Chelsea returned to action on Sundayplaceholder image
Chelsea returned to action on Sunday | Getty Images
All the latest Chelsea news and transfer rumours after the opening weekend of the season.
Chelsea were unable to find a way past Crystal Palace in their season-opener on Sunday, drawing 0-0. It was a frustrating game for the Blues, but there were also a little lucky to see an Eberechi Eze free-kick ruled out for a debatable offside. Though, the Blues did have the better of the chances and will feel unlucky not to have come out on top.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s transfer business is far from done this summer, and with that min mind, we have rounded up all the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding Stamford Bridge.
Nkunku latest
Bayern Munich are said to hold a serious interest in Chelsea star Christopher Nkunku, who is very much up for sale this summer “Bayern Munich are going strong for Christopher Nkunku,” Fabrizio Romano said on his YouTube channel.
“From what I’m hearing, club-to-club contacts have been ongoing every day in the last four or five days. So now the two clubs are negotiating also the formula, the numbers and everything. The conversation is advancing between the two clubs, but it’s not a done deal at this stage.”
Chelsea paid as much as £60million for Nkunku, but they are expecting to take a hit on their investment as they look to clear the way for incomings this summer.
Bastoni blow
Chelsea are on the lookout for a new centre-back after Levi Colwill’s serious knee injury, with Maresca making it clear he wants to add depth to the position.
Recent reports have claimed that Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni is a potential target, but Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, now say Inter Milan have rejected a £43million bid from Chelsea and that the West London club have been informed they will not be getting their hands on Bastoni at any price this summer. Chelsea, it seems, will have to look elsewhere.
Maresca on Palace clash
Maresca believes his side deserved to beat Palace. He said: “We always try to win the game. Unfortunately, we didn’t win but overall we deserved [to]. We created enough chances in the first half and the second half. Apart from the free-kick, we didn’t concede any [clear-cut] chances.
“But at the same time, we know how tough they are, how well organised they are, and that is why in the last two finals they have beaten Liverpool and Manchester City.”
Asked whether the shorter pre-season could have had an impact on a lack of sharpness, the Italian added: “I don’t think so because until the end we competed and we tried to win the game. We had some chances at the end with Estevao and Andrey Santos, so that showed that we competed overall quite well.
“For sure, they played seven or eight games and we played two games last weekend where we shared the minutes, so for sure this was the first real game today but for sure slowly slowly we are going to be better.”
Continue Reading