Chelsea transfer news

CHELSEA have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of RB Leipzig star Josko Gvardiol.The Blues have targeted Gvardiol for several months and tried to sign him in January.
RB Leipzig boss Marco Rose said Josko Gvardiol is going nowhereCredit: AP
Chelsea are believed to be favourites to land the centre-back but could face a big obstacle with Leipzig keen to keep him.
And after Gvardiol scored against Manchester City in the Champions League Round of 16 manager Marco Rose issued a hands off warning.
He told suitors the Croatia international is going nowhere despite his desire to play in the Premier League.
Rose said: “Joško Gvardiol will be a RB Leipzig player next season as well. I am the coach and I am asking for that. He is happy here.
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“He said he wants to play in the Premier League, but he didn’t say when.”
Gvardiol revealed he wants to follow Leipzig team-mate Christopher Nkunku wherever he plays, and he is set to join Chelsea this summer.
The centre-back also spoke about his collapsed move to Stamford Bridge last summer, saying he struggled with the decision not to let him leave.
He said: “My agent called me and said that Chelsea is extremely interested and, of course, you definitely think about a serious offer from a huge club like Chelsea.
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“Leipzig said they didn’t want to sell me.
“In the end I really struggled with that decision but we didn’t make an agreement. It is what it is.” More

TODD BOEHLY is splashing out on a luxury ‘chillout room’ for his Chelsea stars while they battle a crisis on the pitch.The chairman and manager Graham Potter are overseeing a multi-million-pound upgrade of their five-star Surrey training complex.
Co-owners Jonathan Goldstein, left, and Todd Boehly, right, sandwich Chelsea manager Graham Potter at the training ground to be revampedCredit: Getty
Chelsea want to add a more relaxing off-pitch feel to their training centre in Cobham, SurreyCredit: Alamy
The Blues are planning a costly overhaul of the whole centreCredit: Rex
In addition to a comfy lounge area there is a gym, pool and rehab centre.
Specialist interior designers have been recruited to decorate the walls with motivational phrases.
But Potter wants the whole area to be more ‘flowing’ to make his pampered players — who are currently struggling down in tenth in the Prem — feel happier and more relaxed when they come into work.
The  new players’ lounge will include soft furnishings and possibly even video games.
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At present the Blues have nowhere to go and hang around the medical centre before training starts.
Work on the project began in secret during the World Cup with Boehly also spending a considerable sum improving facilities for the women’s team.
The short-term priority, however, remains improving the mood and form ON the pitch.
The Blues have won just two of their 11 games since the World Cup.
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And the Evening Standard say technical director Christopher Vivell met Potter plus his staff for a “strategy meeting” at the Cobham training ground.
All the indications are, though, that Boehly and Co remain fully behind Potter.
Soft furnishings are likely to be added to the indoor facilitiesCredit: Alamy
Co-owner Todd Boehly is already improving facilities at CobhamCredit: Alamy More

TONY CASCARINO is convinced that Graham Potter would have been AXED as Chelsea boss if Roman Abramovich was still the owner.The Englishman has struggled to improve the club’s fortunes this season as they have dropped into 10th place in the Premier League.
Graham Potter is under pressure at ChelseaCredit: Getty
Tony Cascarino thinks he would have been sacked if Roman Abramovich was still in chargeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Blues are currently 11 points off Tottenham in 4th spot, having only won once in their last five league games.
In fact, Potter’s run has been so poor that his overall record at Chelsea is worse than sacked Nathan Jones’ torrid time at the helm of Southampton.
Potter has only won 28.3 per cent of his games as Chelsea manager, while Jones managed a win percentage of 35.71 thanks to success in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
Things are not going much better away from the league as Chelsea are 1-0 down in their Champions League tie against Borussia Dortmund.
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The Blues have also been knocked out of both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, by Man City on both occasions.
And Cascarino believes that he would have been sent packing from the club if the owner was not Todd Boehly.
Although he did suggest that the American’s patience might be running out after a big spend in January.

In his column for The Times, he wrote: “If Roman Abramovich was still the Chelsea owner, Graham Potter would have been sacked on three different occasions by now.
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“His side’s first-half performance in the 1-0 home defeat by Southampton was abysmal, and losing to the Premier League’s bottom club is simply unacceptable.
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“Even with Toddy Boehly’s ownership group now running Chelsea, I cannot see Potter being afforded much more patience.
“The club have spent more than £500 million since last summer, bringing in some of the best talent around.
“Their squad is so deep that when I am at Stamford Bridge for a game, I sometimes bump into players not in the matchday squad that would walk into the starting XI of most teams in the country.
“Boehly is clearly in a hurry to get Chelsea competing for titles again, so why would he be content to allow mediocrity under Potter?
“I would not be surprised if the head coach was dismissed this week.” More

N’GOLO KANTE is on the brink of signing a new Chelsea contract, according to reports.The news comes as the French midfielder makes his long-awaited return to first-team training in a double Blues boost.
N’Golo Kante is eyeing up a return to Chelsea action and a new contractCredit: Getty
Kante’s current Stamford Bridge contract expires at the end of the season in just four months’ time.
But according to The Telegraph, talks between Chelsea and his representatives have been successful.
And now Kante, 31, is close to putting pen to paper over an extension – just as Thiago Silva did earlier this month.
The former Leicester man will therefore leave the likes of Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid and even Liverpool disappointed, with the European giants both interested in a free transfer swoop.
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Kante, who is said to be settled in London after his 2016 move from the King Power, has won every trophy available in his six-and-a-half seasons at Chelsea except the Carabao Cup.
The 53-cap star earns a reported £290,000 per week at Chelsea after signing his latest contract in 2018.
He has made 262 Blues appearances, chipping in with 13 goals.
But the World Cup winner is yet to feature under Graham Potter, despite the ex-Brighton manager replacing Thomas Tuchel in September.
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His two appearances this term came at Everton and against Tottenham in August but has been out of action since due to his hamstring injury picked up in that 2-2 draw that forced him out of the World Cup.
The report adds that Kante warmed up with his team-mates on Tuesday morning as part of the preparations for Sunday’s trip to Spurs – although he did not take a full part in the training session. More