Chelsea transfer news

CHRISTIAN PULISIC has taken aim at his former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.The American forward’s dad liked a tweet ripping into the German coach amid speculation over his son’s future as tension between the pair mounted towards the end of the transfer window.
Christian Pulisic has slammed former Chelsea boss Thomas TuchelCredit: Reuters
The German coach was surprisingly sacked by the Blues a fortnight agoCredit: Alamy
The 24-year-old star struggled for regular match action under Tuchel, who was sacked a fortnight ago by the Blues.
Pulisic scored in last year’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid to earn Chelsea a 1-1 draw in Spain.
However, he was named on the bench for the return leg at Stamford Bridge, a decision that he says left him “dumbfounded and very disappointed” after he had been promised that he would start.
Pulisic, who would go on to win the competition with the Blues that season, wrote in his upcoming book ‘Christian Pulisic: My Journey So Far’: “What happened before that game was hugely disappointing for me.
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“l’d had a really good first leg performance and our following match was against Fulham in the league. Tuchel told me that he was resting me for the second leg and as a result I didn’t play a single minute in the Fulham game.
“Then on match day of the second semi, Tuchel tells me he’s changed his mind and he’s going with Kai [Havertz].

“I honestly was dumbfounded and very disappointed. I thought that I’d earned a start and, most importantly, he had assured me previously I was going to start.”
Pulisic previously worked with Tuchel at Borussia Dortmund but was continually linked with a move away from Chelsea due to a lack of action during their time together in West London.
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And adding further insight into their strained relationship, he also revealed how his goal against Madrid came after he ignored Tuchel’s instructions.
He added: “As I take off on the run, I hear Thomas Tuchel yelling from the sideline, ‘Christian, stay in the pocket, don’t make the run!’ 
“But I just had the feeling I’d find the space and get on the end of the pass, so I continued the run.”
Pulisic will now be hoping for better luck and a run of games under new boss Graham Potter after a transfer move failed to materialise over the summer. More

CHELSEA have reportedly turned their attention to bringing in Leeds United’s Victor Orta or Bayer Leverkusen’s Tim Steidten  as new sporting director.Christoph Freund has confirmed that he has snubbed the Stamford Bridge club to stay at RB Salzburg.
Chelsea are plotting a move for Leeds chief Victor OrtaCredit: Getty
Bayer Leverkusen’s Tim Steidten is another targetCredit: Getty
He revealed last night that he was “proud” to hold talks with the Blues about a similar role but claimed leaving his Austrian club was “out of the question”.
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly wants to have a sporting director in place before the January transfer window.
The American had to conduct the Blues’ summer business by himself but wants an expert to work alongside new manager Graham Potter.
Now a fresh report from The Telegraph states he has two other targets in mind.
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They claim that “Steidten is among those Chelsea are set to talk to” about the vacant role.
While “the merits of Leeds director of football Orta are understood to have been discussed” by Blues chiefs “along with others” being considered.
Chelsea’s new owners dealt with both Steidten and Orta during the summer transfer window.
Winger Callum Hudson-Odoi left West London to join Leverkusen on loan while Chelsea also tried to thrash out a deal with Leeds for Raphinha, who ultimately opted to sign for Barcelona instead.
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Orta also has experience of working elsewhere in England after a stint at Middlesbrough prior to his move to Leeds in 2017.
PSG chief Luis Campos is also believed to be on Boehly’s shortlist with the club reportedly prepared to offer him a staggering £135,000 a week.
Former Liverpool transfer chief Michael Edwards was also on the Blues’ radar in the summer but it appears Boehly is starting to look elsewhere. More

CHELSEA have sacked their commercial director amid claims of sexual harassment and X-rated tweets – just two week after appointing him.The Blues confirmed Damian Willoughby’s dismissal after football finance agent Catalina Kim provided “evidence of inappropriate messages”.
Damian Willoughby has been been booted out by Chelsea over text allegations after a brief second period at the clubCredit: Linkedin
Catalina Kim alerted Chelsea to her concerns about new senior executive Damian Willoughby and he has now been sackedCredit: Twitter
The Telegraph say Kim produced texts showing that Willoughby asked if she was naked and introduced sex as a subject, whilst he also posted an alleged sexually-explicit video.
She also said he suggested he would arrange a meeting with Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano if she agreed to be “naughty”.
Chelsea dismissed Willoughby after Kim alerted the club’s president of business Tom Glick about conduct dating back to before he was brought in as a senior executive earlier in September.
The Blues told the Telegraph: “Chelsea Football Club confirms that it has terminated Commercial Director Damian Willoughby’s employment with immediate effect.
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“Evidence of inappropriate messages sent by Mr Willoughby, prior to his appointment at Chelsea FC earlier this month, has recently been provided to and investigated by the Club.
“While they were sent prior to his employment at the Club, such behaviour runs absolutely counter to the workplace environment and corporate culture being established by the Club’s new ownership.“
Kim is chief executive of C&P Sports Group and has set up multi-million pound deals between European giants like champions City and Spurs.
The Telegraph say they have seen her text exchanges with Willoughby, showing she repeatedly rebuffed him and reminded him he is married.
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He first worked at Stamford Bridge between 2007 and 2010 but reportedly first met Kim in 2015 when he was involved with Man City.
Then, this summer, she was linked to bids to buy Chelsea whereas he was keen on supporting a rival consortium – before Todd Boehly won the takeover battle.
Glick informed her Willoughby was Chelsea’s new commercial director and the three of them met on September 1. 
Afterwards Kim raised concerns with Glick – at first about his efforts to raise investment for a bid to buy Chelsea but then over his previous conduct.
It’s understood she had not previously spoken out about his conduct as she had hoped not to work with him again.
Kim earlier told The Telegraph: “I can confirm that I made a complaint to Tom Glick about the general behaviour of Damian Willoughby over two years, including his recent threatening phone call to me.
“I strongly believe this is not a work environment and corporate culture that any Premier League club would tolerate.”
Willoughby’s lawyers declined to comment, The Telegraph reported. More

TRANSFER guru Christoph Freund has confirmed he’s snubbed Chelsea to stay at RB Salzburg.The sporting director says he was “proud” to hold talks with the Blues about a similar role but claimed leaving his Austrian club was “out of the question”.
Christoph Freund says is happy to stay at RB Salzburg after snubbing ChelseaCredit: Getty
Salzburg CEO Stephan Reiter also stated that 45-year-old Freund, who discovered Erling Haaland and Sadio Mane, would not depart.
Freund said: “Yes, it’s true that Chelsea wanted me and we had talks.
“When such a big club asks it not only honours me and the work of Salzburg.
“It is of course a circumstance that entails personal considerations. 
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“But I’ve come to the conclusion I’m in the best hands with Salzburg and that a change is out of the question for me.”
But he admitted: “I was thinking about the Chelsea director job as I have been proud of the interest shown by such a top club.”
Reiter said: “Of course Freund informed me about Chelsea and we exchanged ideas on a personal level and had good conversations but the fact is he will remain our sporting director.”
He earlier told Sky Sports: “I can definitely rule that out.
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“Neither Chelsea nor Christoph Freund spoke to me or the club management about something like that.
“Christoph recently signed a contract with us until 2026, which applies to him as well as to players, managers or coaches.”
Before confirming he was staying, Freund too had hinted he was unlikely to go.
He said: “Chelsea is a huge club in transition.
“I can’t say exactly what will happen in the next few weeks and months. You should never rule anything out in football and Chelsea are such a huge club.
“But I’m sports director in Salzburg and I really enjoy it.”
It is a big blow for Chelsea, but according to Fabrizio Romano they will keep trying for Freund before moving on to other targets.
Owner Boehly wants to have a sporting director in place before the January transfer window.
The American had to conduct the Blues’ summer business by himself but wants an expert to work alongside new manager Graham Potter.
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PSG chief Luis Campos is on his shortlist with the club reportedly prepared to offer him a staggering £135,000 a week.
Former Liverpool transfer chief Michael Edwards was also on the Blues’ radar in the summer but it appears Boehly is starting to look elsewhere. More