for four months after knee surgery More

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      Chelsea legend Branislav Ivanovic ‘could seal Premier League return in next 48 hours’ with stunning West Brom transfer

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      CHELSEA legend could seal a Premier League return having held talks with West Brom, reports say.
      The Serbian international is a free agent after leaving Zenit St Petersburg at the end of last season.

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      Chelsea legend Branislav Ivanovic could seal a Premier League return having held talks with West Brom
      And according to The Telegraph, newly-promoted West Brom want to sign Ivanovic on a free transfer.
      It is understood the deal could even be wrapped up within 48 hours, ahead of the Baggies’ first game of the season, against Leicester on Sunday.
      The former Stamford Bridge favourite had spent three years in Russia, and appeared to have been closing in on a move to Everton.
      He said last month: “I will probably continue my career at Everton. I received a good offer from them.

      “I will see how things will turn out.”
      The deal would have seen him re-unite with Carlo Ancelotti – who managed Ivanovic for two seasons at Chelsea.
      He moved signed for the Blues in 2008, following consecutive seasons with Lokomotiv Moscow.

      Ivanovic steadily asserted himself as a regular at Chelsea after shifting from centre-half to right-back.

      He went on to win three Premier League titles and FA Cup’s as well as lifting the Champions League and Europa League trophies as a Blue.
      The Serb departed in 2017 and has since won the league twice in Russia, playing predominantly as a centre-back again.

      Thiago Silva and wife Isabelle toast to Chelsea transfer in swanky hotel after landing in London from Sardinia holiday More

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      Christian Pulisic to get Chelsea No10 shirt after Willian’s Arsenal transfer while Havertz asks for Tomori’s No29

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      CHRISTIAN PULISIC is in line to get Chelsea’s No10 jersey while new signing Kai Havertz has asked for his old number.
      After Eden Hazard left to join Real Madrid last summer, Brazilian Willian took the coveted No10.

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      Christian Pulisic is set to inherit the No10 from Willian Credit: AFP or llicensors AFP or Licensors
      But following his free transfer to Arsenal, The Athletic say Pulisic will now take over the jersey.
      The 21-year-old wears the No10 while captaining America, but had 22 in his first season at Chelsea.
      Hakim Ziyech, 27, who the Blues signed from Ajax in February, wore No22 during a pre-season friendly against Brighton.
      The winger had the same number playing for Ajax, and will likely inherit it from Pulisic at Stamford Bridge.

      Frank Lampard’s newest signing, 21-year-old Kai Havertz, is believed to have asked for the No29 when he signed from Bayer Leverkusen.
      He wore that number in Germany, and Chelsea’s current No29 Fikayo Tomori is said to have had no worries giving it up.
      It comes as the 22-year-old centre-back nears a loan move to Everton.

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      Pulisic wears the No10 while captaining Pulisic

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      Kai Havertz is said to have asked Chelsea for the No29 jersey Credit: Getty Images

      After Spanish winger Pedro left to join Roma on a free, he vacated the No11, which was made famous at Chelsea by club legend Didier Drogba.

      And Timo Werner – signed from RB Leipzig in June – appears set to honour Drogba by inheriting the number.
      The German forward wore No11 against Brighton, where he scored his first goal in Chelsea blue.

      Go behind the scenes as Kai Havertz becomes Chelsea’s sixth signing of the summer More

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      How Chelsea can spend £230m and splash out huge wages but NOT break any Financial Fair Play rules due to Covid-19

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      THE dire warnings of a financial crisis seem a million miles away from the Premier League reality.
      When Chelsea are spending in a manner reminiscent of the early days of Roman Abramovich and Manchester City were ready to pay Lionel Messi whatever he wanted, talk of doom, gloom and a game on the verge of the abyss seems contradictory.

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      Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech were the first through the door of Chelsea’s summer spreeCredit: AFP or licensors

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      Kai Havertz landed after an initial £62million bid was accepted by Bayer LeverkusenCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      But Juventus president Andrea Agnelli, chairman of the influential European Club Association, does not see a disconnect between his words and the landscape across the continent.
      Indeed, from Agnelli’s perspective, it is simple – the exceptions PROVE the rule.
      The Italian is measured, calm and compelling. You have to be when you inherit the legacy of The Old Lady.

      So for Agnelli, the Prem big spenders represent an expected but small proportion of the greater European market.
      A market which does face the biggest belt-tightening exercise in football history as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.
      But which, by its very nature, is in a state of flux that allows the likes of Chelsea to take advantage from a position of strength magnified by the global repercussions of the pandemic.
      Agnelli, in his opening address to the ECA general assembly on Tuesday, outlined the financial forces facing football.

      He explained that, as a result of Covid-19, even Europe’s biggest clubs have to deal with “zero” gate receipts, broadcasters demanding rebates, a certain decline in sponsorship values, massive reduction in merchandising sales AND a “20 to 30 per cent” fall in the value of the summer transfer market.

      It might have been even worse. The ECA has calculated that the £3.6billion cost of the pandemic would have almost doubled, to £6.4bn, if the majority of European leagues had not been able to play out to a behind closed doors conclusion this summer.
      Agnelli warned: “I have the fear that some of the big clubs will probably suffer losses that are bigger than entire federations or confederations across the world.”
      But the Juventus chief explained that there would always be exceptions – and that is why he is not engaged in special pleading for the global elite.
      One factor is financial accounting. As a result of the crisis, Uefa and the major leagues will play their Financial Fair Play calculations for 2019-20 on hold.

      If I compare it to the housing market, if I have a prime location in a crisis, that will not lose much value but it will have a restricted number of buyers.
      Andrea Agnelli

      Instead, figures for last season and this one will be “rolled up” together. That gives leeway.
      And, as Agnelli pointed out with Chelsea, a combination of the huge fee they received for Eden Hazard and last season’s transfer ban (although it was voluntarily extended into the January window, despite the club winning its appeal to have the original penalty halved) leave the Blues in a stronger situation than most.
      Agnelli said: “It is not obvious to explain to every single fan of every club that takes an individual picture of the situation.
      “In England there was one buyer who wasn’t allowed to spend much money in the past couple of windows and who have been active this summer. 
      “But we are talking about an overall 20-30 per cent deduction which will hit medium and small clubs.
      “Our job is to look at overall value and we can expect a contraction of the transfer system in the range of 20-30 per cent. 

      “Most of that money will not be circulating to medium and small clubs. 
      “If I compare it to the housing market, if I have a prime location in a crisis, that will not lose much value but it will have a restricted number of buyers. 
      “It is the locations in the outskirts that will lose most of the value.
      “And it is the same with football, although I will allow you to say who are the prime location players and who lives in the suburbs.”

      Go behind the scenes as Kai Havertz becomes Chelsea’s sixth signing of the summer More