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    Crystal Palace ‘open loan transfer talks’ for Chelsea wonderkid, 18, who made nine Premier League appearances last term

    CRYSTAL PALACE are reportedly working on a deal to sign Lewis Hall on loan from Chelsea.The 18-year-old looks set to sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge before heading out elsewhere to gain regular first-team minutes.
    Lewis Hall looks set to join Palace on loan for the 2023/2024 seasonCredit: Getty
    Hall picked up Chelsea’s academy Player of the Season award and made nine Premier League appearances last term.
    The talented youngster – who was left out of the England U21 Euro winning team due to age – can be deployed at left-back or in midfield.
    And despite Chelsea’s disastrous season, the youngster delivered some impressive performances.
    Stepping up in Ben Chilwell’s absence, the teenager came the closest to scoring in Chelsea’s Carabao Cup defeat at Manchester City.

    According to the South London Press, Hall could be heading to the south of the capital with Palace this summer.
    The Blues are intent on keeping Hall long-term, but want him to gain regular first-team minutes.
    Chelsea have a lot of left-back options right now, so it may be best if Hall does spend some time away from Stamford Bridge.
    The Englishman is currently fighting Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella and Ian Maatsen for a place in Mauricio Pochettino’s starting XI.
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    Selhurst Park is an ideal loan location for Hall as Palace have a history of making use of Chelsea’s youngsters.
    The Eagles have taken Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Patrick Bamford, Michy Batshuayi and Conor Gallagher on loan from the West Londoners since winning promotion to the Premier League in 2013.

    Palace’s squad is currently looking rather depleted, after the expiry of Luka Milivojevic and James McArthur contracts, and club legend Wilfried Zaha’s exit on a free transfer.
    Roy Hodgson’s side kick off their Premier League campaign at newly-promoted Sheffield United August 12. More

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    Chelsea ‘finally reach agreement to sign Brighton star with medical set to take place imminently’ in huge transfer boost

    CHELSEA have reached an agreement with Brighton for goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.The Spaniard, who will count towards the club’s homegrown quota, will provide competition for Kepa Arrizabalaga.
    Chelsea have agreed a deal with Brighton for keeper Robert SanchezCredit: Getty
    The Blues were keen to bring in additional competition for Kepa after Edouard Mendy left for Saudi side Al-Ahli in June.
    Now, according to David Ornstein, a medical is set to take place “imminently” after a deal was reached between the two clubs.
    Chelsea will pay an initial £20million fee plus £5m in performance related add-ons.
    Blues goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts is a big fan of Sanchez having worked with him at Brighton previously.
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    Sanchez had established himself firmly as Brighton’s number one goalkeeper under Graham Potter.
    But, after the arrival of Roberto De Zerbi, Sanchez found himself falling down the pecking order.
    He was replaced as Brighton’s number one by Jason Steele in March.
    Brighton have since added Dutch Under-21 goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen this summer from Anderlecht for £16.3 million, forcing Sanchez further down the pecking order.
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    He was left out of Brighton’s pre-season tour of the US as the club focused on finding a move for the goalkeeper.
    Meanwhile Brighton and Chelsea remain locked in talks over the signing of Moises Caicedo.

    Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is desperate to add quality and experience to his midfield after losing Matteo Kovacic, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz this summer.
    Chelsea have so far had two bids rejected for the midfielder this summer – with their latest being £80m.
    Brighton are insisting on a £100m fee to make the deal happen.
    And Chelsea could miss out with the Seagulls reportedly receiving a bid from another club on Wednesday. More

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    Mauricio Pochettino leaks Chelsea XI for Premier League opener with Liverpool including shock name in midfield

    MAURICIO POCHETTINO has revealed his strongest Chelsea line-up ahead of the upcoming season.Chelsea played out a 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund in their final pre-season game before the start of the Premier League.
    Pochettino started with his strongest XI against Borussia DortmundCredit: Getty
    He expects his starting XI for Borussia Dortmund to be the same for Chelsea’s season opener
    And Pochettino said after the game that the XI he started with will likely be the one we see in their Premier League opener against Liverpool.
    The new Blues boss said: “This was about giving 90 minutes to the team in my head that I plan to play because the season is only 10 days away.”
    The majority of the game was deadlocked at 0-0 before Dortmund right-back Marius Wolf opened the scoring in the 80th minute.
    Chelsea then netted a last minute equaliser through youngster Mason Burstow.
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    Despite the result, Pochettino said he was impressed with his side’s performance.
    He said: “It was an exciting game. We deserved to win. But it’s not about the results. It’s about the feeling.

    “There’s only one option, to be ready for the new season. I think we played really well today.”
    Much of Chelsea’s summer transfer window has been dominated by what is increasingly becoming a saga over signing Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo.
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    Chelsea have had two bids rejected for the midfielder, including one of £80million.
    Pochettino is desperate to reinforce his midfield options after the club sold Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz this summer.
    But a youthful midfield that included Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez and Carney Chukwuemeka did impress in Chicago.
    Chukwuemeka arrived last summer from Aston Villa for £20m but found appearances limited under Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Frank Lampard last season.
    Chukwuemeka looks to have the trust of Pochettino, starting in the number 10 role as part of the team that will likely play against Liverpool on Chelsea’s opening day of the season.
    The Blues did face an injury scare over new signing Christopher Nkunku, who was forced off the field with a knee injury in the first half.
    Pochettino said “Hopefully it is not a big issue and that he can be quick with the team. We need a few days to assess him and until we get back to London it is difficult to know.” More

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    Tottenham ‘leading Chelsea and Arsenal in race to sign Bundesliga star Edmond Tapsoba’

    TOTTENHAM are leading the way to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Edmond Tapsoba, according to reports.Sports guru Patrick Berger claims Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is planning to put a £39m bid in for the 6ft 4in defender.
    Tottenham are prepared to make a new bid for Edmond TapsobaCredit: Getty
    Arsenal and Chelsea have also expressed their interest in the 24-year-old Burkina Faso international, but Tottenham’s new offer could put them off chasing him.
    The Bundesliga side however are expected to demand around £45m for Tapsoba, who has made over 100 appearances for the club.
    The Leverkusen ace, who joined from Vitória de Guimarães in 2020, has been labelled an “exceptional” defender after shining under Xabi Alonso
    However, there are questions marks over whether Postecoglou can convince Tapsoba to move to White Hart Lane.
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    So far the North London club has added Manor Solomon, James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario this summer.
    But Postecoglou is still without a new centre-back and is close to finalising a deal with Wolfsburg’s Micky van de Ven.

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    Even with a deal closing in soon for Van de Ven, Spurs are still pushing to complete a transfer for Tapsoba.
    Postecoglou also has concerns at the other end of the pitch with Harry Kane’s move to Bayern seemingly edging closer, with the German giants expected to up their latest bid of £82m.
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    However, one journalist has begged the Bundesliga champions NOT to sign the England captain and called Kane a “30-year-old bone” in a scathing open letter in a newspaper.
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    Wolfsburg’s Micky van de Ven is close to signing with SpursCredit: Getty More

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    Fans say Enzo Fernandez ‘has no idea what he’s done’ as £107m star names favourite Chelsea chant

    FANS joked Enzo Fernandez “has no idea what he’s done” after naming his favourite Chelsea chant. The Argentine World Cup winner became the Blues’ record signing in January after moving in a £107million deal from Benfica.
    Enzo Fernandez in pre-season for ChelseaCredit: Getty
    Fernandez, 22, settled in amid a chaotic period at Chelsea, full of managerial switches and squad turmoil.
    The midfielder is already a fans’ favourite and named the chant he enjoys the most at Stamford Bridge.
    He told B/R Football: “The one I like the most is ‘Come on Chelsea, come on Chelsea’! I love that one, I like it.”
    There is a long standing joke Chelsea fans only have one chant, so Fernandez quickly walked into some hilarious responses.
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    One said: “Enzo Fernandez has no idea what he’s done here and I’m all for it.
    “His second favourite has to be the classic “Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelseaaaa.”
    Another added: “His second favourite chant… “Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea… Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea…”
    One agreed: “Is this because that’s the only one they have maybe.”
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    Another commented: “I genuinely thought this was a p***take when I saw someone tweet it yesterday.”
    Fernandez prepares to play under new manager Mauricio Pochettino with their eyes on the Premier League prize.
    He said: “Now we have a new head coach, you have to say the expectations of us have changed.
    “Obviously when I arrived, everything was difficult, there were lots of changes going on and everything happened so fast for me. But now the expectations have changed.
    “We want to be an aggressive team, a team that attacks and defends well, that goes into every game to win it whoever we’re playing against and look to dominate every game we’re in.
    “And obviously we want to try to win the Premier League, that’s our goal this year.
    “As well as that, I think the cups in England start in January, but the main aim this year is to win the Premier League.”
    Chelsea fans in pre-season – Enzo likes one particular song of theirsCredit: Getty More

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    Chelsea complete £23.2m Lesley Ugochukwu transfer as Rennes midfielder signs SEVEN-YEAR deal

    CHELSEA have completed the signing of Lesley Ugochukwu from Rennes.The teenage midfielder has joined the Blues for £23.2million, signing a seven-year deal with the option of a further year.
    Chelsea have completed the £23.2million signing of Lesley UgochukwuCredit: Getty
    Ugochukwu has signed a seven-year deal with ChelseaCredit: Getty
    Ugochukwu becomes Chelsea’s fifth signing of the summer, following Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Angelo and Diego Morreira through the door at Stamford Bridge.
    The France under-19 international has already joined up with his new team-mates on their pre-season tour of the USA.
    He is set to train in Chicago on Tuesday night and could make his Chelsea debut against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
    Manager Mauricio Pochettino has hinted that he could still be loaned out before the end of the transfer window.
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    Reacting to the signing, he told reporters: “He’s a talented guy, we need to assess him.
    “We will assess him for the transfer window to see if he will be with us because he is young.”

    “He has the possibility to be on loan or stay with us.”
    Ugochukwu arrives after coming through the Rennes academy and making 60 first-team appearances.
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    He made his Ligue 1 debut in 2021 just 30 days after his 17th birthday, before becoming a regular last term.
    During the course of the 2022/23 season, the defensive midfielder starred in both the league and in Europe.
    Rennes enjoyed a successful campaign as they finished fourth in the league and reached the knockout stages of the Europa League.
    Lesley Ugochukwu becomes Chelsea’s fifth summer signingCredit: Getty More

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    Atletico boss Simeone blasts ‘nobody is bigger than the club’ after Chelsea flop Felix flirts with Barcelona transfer

    ATLETICO Madrid boss Diego Simeone has hit back at Joao Felix and insisted “nobody is bigger than the club”.It comes after Felix admitted his desire to join Barcelona, causing a commotion with his current employers.
    Diego Simeone says ‘nobody is bigger than the club’Credit: AP
    In an interview with AS, Simeone refused to answer questions about the 23-year-old’s future.
    The Argentine, 53, said: “The main focus is the team. It is normal that in the press the focus is on whether he stays or leaves.
    “I already said that there is no one more important than the club, with no exceptions. It’s impossible to be clearer than that.”
    Portuguese international Felix joined the 11-time La Liga champs for a record-breaking £103million in 2019.
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    He spent the second half of last season on loan at Chelsea, making 16 appearances and scoring four goals.
    During his time at Stamford Bridge, the striker suffered a three-match ban for a tackle on Fulham’s Kenny Tete.
    Although the striker has not played up to his price tag Simeone did not want to blast his style of play.
    He continued: “He has his playing characteristics, he has given his all, he has made an effort to work well with what he has, and what we demanded of him.
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    “I cannot have any complaints about his effort because he has given what he could give
    “He has extraordinary ability, we have talked about it a billion times. You see him and he has a good header, a good shot with the left, with the right, good spin, one on one…
    “Is there time [for Felix to succeed at Atletico]? It’s not up to me, ask him and his representative.”
    In an interview with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano a few weeks back Felix dropped where his dream destination to play would be.
    He said: “I’d love to play for Barca. Barcelona has always been my first choice and I’d love to join Barca. It was always my dream since I was a kid. If it happens, it will be a dream come true for me.”
    A deal with the Spanish giants is highly unlikely at the moment however with Barca still struggling financially.
    Joao Felix spent the second half of last season at Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
    Felix has admitted his dream team is BarcelonaCredit: Getty More

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    Mauricio Pochettino in brutal dig at Chelsea transfer policy as he brands new signing as someone to ‘send on some loan’

    MAURICIO POCHETTINO has launched a brutal dig at Chelsea’s summer transfer policy after the club’s latest signing.Chelsea agreed a £23.5million fee with Rennes for the signing of 19-year-old midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu with the midfielder expected to complete the move shortly.
    Pochettino has expressed frustration with Chelsea’s summer transfer policyCredit: Rex
    Ugochukwu is the latest example of Chelsea signing young players with bags of potential – but some are not quite ready for the first teamCredit: Getty
    Pochettino is keen to bolster a Chelsea midfield that currently boasts 23-year-old Conor Gallagher as its most experienced player in the central midfield role.
    Ugochukwu made 35 appearances for Rennes last season despite his young age and has represented France at Under-19 level nine times.

    But it’s clear that the Argentine does not see Ugochukwu as a player that will boost his midfield options, at least in the short term.
    When asked whether the signing boosted his midfield after Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over rivals Fulham in a pre-season friendly, the manager said: “My information is he is a player that is from France that maybe they are signing with the idea to send on some loan, using a different club but that information was already in your laptop. 
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    “There is nothing to say too much.”
    The dismissal of Ugochukwu’s signing comes after Pochettino warned that Chelsea’s upcoming season could be a “mess” if Chelsea’s 29-man squad is not thinned.
    The window has seen experienced midfielders Mason Mount and Matteo Kovacic leave.
    And Pochettino is keen to replace these outgoing stars with some much needed experience in the midfield.
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    The club remain keen on a deal for 21-year-old Brighton midfielder who has two seasons of Premier League experience under his belt.
    The midfielder shone last year, and was subject to two bids from Arsenal during last season’s January window.
    Chelsea have so far had two bids for Caicedo rejected this summer, the second of which was worth £80m.
    Brighton are holding out for their full £100m asking price amid reports that Chelsea bosses will attempt to negotiate this fee down.
    Meanwhile Chelsea have agreed a £39m fee for 25-year-old French defender Axel Disasi from Monaco.
    The centre-back, who has made four appearances for the French national team will provide some much-needed defensive reinforcement after Wesley Fofana’s latest knee injury. More