Chelsea transfer news

CHELSEA will welcome Borussia Dortmund to Stamford Bridge needing to turn their Champions League fortunes around. Graham Potter’s struggling Blues huffed and puffed but were blown away by a quick counter attack.
Hakim Ziyech looks on in defeatCredit: PA
Karim Adeyemi’s opener on 63 minutes was enough to separate the sides in the last 16 first leg.
And here, Jack Figg rates Chelsea’s performers in Germany.
Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6
Down well on 57 minutes to hold onto Brandt’s low effort but could not put off Adeyemi, who rounded him to finish.
The Spaniard had a rather quiet game with Dortmund recording just two shots on target – with one going in.
READ MORE ON Chelsea
Reece James – 6
Produced an excellent surging run on 52 minutes which resulted in a free kick he saw well saved.
Wasn’t able to get forward as much as he would’ve hoped with scorer Adeyemi a constant threat down Dortmund’s left.
Reece James battles with with Borussia Dortmund’s Salih OzcanCredit: Reuters
Thiago Silva – 6
Produced a great block on 25 minutes to deny Adeyemi and read the game well.
Worked nicely with Koulibaly and was helpless for Dortmund’s breakaway winner.
Most read in Football
Kalidou Koulibaly – 7
Good overall performance by the outcast centre-back, covering and positioning himself well.
Almost levelled after his effort inside the box beat keeper Gregor Kobel only for Emre Can to clear off the line.
Kalidou Koulibaly had his effort saved off the lineCredit: EPA
Ben Chilwell – 6
Linked up well with Mudryk on the left with the pair showing nice chemistry.
Looked a lot more positive down the left than Marc Cucurella has in recent matches.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek – 5
Partnered Fernandez in the holding pair and struggled to impose his physicality or make impactful runs on the ball.
It still looks as though his best position is still yet to be determined.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek looks on after Chelsea concededCredit: Rex
Enzo Fernandez – 6
Proving to be a stellar anchor in Chelsea’s midfield but playing too deep to make an impact in the final third.
Did his best to halt Adeyemi in a one-on-one situation but the winger beat him to open the scoring.
Mykhailo Mudryk – 5
Twice lost the ball with a needless flicks in the first half but did show quick feet and nice link-up play with Chilwell.
Chelsea will be hoping he gets on the ball a bit more and gets at defenders to create scoring opportunities as he lacked a real threat.
Mykhailo Mudryk struggled to make an impactCredit: Reuters
Hakim Ziyech – 4
Almost anonymous on the right and looked totally disinterested at times.
Seems the player is still not over his failed deadline day move to PSG and one would question how many more starts he gets under Potter.
Joao Felix – 6
Linked up well with his wingers and midfielders but did miss a golden chance inside box leaning back from Ziyech’s cutback on half hour mark.
Had another gaping opportunity with seven minutes to go but he struck right into the keeper’s arms.
Joao Felix saw chances go to wasteCredit: AP
Kai Havertz – 4
Looked largely isolated leading the line despite rare cameos with Felix.
He looks more comfortable dropping deep, stressing Chelsea’s need for a true No9.
Read More on The Sun
Subs
Marc Cucurella (for Chilwell 70 mins) – Came on to give Chilwell some rest bite but the full-back faces a fight back into the starting 11.
Mason Mount (for Mudryk 70 mins) – Didn’t really get much time to make a change in the game.
Mason Mount came off the benchCredit: Getty More

CHELSEA owner Todd Boehly is creating a squad for the ages, at least in a financial sense. Consequently, with the the Blues’ starting XI being upgraded, the quality of those in reserve has been improved too.
Here’s how Chelsea could line up next season
SunSport have taken a look at three ways Chelsea could line up next season after Neymar was sensationally linked with a summer transfer.
A report earlier today suggested the Boehly has flown to Paris for talks to sign superstar Neymar.
It comes after the 31-year-old had an argument with PSG chief Luis Campos.
And now Chelsea have entered discussions to try and sign the superstar, DESPITE already splashing out an unprecedented £600million on transfers in the last two windows.
READ MORE ON CHELSEA
In addition, RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku is already set to join the club having undergone a medical in September.
With the pair’s introduction and both liking to play behind the striker, the best way to accommodate them both could be to push Nkunku out wide in support of Joao Felix, whose loan deal at Chelsea could be made permanent in the summer.
Providing N’Golo Kante can remain fit, he will partner British transfer record signing Enzo Fernandez in midfield, while Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Ben Chilwell and Reece James sit in the defence ahead of Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Looking beyond the starting XI shows a very strong team of outcasts.
Most read in Football
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST FOOTBALL BETTING SITES IN THE UK
How Chelsea’s star studded reserves could line up
This side would include the likes of Champions League winner Mason Mount and serial Premier League winner Raheem Sterling.
In this hypothetical XI, the two Englishmen would be joined by January signings Noni Madueke and Malo Gusto.
Meanwhile, Champions League final goalscorer Kai Havertz would lead the line while Thiago Silva and Kalidou Koulibably marshal the centre of defence in front of Edouard Mendy.
Marc Cucurella, Mateo Kovacic and Conor Gallagher would come in to complete the XI ahead of a number of other stars still at the club.
The likes of Trevoh Chalobah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Armando Broja, David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos would fill out the rest of the squad alongside a number of academy players.
Among these would be Carney Chukwuemeka, Omari Hutchinson and Gabriel Slonina.
Senior stars Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech would also still be at the club, but the trio have all been linked with the exit door at Stamford Bridge in the upcoming summer. More

PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG has been training with his Chelsea team-mates despite being axed from their Champions League squad.Chelsea travel to play Borussia Dortmund tomorrow night in the last 16 stage.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang training for ChelseaCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Chelsea travel to play Borussia Dortmund tomorrow night in the last 16Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
But Aubameyang was among those left out from Graham Potter’s 25-man European squad.
Despite the omission, the striker – signed for £10million from Barcelona in the summer – still trained with the side at a misty training ground.
Aubameyang, 33, was brought in by Thomas Tuchel following their spell together at Dortmund.
But just days later Tuchel was sacked by American owner Todd Boehly with Potter brought in as his replacement.
READ MORE ON CHELSEA
As a result Aubameyang – who has just three goals in 18 games this season – has struggled for form.
He was left out entirely against Fulham at Stamford Bridge this month and was pictured in Milan.
Potter said: “It was my decision and it was tough decision, but sometime you have to make those calls.
“Someone had to miss out. He’s done nothing wrong at all. I’m empathetic. I understand his disappointment.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
“He reacted in the right way. He trained very well today.”
Asked if Aubameyang had permission to fly to Milan, Potter added: “He’s got the weekend off. It’s a free world.”
The ex-Arsenal captain has also been linked with a loan move to the MLS’s LAFC although the player has not agreed to the deal.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been linked with a move awayCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
The striker was signed from BarcelonaCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is linked with an MLS moveCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More