Chelsea transfer news

CHELSEA want to reward Conor Gallagher with a new deal and a pay rise after refusing to let him leave in January.The England midfielder, who is under contract until 2025, was a big hit on loan at Crystal Palace last season with eight goals in 34 Prem matches.
Despite Chelsea’s influx of newcomers, Conor Gallagher hopes to get more game-time and could also be tempted by a hefty pay riseCredit: Rex
But boyhood Blues fan Gallagher, who turns 23 on Monday, was already struggling for  consistent game time BEFORE Todd Boehly’s British record £110million splash for new boy Enzo Fernandez.
Owner  Boehly — who has spent an incredible  £606m including loan fees and add-ons since buying the club in May — wants to keep him sweet by handing him a rise to his £50,000-a-week salary.
Newcastle and Everton joined Palace in the queue for Gallagher in the closing days of the window but he was not allowed out.
A clutch of Prem clubs are sure to have another go at the end of the season but the signs from Stamford Bridge are that he is still firmly in their thoughts.
READ MORE ON CHELSEA
And the four-cap star played all of Friday’s 0-0 home draw with Fulham in the Prem.
Chelsea are still tipped for a summer clear-out.
That could include keeper Edouard Mendy, summer defensive flop Kalidou Koulibaly and Hakim Ziyech, plus possibly even N’Golo Kante, Marc Cucurella and Gallagher’s fellow home-grown ace Ruben Loftus-Cheek are all potential discards.
Boehly has overseen deals which could add up to an incredible total of £606m this season.
Most read in Football
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
And in fact the January spend of almost £330m is more than the combined buying from ALL the clubs in the other Big Five leagues – Spain, Germany, Italy and France.
And despite the spree, ex-Chelsea player and manager Glenn Hoddle reckons Thiago Silva is the only shoo-in starter.
The ex-Tottenham and England chief said: “He’s a must. But everyone else, it’s a mish-mash.
“There’s a lot of work to do. He’s got some lovely material to make a beautiful suit but it’s going to take more time with so many new players.” More

REECE JAMES admits it’s a “crazy” time at Chelsea as he returned from injury to find seven newcomers after a £280million January spree.The right-back made his comeback after six weeks out in Friday’s 0-0 home Premier League draw against Fulham.
Right-back Reece James finally returned in Chelsea’s 0-0 draw with FulhamCredit: Getty
Ironically James is one of the few Blues whose first-choice position seems safe following Graham Potter’s huge shakeup.
Potter spent £31million on wide defender Malo Gusto but immediately loaned the 19-year-old back to Lyon.
James, 23, told Football Daily: “It’s a great feeling to be back. I’ve been out a long time.
“It’s been crazy. We’ve had a lot of signings.
READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
“We haven’t been performing to our usual standards, so it’s been difficult. We’ve got a big few weeks ahead.”
Enzo Fernandez’s £107m deadline arrival from Benfica set a British transfer record.
And the Argentina midfielder made his debut against the Cottagers alongside new £88m winger Mykhailo Mudryk.
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
But the ex-Shakhtar Donetsk hero, who was also wanted by Arsenal, was replaced midway through his full debut by another January buy, Noni Madueke.
Most read in Football
Potter, however, said Mudryk had been hit by a “heavy cold”.
He told beIN Sports: “He’s suffered a little bit with that this week. So he was just feeling a little heavy-legged at half-time.”
James, though, can look forward to an extended run in side – if he stays fit.
Ninth-placed Chelsea have lost just one of the eight Prem games he’s started this term. More

PUNDITS Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have issued Chelsea fans a warning after the club’s huge transfer spending spree. The Blues were held 0-0 by Fulham in their first match after recruiting £330million worth of talent in January, taking owner Todd Boehly’s overall purchases to £606million.
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have warned Chelsea fans that it could take a while before they see better performancesCredit: Getty
Enzo Fernandez made his debut versus FulhamCredit: AP
New faces Enzo Fernandez, Benoit Badiashile and Mykahilo Mudryk all started in the lacklustre performance, with the winger even getting hooked at half-time.
And Neville believes supporters may have to suffer watching more poor displays while their new stars settle in.
The ex-Manchester United man said: “Everything was really basic from Chelsea.
“‘I think it’s because Graham Potter hasn’t had time to work with them, he hasn’t had time to develop them. He’s going to need some time here.
READ MORE ON CHELSEA
“The front line needs to improve, the midfield needs to improve, so even though they’ve spent £600m I looked at every department and thought they need to get a lot better. 
“I wasn’t that impressed. It’s going to take a lot of time for players to settle in.
“You can’t get away from the money. It’s jaw-dropping, staggering. £600m has been spent.
“They are going to need to be patient as nobody has done this before and it’s easy to see why it’s so difficult to put a team together.
Most read in Football
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST SPORTS BETTING APPS IN THE UK
“Chelsea and Potter have got a lot of work to do. Fulham were outstanding but Chelsea were toothless in attack.”
Neville’s concerns were echoed by Carragher, who was also left baffled as to why the club didn’t buy a marquee out-and-out striker.
Kai Havertz led the line for Chelsea and 20-year-old January addition David Datro Fofana came off the bench as Chelsea searched for a goal.
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang seemingly out of favour, it left Carragher confused as to why another centre-forward was not signed.
He said: “The thing that leaves you scratching your head a little bit is they haven’t brought a striker in, they’ve spent 5 or 600 million. 
“There’s nothing really there right now. Aubameyang’s not in the Champions League squad either, it does feel really glaring that one big position for them hasn’t been addressed.”
Chelsea sit ninth in the Premier League table and nine points off the top four places.
Chelsea’s spending spree since Todd Boehly’s takeover
Graham Potter subbed Mykhailo Mudryk off at half-timeCredit: EPA More

FOOTBALL fans hilariously joked Chelsea owner Todd Boehly preferred to play games on his phone than watch his new-look side’s goalless draw with Fulham.The American businessman, 49, has spent a remarkable £606MILLION on new players since taking over from Roman Abramovich in May of last year.
The cameras caught Todd Boehly on his phone during the gameCredit: Sky Sports
Fans have joked he was playing games rather than watching the matchCredit: Sky Sports
Chelsea’s spending spree since Boehly’s takeover
Yet the Blues continue to struggle for results under manager Graham Potter, with the disappointing 0-0 against their neighbours on Friday night leaving them ninth in the Premier League.
And Boehly did himself no favours after he was caught by the Sky Sports cameras looking intently at his phone during the match.
Reacting on social media, one person said: “Boehly was playing video games and saw himself on camera then pretended to watch the game 😂😂😂”.
Another added: “Todd Boehly caught in 4K playing Call of Duty instead of watching his £620m flops”.
READ MORE ON CHELSEA
A third replied: “Todd Boehly caught playing Clash Of Clans at the Chelsea game 🤣🤣🤣”.
And a fourth said: “Boehly’s playing Football Manager on his phone trying to find the next five star potential winger 😭😭😭”.
January signings Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana and Noni Madueke all featured for Chelsea during the Fulham clash.
Summer arrivals Marc Cucurella and Raheem Sterling were also involved at Stamford Bridge.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS

Boehly spent £276m ahead of the 2022/23 season but did not see the desired impact – which led to the sacking of Thomas Tuchel.
Following the arrival of Potter, the American owner then spent £330m in the January window, and that figure could still rise once add-ons are paid out.
Among the new arrivals was Fernandez – who broke the British transfer record in his move from Benfica.
And the Argentine, 22, impressed on his Chelsea debut as he controlled the Blues midfield.
But it was not enough to break down Fulham’s organised defensive unit.
The result leaves Chelsea nine points adrift of the top four, with a trip to West Ham next up for Boehly’s star-studded squad.
They then return to Champions League action to take on Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their last-16 tie. More

GRAHAM POTTER broke his silence on Pierre-Emerick Aubemeyang’s flight to Milan during Chelsea’s draw with Fulham. The Blues were held to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge by their London neighbours, again struggling for goals.
Graham Potter looks on as Chelsea are held by FulhamCredit: Getty
Pierre-Emerick Aubemeyang took a flight to Milan
Aubameyang was completely omitted from the match day side, as Potter welcomed five January signings into the squad.
The Chelsea manager revealed it was his decision to leave the striker – who was also left out of Chelsea’s updated Champions League squad yesterday – out of the picture.
He 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.
READ MORE IN football
“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.”
Aubameyang, 33, was brought over to Chelsea from Barcelona by Thomas Tuchel.
But after Potter replaced Tuchel in September, the former Arsenal captain has struggled for game time.
Most read in Football
Aubameyang has been linked with a move away and his future appeared further in doubt after he flew out of the country.
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
The forward was pictured in Milan – where he spent four years as a player – with his family.
Asked if Aubameyang had permission to fly to Milan, Potter added: “He’s got the weekend off. It’s a free world.”
Mudryk started on the left at Stamford Bridge but was taken off at half-time – having suffered from a COLD.
Potter said: “He had a heavy cold all week.
“We thought 60 would be his maximum but he just felt heavy legged at half-time so felt 45 was right for him.”
Chelsea’s draw takes them up to ninth, but Liverpool have two games in hand over them.
Mykhaylo Mudryk was taken off at half time against FulhamCredit: Getty More