Chelsea transfer news

CHELSEA star Reece James lifted the lid on his recent injury hell by sharing an emotional diary entry detailing the “s**t times” he’s dealt with this season.James was sidelined for large chunks of the season as he managed just 24 appearances across all competitions.
Chelsea star Reece James was sidelined three times this seasonCredit: Rex
Chelsea star James shared an extract from his diary detailing his injury hellCredit: Reuters
The full-back’s troubles started in October when he suffered a knee injury that ruled him out of of the 2022 World Cup.
The England international believed he regained full fitness in December and returned for a match against Bournemouth but it proved to be premature and ended up being sidelined until February.
Just when the 23-year-old thought he was finally cleared, he sustained a hamstring injury in April and was ruled out for the rest of the Blues’ disastrous season.
The defender shared an extract of his diary on Instagram in which he outlined the trials and tribulations he dealt with.
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However, the Chelsea academy graduate saw the positives as his struggles made him stronger.
James wrote on his diary: “Injuries affect me so much. When I’m not playing, I feel like the world’s against me. The smallest of things will send me wild. It ain’t right or normal but it is what it is.
“I try so hard but mentally it’s tough, super tough, and draining. The outside world think this “football life” is the perfect life, well let me tell you it’s far from that. Many people won’t ever know what it’s like but it’s a crazy journey, full of highs and lows.
“Where do I sit in that (at the moment), currently the lowest of my lows in my career so far. It’s s**t but with hard work and patience things improve, without rain nothing grows!
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“Recently I’ve tried many things to take my mind off football and injuries and how the season’s gone. I started to box which I really enjoy and also tennis I thoroughly enjoy too.
“These are places my mind thinks of nothing else which helps me day to day. One thing I will say is with s**t times comes big lessons.
“I’ve learnt so much as a person. I’m grateful for what I’ve learnt because this will be used when I’m in a s**t moment again. Cream always rises to the TOP! I’ll be back. The greatest never fold.”
James ended his entry with a fragment from The Bible, which read: ‘John 13:7: You may not know now but later you’ll understand.” More

GRAHAM POTTER told Chelsea owners that Enzo Fernandez was not worth £106million, reports say. The Blues signed World Cup winner Fernandez for a club and Premier League record fee in January.
Ex-Chelsea boss Graham Potter and Enzo FernandezCredit: Getty
It followed after a heavy pursuit for the midfielder which took up almost the entirety of the winter window.
But according to The Guardian, then-Chelsea manager Potter told co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali that Fernandez was not worth the money.
Although Boehly and Eghbali did not want to lose out on the player and were willing to sign him at quite literally any cost.
Eghbali was key to talks with Benfica and Fernandez was soon a Chelsea player, finishing the season on 22 appearances.
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The Blues finally saw the back of their horror season, in which both Thomas Tuchel and Potter left the club.
Stamford Bridge legend Frank Lampard managed just ONE win after returning in the interim in place of Potter.
So Mauricio Pochettino’s arrival marks a positive for fans, who can expect a clearout in the summer.
Under Boehly and Eghbali, transfer spending soured past £600MILLION, causing a cramped squad.
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Still, it is believed a midfielder to partner Fernandez is seen as a priority over a striker.
Chelsea prepare to welcome Christopher Nkunku next season, having signed the Frenchman from RB Leipzig last summer.
But he finished the campaign with Leipzig and did so after scoring 22 times in 35 matches.
And despite being able to play all across the front line, Chelsea could look to turn Nkunku into a No9 to fix their finishing flaws.
Christopher Nkunku will join Chelsea next seasonCredit: AFP More

JOAO FELIX will not become a permanent member of Chelsea’s dressing room next season. Mauricio Pochettino snubbed the Portugal ace as he prepares to wield the axe on his bloated squad in the summer.
Joao Felix will not stay at Chelsea beyond his loanCredit: Getty
The revelation came following a statement from Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo.
He said: “We’ve been informed that Pochettino does not count with Joao Felix for Chelsea.
“He will return here, we’ll see. We have nothing planned.”
Felix, 23, scored four goals after arriving at Stamford Bridge in January.
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His final effort came as a consolation in a 4-1 defeat against Manchester United.
Despite his talent, Felix saw himself relegated to the bench during Frank Lampard’s interim period in charge.
Felix had also struggled for form while at Atletico Madrid earlier this season, netting just four goals and adding three assists in 14 La Liga outings.
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville was stunned to find out Chelsea do not have an option to buy the attacker, saying during the Blues loss to the Red Devils: “They’ve signed everyone.
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“But the one player they should have an option to buy on they haven’t got.”
However, with new boss Pochettino – appointed on Monday – Felix will not see his future at Stamford Bridge.

Indeed, the former Tottenham manager is set to see the back of a number of stars.
The likes of  Mateo Kovacic, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Edouard Mendy, Hakim Ziyech, Conor Gallagher and Kalidou Koulibaly are all on the chopping block.
Raheem Sterling has also backed the appointment, saying: “He will bring leadership, he will challenge players physically and mentally.
“I feel he is going to come here and he is going to have the personality that everyone is going to respect.
“That’s what we need, someone in charge.” More

ROSS Barkley rolled back the years for current club OGC Nice as he scored a stunner during a 3-2 comeback victory.The forgotten ex-England and Chelsea man joined the French club in September 2022 and is one of four former Premier League stars plying their trade on the French Riviera.
Ross Barkley celebrates one of his four goals for Nice earlier this season.Credit: AFP

The club are owned by prospective Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe through his company INEOS.
Under Ratcliffe’s ownership, the club has a decisively ex-Premier League feel to it, with Barkley joined in Nice by former Arsenal stars Aaron Ramsey and Nicolas Pepe and former Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Barkley, who played 33 times for England, scoring six goals, struggled to live up to his potential after joining Chelsea from Everton for £15m in January 2018.
Injuries saw him struggle to establish himself in the side as he gradually fell down the Chelsea pecking order and out of the England reckoning.
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A successful loan spell at Aston Villa during the Covid-dominated 2020/21 season raised hopes of a career revival after he scored three goals and assisted one during his 24 appearances for the Villains.
But after making only eight appearances for Chelsea the following season, he joined Nice as a free agent when his contract was terminated by the Blues.
The midfielder has largely been used as a rotation player for Nice this season, but dazzled fans with his goal against Montpellier having started the game on Saturday.
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His side were trailing 2-0 away from home after a first half brace from Montpellier talisman Teji Savanier.
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Barkley’s 53rd minute strike was enough to inspire Nice to a comeback victory, with striker Gaetan Laborde scoring twice to complete the side’s victory.
Barkley’s four goals for Nice this season is his best tally since scoring five for Everton in the 2016/17 season, when he made 39 appearances for The Toffees. More

CHELSEA have been lambasted on social media for trolling Leeds after their relegation.The Whites were condemned to the Championship after losing 4-1 to Tottenham at Elland Road.

Chelsea finished 12th in the Premier League table with their worst ever points tallyCredit: Rex
Chelsea were slammed for trolling Leeds on social media after their relegationCredit: Rex
The Blues, who suffered a miserable season as they finished 12th in the table with their worst ever points tally despite spending almost £1billion on transfers, decided to pour some salt on Leeds’ wounds.
The West Londoners remembered the relegated side trolling them in August when they lost 3-0 at Elland Road.
Chelsea took to social media last summer claiming they started to “assert” themselves before goals by Brenden Aaronson, Rodrigo and Jack Harrison led to a humiliating defeat.
Leeds later tweeted: “Life comes at you fast!”
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Chelsea didn’t forget that as they tried to have the last laugh after the final round of fixtures that saw Sam Allardyce’s side dropping to the Championship.
The Blues responded: “It certainly does.”
But that joke didn’t go the way they hoped it would as opposing fans weren’t impressed with a big club like Chelsea taking a swipe at a relegated side.
Several fans took to social media claiming Chelsea “have found their level” after a disastrous campaign.
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One fan tweeted: “Chelsea have found their level, bantering relegation teams after spending millions upon millions.”
Another posted: “No way Chelsea are beefing with a relegated team, they’ve found their level.”
A third said: “Chelsea have found and accepted their level.”
This fan commented: “Yeah Chelsea found their level.”
And that one wrote: “Chelsea beefing with relegation teams. Todd Boehly era ladies and gentlemen.” More