Chelsea transfer news

LUIS ENRIQUE was prepared to join Chelsea IMMEDIATELY and left disappointed when Frank Lampard took interim charge, reports say.Blues boss Todd Boehly and his board including co-owner Behdad Eghbali sacked Graham Potter at the start of April.
Luis Enrique remains linked with the Chelsea jobCredit: Reuters
Former Barcelona and Spain manager Enrique emerged as an early frontrunner to take charge.
He held a video call with Chelsea chiefs just days after Potter’s sacking and then flew into London for face-to-face talks.
According to Spanish outlet AS, it left Enrique ready to go and motivated by the club’s Champions League challenge against Real Madrid.
But Chelsea opted to hire Blues legend and ex-manager Lampard in a caretaker role as they looked to explore their options further.
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It is claimed a number of candidates were unwilling to take over the crisis club mid-season with form and morale low.
But that was not the case for Enrique, who has been out of work since leaving Spain following their last 16 World Cup elimination.
Chelsea are still in the process of carefully choosing Potter’s successor, with German Julian Nagelsmann also in the mix.
Nagelsmann was sacked by Bayern Munich in March due to off-field issues and replaced by Thomas Tuchel, who Boehly fired last September.
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The young coach – who won the Bundesliga last season – is also expected to have a personal interview with Chelsea.
It comes after Lampard suffered his third consecutive loss since re-joining the club he leads as all-time scorer.
Chelsea were beaten 2-0 by Brighton, which follows from defeat to Wolves and Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final.
The Blues welcome the LaLiga champions to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday trailing by two goals.
Frank Lampard has lost his opening three games back in charge with ChelseaCredit: Rex More

FRANK LAMPARD named a much-changed team from the side that lost to Real Madrid in midweek.But despite six different players lining up in Blue the result was the same – a third defeat in a row since he took over with Brighton dominating in a well-deserved 2-1 win.
Frank Lampard tried his third formation in three matches – but it is now three defeats since he returned to ChelseaCredit: Getty
Conor Gallagher opened the scoring for Chelsea with a deflected goalCredit: Reuters
Danny Welbeck equalised just before half-timeCredit: EPA
Jose Enciso scored a rocket to earn Brighton a well-deserved three pointsCredit: Getty
In his three games, Lampard has chopped and changed formations and players and it was no different against the Seagulls.
Having started with a 4-3-3 against Wolves and a 3-5-2 against Real Madrid, Lampard opted for a 4-2-3-1 in his Stamford Bridge homecoming – which started with two huge banners in his honour being unfurled by supporters.
It was back to a flat back four with Denis Zakaria slotting in alongside Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher operating in the No 10 role, where he had been so effective for Crystal Palace last season.
Chelsea started a bit nervously but the tactical tweak brought early dividends.

Mykhailo Mudryk started like a house on fire, free of defensive responsibility, and Gallagher popped up in the perfect place to fire in a heavily deflected goal from outside the box – one that Lampard would have been proud of.
However, despite the bright start, the Chelsea midfield was soon overrun with the stats only proving Brighton’s dominance.
Zakaria was utterly anonymous – drawing only a 1/10 in SunSport’s player ratings, though it was his first game in a while – and Enzo Fernandez looked gassed from his midweek efforts in Madrid.
Somehow, Zakaria only completed 12 passes in 73 minutes – nine fewer than Enzo in 20 more minutes.
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Trevoh Chalobah will be having nightmares about Kaoru Mitoma for a long time. Operating at right-back, the youth academy product could not get close to the Japan international, who created a chance at goal essentially every time he touched the ball.
After peppering the Chelsea goal, drawing a couple of good saves from captain Kepa Arrizabalaga and crashing one off the bar, Brighton finally got a deserved equaliser through Danny Welbeck just before half-time.
Lampard gave his players ten minutes after the break to sort themselves out but it never came.
QUADRUPLE CHANGE
The Blues legend then made an unprecedented quadruple substitution, bringing on Reece James, Mateo Kovacic, Joao Felix and Hakim Ziyech for Wesley Fofana, Fernandez, Christian Pulisic and Raheem Sterling.
Fans cheered when it was announced Sterling would be subbed off, such was his limited impact on the game.
Lampard’s subs didn’t see a change in formation – although Chalobah was brought into the centre to relieve him of having to deal with Mitoma – but neither did it see a change in fortune.
James looks way off his best and although Kovacic tried his best to get on the ball, Brighton’s midfield absolutely dominated.
Only when Mason Mount was brought on for Zakaria after Julio Enciso’s stunning goal did Chelsea switch, almost playing a 4-4-2 with Mount in a high position alongside Felix.
Again, that failed to really bring any change in fortune and although Mount showed some nice touches – a one-two with Gallagher nearly bringing a goal – Chelsea struggled to create anything clear-cut.
The visitors ended the game with 59 per cent possession at Stamford Bridge, 26 shots to just eight for the Blues and eight corners to two.
Three games and three formations in, with 19 different starting players used, Lampard appears no nearer to finding a settled starting XI than his predecessor Graham Potter managed.
Chelsea were again booed off at Stamford Bridge – and now have just two wins in nine home matches since the turn of the year.
What’s more, owner Todd Boehly was pictured seemingly involved in a row with supporters from his director’s box.
LAMPARD VERDICT
After the game, Lampard was clearly unimpressed with the level of performance from his team: “[It’s] difficult because the scoreline doesn’t flatter them, they could have scored more goals.
“[Brighton] are a very good team first and foremost, they have been working together for a long time and now with the coach and the ideas and the energy and the connection within the team is so good and that’s why they are where they are and we’re not that.
“To get to that will take time, but the first things on the ladder are the basics that we got wrong today. And that can’t be right for us, we have to address that very quickly, because that’s not a Chelsea performance.
“Some of our changes were forced, we needed to spread the minutes. We should have a squad where people are chomping at the bit to make impressions. So we were by no means taking it lightly. This is my first home game on my return so there is no way I would do that. But the result is what it is.”
He added: “There is only one way out and that’s to work. Because you come against a team like Brighton who are so good in possession the work side of the game is the crucial one. But for me the level today wasn’t good enough.
“They could have scored more. Kepa [Arrizabalaga] was fantastic. Conor Gallagher was another who gave every drop individually. But collectively, as a group, we have to accept it. We have to accept what needs to be done to play for this club and try to win games.
“I’ve been at the club nine days, I don’t like what I saw today. I’m not going to try and dress that up in any way. We have to be really honest about that. There should be a feeling when you play for Chelsea of pride involved. We have to do more for Tuesday.
“To get there, there needs to be a new energy. That needs to come back.
“At the moment we’re not in the perfect place. In football you can change the narrative very quickly. We’ll have to have a big desire to do that and it will be a different game.
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“It’s not about the club I played for, it’s a different era, even after the time I was manager, other managers have been here and seen success.
“It’s Chelsea football club, it’s bigger than all of us. We’re not where we want to be, but we have to work like we want to be there tomorrow.”
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly appeared to be involved in a row with supporters after full-timeCredit: Getty
Chelsea fans unveiled a banner in honour of Lampard before the gameCredit: Getty
Chelsea fans cheered when it was announced that Raheem Sterling would be subbed offCredit: Reuters More

JOHN TERRY has hailed late Chelsea legend Gianluca Vialli – and revealed he used to run him a BATH and deliver him COFFEE as an apprentice.Former Chelsea captain Terry said Luca – who handed him his debut in October 1998 – had an immense impact on his career, which saw him play more than 700 games and lift numerous trophies for the Blues.
John Terry (centre, left) paying homage to Gianluca Vialli at Stamford Bridge after his death earlier this seasonCredit: Getty
Terry revealed he would run a bath and deliver coffee for Chelsea legend Vialli (right) while he was an apprenticeCredit: Reuters
But before the silverware and honours, Terry was a Chelsea apprentice who was at the beck and call of senior first-team players such as Vialli and then-captain Dennis Wise – who once grabbed him by the throat.
Terry told the Chelsea programme: “Luca would have a bath in his Diadora boots. He would have nothing else on but his boots and his socks that he had been playing or training in!
“He loved a boiling hot bath and, as an apprentice, it fell on me to run his bath in the afternoon.
“I would bring him a coffee and deliver it to him. I was on kit duties so I did a lot of things for him. I would bring him a towel when he was finished, make sure he had his flip-flops and also bring in the coffee when he wanted it.
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“He was an absolute legend. He was someone who so important when he joined Chelsea. Remember, he came here as a reigning Champions League winner.”
Vialli died earlier this year after a long battle with cancer.
And, in an emotional tribute, Terry, who will play in a Chelsea Legends match against Bayern Munich in September in memory of Vialli, added: “He didn’t have to pay me any respect or any of the younger players.
“But every morning, he came in and gave us all some attention. ‘Morning John,’ he would say. ‘How are you? How is training?’
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Vialli handed Terry his debut at Chelsea against Aston Villa in October 1998Credit: PA:Empics Sport
“He didn’t need to do any of that. We were just youth team players, but he showed that humility.”
Terry revealed that Vialli was also crucial in his development as a defender: “Luca would say, ‘John, this is what I don’t like playing against.
“’This is the sort of run a striker will make to get past you. This is where you need to make things difficult.’
“He was always passing on that sort of advice, looking to develop my game and encouraging me to look at things from a different perspective.” More

FRANK LAMPARD’S Chelsea homecoming did not go to plan as the Blues were battered by Brighton at Stamford Bridge.Caretaker boss Lampard returned to the home dugout more than two years after he was first sacked as Blues manager – but remained winless after three games as the Seagulls dominated.
Julio Enciso scored a rocket as Brighton secured a deserved 2-1 win against ChelseaCredit: Getty
Enciso powered home a 30-yard piledriver at Stamford BridgeCredit: AP
Frank Lampard’s homecoming did not go to plan with the Blues suffering their third successive defeat under the caretaker bossCredit: AP
The score may have only ended 2-1 but that did not tell the full story as Brighton hammered away at the Chelsea goal, drawing a string of saves from Blues skipper Kepa Arrizabalaga and twice hitting the woodwork.
Conor Gallagher had opened the scoring – with a heavily deflected goal of which Lampard would have been proud – following good work from Mykhailo Mudryk, who had a bright start.
But the goal was against the run of play and Brighton were soon on top.
They may have only equalised just before the break – substitute Danny Welbeck heading home at the back post – but the goal was more than deserved.

If Chelsea fans thought the second half would bring improved effort and energy they were sadly mistaken, with Lampard taking only ten minutes before hooking off Raheem Sterling, Christian Pulisic, Wesley Fofana and Enzo Fernandez with a quadruple substitution.
Similarly, the substitutes had little effect in improving the Blues, with Brighton remaining well on top.
In fact, it was one of Brighton’s substitutes who turned out to be the matchwinner, Julio Enciso picking the ball up a full 30 yards from goal and firing a rocket straight into the top corner.
Chelsea pushed for an equaliser late on but struggled to create anything clear-cut as Lampard – who had two huge banners unfurled in his honour ahead of the game – lost his third successive game since taking charge.
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Here’s how Tom Sheen rated the players at Stamford Bridge…
Kepa Arrizabalaga – 7/10
Chelsea captain for the day and by far the Blues’ best performer – which should tell its own story.
Made a number of crucial saves including a world class tip over the bar from an Evan Ferguson header in the first half.
Not always the most confident on the ball, putting the team under a bit of pressure. Nothing he could do about either goal, though.
Conor Gallagher opened the scoring for Chelsea with a heavily deflected goalCredit: AP
Danny Welbeck equalised just before half-time with an excellent back-post headerCredit: EPA
Trevoh Chalobah – 3
Given an absolutely torrid time all afternoon by Kaoru Mitoma, who looked like he was going to create a chance at goal every time he touched the ball.
Don’t let the score fool you though, Chalobah’s score is only this high as he made one incredible inch-perfect tackle when Mitoma looked certain to score. Didn’t cover himself in glory for Welbeck’s goal, either, before moving into the centre where he was marginally better.
Wesley Fofana – 3
Run ragged by the Brighton forwards and was hooked off just ten minutes into the second half as Lampard made a quadruple substituion.
Made a couple of eye-catching bursts forward but also totally lost Welbeck for the equaliser and struggled without the experienced Thiago Silva next to him.
Wesley Fofana struggled and was subbed off as part of a quadruple substitutionCredit: PA
Benoit Badiashile – 4
It was his poor clearance that saw Brighton score their equalising goal, with his scuffed hack summing up his day.
Continued to overplay at the back despite the success of the visitors’ high press and struggled all afternoon.
Ben Chilwell – 4
An uncharacteristically passive performance from Chilwell, he failed to get up and down the left as he usually does.
His delivery was still impressive on the couple of occasions he did roam forward – one seeing a Christian Pulisic header hit the post – but it didn’t happen often enough.
Conor Gallagher – 6
Industrious as ever and scored the kind of deflected goal that Frank Lampard would have been proud of – they all count, after all.
However, playing in the No 10 he lacks the required quality on the ball and was the subject of Chelsea fan frustration after wasting a couple of good openings. One of the few who looks like he cares, however.
Conor Gallagher was full of effort and energy but lacked quality, despite his goalCredit: Reuters
Enzo Fernandez – 4
One of his worst performances in a Chelsea shirt since joining, although he was perhaps fatigued from his efforts in Madrid where he was impressive.
Hooked off as part of a quadruple substitution just 55 minutes in.
Denis Zakaria – 1
Is it fair to give a player a rating if you forgot they were actually playing until you read their name on a teamsheet?
Was selected to add some steel and grit to the Chelsea midfield but was utterly anonymous and off the pace – he barely completed a pass and was totally outworked and outclassed by Moises Caicedo before being subbed off.
Christian Pulisic – 2
Pulisic was one of the stars of the first Lampard era but wasn’t anywhere near good enough today.
Bar one header that hit the post – which he did really well to connect with – Pulisic was poor, losing the ball on numerous occasions.
Raheem Sterling – 2
His name was cheered by Chelsea fans when it was announced he was about to be substituted off.
Anonymous performance from Sterling, although his team-mates did Sterling no favours in getting him the ball.
Raheem Sterling endured a tough afternoon and Chelsea fans cheered when he was announced to be coming offCredit: Getty
Mykhailo Mudryk – 6
Started like an absolute house on fire with three sensational runs that showed his lightning pace and exceptional dribbling skills.
The third of those brought Gallagher’s goal, with a neat little pass, but he struggled thereafter. Brighter from the Ukranian but much more is needed and expected.
SUBS
Reece James (for Fofana, 56) – 5
Still does not look close to his world-beating best and soon after being introduced he was out-fought by Enciso, who then hit the post.
As ever, put in a couple of hugely dangerous crosses only to find no Chelsea player within five yards of where they need to be.
Mateo Kovacic (for Fernandez, 56) – 4
Did little to stem the tide of Brighton’s midfield dominance, although he was at least trying his best to get on the ball and dictate.
Hakim Ziyech (for Pulisic, 56) – 3
Did very little to affect the game after coming on despite having more than 30 minutes to do so.
Joao Felix (for Sterling, 56) – 2
His role in the Brighton goal summed up another hugely frustrating performance.
Stood there when the ball looked his to win, allowing Brighton to regain possession and Enciso to fire in the winner. Must do more.
Mason Mount (for Zakaria, 73) – 5
Injected some enthusiasm and effort into the midfield after coming on and a neat one-two with Gallagher nearly brought an equaliser.
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Still well off his best, but Lampard must get him more involved in upcoming games.
Subs not used: Edouard Mendy, Cesar Azpilicueta, Marc Cucurella, , Mason Mount, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang More

BRIGHTON humiliated Chelsea for the second time in a season and wrecked Frank Lampard’s homecoming.Robert De Zerbi’s sizzling side were unable to match the 4-1 thrashing they gave returning Seagulls boss Graham Potter back in October, at least in terms of the scoreline.
Interim Chelsea boss Frank Lampard looks on in defeatCredit: Rex
But if anything they were even better in a victory that was sealed by substitute Julio Enciso’s second-half scorcher.
Chelsea at least took the lead through Conor Gallagher, their first goal for five games.
It was never going to be enough against the vibrant visitors who could have had a hatful before Danny Welbeck equalised towards the end of the first half.
Brighton had more chances after the break yet could not find the net until Enciso let fly from more than 20 yards. It was a fittingly brilliant way to seal a deserved win.
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So much for the “new” manager bounce.
In Lampard’s second coming as Blues boss, they have lost limply at Wolves and been completely outplayed by Real Madrid and then the club from whom they poached poor old Graham Potter.
The first defeat of Potter’s wretched reign had come at Brighton and just as at the Amex, the game started fast and furious.
Mykhailo Mudryk, one of six changes to the team beaten by Wolves, caused early problems for the visitors and Joel Veltman was booked inside four minutes for a cynical foul on the Ukrainian.
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But the best chances were at the other end. Kaoru Mitoma roasted right back Trevoh Chalobah and pulled it back for Alexix Mac Allister, only for the World Cup winner to shoot wide from 12 yards.
Seconds later, Chelsea target Evan Ferguson hit the bar from just outside the area.
It was the home side who took the lead, though.
Mudryk made another direct run at the Brighton defence and his cute reverse pass found Gallagher.
The shot was firm enough, but the deflection off Lewis Dunk was crucial, looping the ball out of reach of Robert Sanchez and into the corner of the net.
If anything, Brighton started playing even better and did everything but score, for a while at least.
Conor Gallagher opened the scoring
Chelsea celebrate their opener
They believed they should have had two penalties but referee Robert Jones and VAR did not agree. First Enzo Fernandez impeded Dunk at a corner and then Christian Pulisic’s arm stopped a penetrating pass reaching Pervis Estupinan.
After being robbed by terrible officiating at Tottenham the previous week, the Seagulls must have feared the worst.
Even more so as more chances came and went. Solly March fired just wide, Kaoru Mitoma beat three men brilliantly but not Kepa Arrizabalaga, and then the Chelsea goalkeeper made a brilliant save from a Ferguson header.
The Republic of Ireland teenager was caught by Denis Zakaria in the process and had to go off with an ankle injury.
But it proved to be something of a blessing in disguise.
Welbeck replaced Ferguson and finally gave Brighton a fraction of what their first-half performance deserved. Pascal Gross, himself shifted to right back after Veltman had gone off injured, crossed to the back post and the former England striker headed the ball deftly home.
Danny Welbeck headed Brighton levelCredit: Reuters
Danny Welbeck celebrating his equaliserCredit: EPA
The visitors were totally dominant in terms of possession and territory after the break as well, but could not create the same quality of chance as in the first half.
Welbeck got in the way of March’s effort but Lampard had seen enough before the hour.
The Chelsea boss made four changes at once, the most popular being to withdraw the totally ineffective Raheem Sterling.
The odd home fan made it very clear to Sterling personally what they thought of another below-par display.
Not a lot changed. Julio Enciso made fools of Chalobah and Reece James, but when his shot came back off the post, it did so very and Welbeck put the follow-up over the bar.
Mitoma and Enciso were roasting Chelsea’s right-hand side and a goal seemed inevitable.
Julio Enciso hit a wonderstrike
Julio Enciso stole all three points for Brighton
But it almost came at the other end. The Blues had done nothing for almost an hour, but James and Mudryk forced two smart saves from Sanchez in quick succession.
Then came Enciso’s moment of magic. After all Brighton’s attempts to pass their way through the home defence, the Paraguayan let rip from 25-plus yards and the ball screamed into the top corner where not even Arrizabalaga could reach it.
The away bench celebrated wildly and the travelling support was soon enjoying itself.
“You’re getting sacked in the morning” and “You’re just a s*** Graham Potter”, Lampard was told.
Chelsea at least kept trying.
Gallagher exchanged passes with substitute Mason Mount but could not quite collect the return.
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James sent a cross fizzing across the six-yard box, but as usual there was no centre forward in Blue to put it into the net.The home side had six minutes of added time to find an equaliser. Mudryk fired over the bar in the fourth of them, and justice prevailed.
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly looks on from the standsCredit: Reuters More