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Chelsea news round-up: Abraham contract extension, Giroud crunch talks, Ruslan Malinovskyi linked

Published by Footy Extras on October 22, 2019 | Permalink

£100,000-a-week Spanish star may part ways with Chelsea

Chelsea attacker Pedro is reportedly unhappy with his current situation at the Blues, having been forced to sit on the bench at the start of the campaign.

The Spaniard has been restricted to just three PL appearances so far this term, with the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi, Willian and Mason Mount all ahead of him in the roster pecking order.

Frank Lampard has opted to hand a few younger players the chance to shine since he was appointed as the club’s new head coach, with the likes of Tomori, Hudson-Odoi, Abraham and Mount all benefiting from his selection policy.

According to Sport, as translated by the Metro, the Spanish star could seek a transfer away from Chelsea after growing frustrated with his reduced role under Frank in recent months.

The Spanish publication claims that in addition to losing his spot in the starting eleven, the 32-year-old winger’s ex-partner and three children have returned to his homeland, putting a strain on his family life.

The technically gifted star could, therefore, favour a return to Spain, where he spent seven trophy-laden campaigns with Barcelona between 2018 and 2015 after rising through the Camp Nou youth set-up.

As he approaches the latter stages of his professional career it seems unlikely a return to Blaugrana will emerge as a possibility, but there are plenty of other sides in the league who would probably be happy to arrange a deal.

Published by Footy Extras on October 22, 2019 | Permalink

Chelsea keen on €12.5m-rated Ukrainian midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi

Frank Lampard is interested in landing Atalanta star Ruslan Malinovskyi after a recommendation from the former Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele, according to the latest reports.

Malinovskyi has impressed in the Italian top-flight this season and Makelele has personally scouted the 26-year-old star.

Chelsea are drawing up their potential transfer targets for when their embargo expires, which could be in January, and the Express state Malinovskyi has been added to the list.

Claude, a former Blue himself, has been scouting for Lampard this campaign and watched Malinovskyi in action on international duty for Ukraine the previous week.

And after returning a glowing report on Ruslan, Chelsea have been convinced to go after the attacking midfielder. Chelsea will continue to keep a close eye on Malinovskyi and track his performances for Atalanta.

The Serie A outfit are in no hurry to cash in on Ruslan as he is under contract with the club until the summer of 2024.

The club are hoping their transfer ban will be lifted in the winter, but are currently barred from landing any new players until next summer.

Frank is yet to sign a single player as Chelsea manager and has placed his faith in the club’s youth ranks.

Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham stepped up from youth level and are now established regular first-team players in Lampard’s side.

The Stamford Bridge outfit made a winning return from the international break on Saturday, beating Newcastle United 1-0 to rise up to fourth in the Premier League standings.

Published by Footy Extras on October 22, 2019 | Permalink

Chelsea chief will sit down with attacking outcast and discuss about future

Frank Lampard has backed the French star Olivier Giroud’s comments that he ‘doesn’t accept a bench role’ at the club, but Chelsea boss is aiming to convince the forward to stay at Stamford Bridge for the duration of the term.

Olivier recently expressed frustration while on international duty for his country at his lack of minutes for Chelsea this campaign and said that he ‘will make a decision in January’ regarding his future.

A focus on youth this campaign in west London has seen Tammy Abraham establish himself as the first-choice centre-forward in Lampard’s side and he is the joint-leading scorer in the PL with eight goals.

Abraham’s impact has come at the expense of Olivier, whose contract expires at the end of the campaign, and Lampard understands the 33-year-old Frenchman’s frustration with his lack of regular playing time.

“No, [we want him to stay] because at the minute, he is a big part of the squad. As I say, Tammy has been producing but I would sit down with him (Giroud) because I respect him. But no, I want him here,” Frank told reporters at Stamford Bridge.

France chief Didier Deschamps has also echoed the player’s concerns as Les Bleus get ready for Euro 2020 next year when they will be ranked as one of the front-runners to win the tournament.

However, Lampard has been keen to repeatedly highlight Olivier’s professionalism behind the scenes in difficult situations and his words have been echoed by 21-year-old Tammy, who admits he is learning a lot from training along with the World Cup winner.

Published by Footy Extras on October 22, 2019 | Permalink

Chelsea U23 youngster attracts attention from Championship

Nottingham Forest and Leeds United are interested in landing the highly-rated Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour, according to a recent report by London Football News.

It has been reported that should Blues management make Gilmour available for a loan move in the January transfer market, then Leeds and Forest could launch a move.

The report has stated that the West Yorkshire side and the Reds have been tracking the best players in the Blues’ development side and that two EFL Championship clubs have been aware of the former Rangers ace’s talent for some time.

Billy is a very talented and promising versatile midfielder who can be a star in the coming seasons.

It is hard to see the Scotland U21 international establish himself as a regular starter in the Chelsea first team this season, and a loan transfer to Leeds or Forest in the January transfer market would not be a bad idea.

Both Leeds United and Nottingham Forest are challenging for automatic promotion to the PL, and the 18-year-old starlet will learn a lot playing in a very competitive environment.

Meantime, Chelsea have pinpointed James Rodriguez as a transfer target ahead of next year’s transfer window, according to a report from Spain.

Following two campaigns on loan at Bayern Munich, the Real Madrid playmaker has impressed for Los Blancos since his return, making seven matches in all competitions so far this season.

Published by Footy Extras on October 22, 2019 | Permalink

Chelsea closing in on extension with in-form English forward

Tammy Abraham is reportedly set to be rewarded for his superb start to life in the Premier League with a new long-term deal at Chelsea.

Abraham has been a major benefactor of the Blues’ recent transfer ban, which prohibited the west London side from making any signings over the summer transfer market.

The young centre-forward has made the most of his opportunities, becoming a firm fan’s favourite during the opening weeks of the new season.

Tammy is the joint-highest scorer in the English top-flight so far, and reliable source Fabrizio Romano announced on Twitter that the Blues are ‘close to an agreement’ to keep the talent at Stamford Bridge for the foreseeable future.

…and now Chelsea are “close to an agreement” and “more than confident” to extend Tammy Abraham contract. Totally confirmed. 🔵 #CFC #Chelsea https://t.co/nRhzG12Wys

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 20, 2019

Romano had also tweeted on 18 September that Chelsea had opened talks with the 22-year-old star over a possible fresh deal with the club, and the board are now ‘more than confident’ that a fresh deal will be agreed.

The striker’s scintillating start to the campaign has not gone unnoticed on the international stage, either, as England manager Gareth Southgate called up Abraham to feature in the senior roster ahead of the Three Lions’ UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers.

Abraham spent last campaign on loan at Aston Villa, where he netted 26 goals in 40 games for the EFL Championship club, helping the Villans secure an unlikely promotion back to the PL.

The ex-Derby boss has placed his faith in the likes of Abraham, Tomori and Mount in search of PL success, and his trust has been rewarded with some impressive attacking displays.

Published by Footy Extras on October 22, 2019 | Permalink

Chelsea scouting 19-year-old Chievo Verona starlet Vignato

Chelsea are one of many European clubs who have stepped up their reported interest in Chievo Verona wonderkid Emanuel Vignato.

The 19-year-old attacker broke through into the senior team towards the end of the last top-flight season and has remained an integral part of their side following their relegation to Serie B.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport’s journalist Nicolo Schira, Chelsea sent scouts to watch the youngster in action in the 1-1 draw with Salernitana in late September, and the club are currently preparing themselves for a possible transfer battle to sign him.

Schira notes that Bayern Munich, AC Milan and Inter Milan are all following Vignato as well, so landing him may not be straightforward for the Blues, not least because of their current transfer ban.

Chelsea are banned from signing new players until the end of the campaign after breaking FIFA’s regulations about landing youth players, but there is optimism around Chelsea that that punishment will be lifted in January.

The club are believed to have spoken to representatives to let them know that the board intend to be back on the market by the time the January window arrives, and it looks like Emanuel could be one of the Blues’ top priorities.

He has long been considered as a potential star for the future. Vignato was prolific at youth level for I Gialloblu, but he is yet to really find his feet in senior football, scoring just one goal and picking up two assists in his 21 matches for the first team.

Published by Footy Extras on October 21, 2019 | Permalink

€20m Chelsea signing may continue his career in Serie A

According to Tuttomercatoweb, Chelsea star Abdul Rahman Baba’s agent Sascha Empacher has offered his client to AC Milan.

The SPOCS agent was recently at Casa Milan to discuss the potential transfers of his clients, including Baba Rahman.

The left-back currently plays for the Spanish club RCD Mallorca, on a season-long loan deal from the Blues.

Baba Rahman initially joined the Stamford Bridge outfit way back in 2015, in a €20 million move from FC Augsburg. He was one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga at that time.

But, the player failed to impress the onlookers, despite featuring in 15 PL matches during his debut season in England.

The Ghanaian left-back became a victim of the club’s notorious loan policy. He was loaned out to FC Schalke in the summer transfer market of 2016.

He impressed, as well, in his return to Germany. But, the full-back, unfortunately, endured an injury-ravaged spell during the 2017/18 term.

An ACL injury along with a lack of fitness saw the player be out of action for more than a year while Rahman was on loan at Schalke.

Baba eventually returned to Chelsea at the start of this year. However, he was shipped out to the French club Reims on loan before moving to Mallorca on yet another loan stint this summer.

The 25-year-old star is currently nursing a knee injury and has featured in only two games for RCD Mallorca.

His departure, therefore, could be crucial as it will help Chelsea create space in their squad for a new player at left-back.

Published by Footy Extras on October 21, 2019 | Permalink

Chelsea keen on tying technically gifted defender down to fresh contract

Calcio Mercato states that Chelsea are set to offer full-back Emerson Palmieri, who is rated at £22.5m via Transfermarkt, a new deal at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian’s current contract in west London is set to expire in June of 2022, though the Blues are allegedly interested in extending that until 2024, should the player be happy committing two more seasons to the club.

Sport Witness reports that Serie A giants Juventus are keen on bringing the 25-year-old star to Turin, with club director Fabio Paratici said to be a long-term admirer of the full-back.

Current Juve boss Maurizio Sarri, who managed Emerson last season whilst in charge of the Blues, is also a big fan of the left-back and is understood to be keen on acquiring his services next summer.

Emerson began this campaign promisingly by starting the club’s opening four Premier League fixtures ahead of Spain international Marcos Alonso but has only seen 15 minutes of first-team football since mid-September – during the 2-1 defeat to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool – due to picking up a hamstring injury.

When he returns to fitness, Emerson may have a battle on his hands to break back into the main team, as Alonso has impressed for the Blues in the latest weeks by assisting two goals in his previous four Premier League outings.

Palmieri faces a tough decision regarding his long-term future if the rumoured interest from Juventus comes to fruition in 2020.

Published by Footy Extras on October 21, 2019 | Permalink

Argentine superstar tells his club to abandon pursuit of Chelsea star

Lionel Messi has reportedly urged his club, Barcelona to swerve a move for the experienced Chelsea attacker Willian.

The Brazil international will see his current contract at Stamford Bridge expire at the end of the campaign, and it has been suggested that Blaugrana are closely monitoring developments surrounding the 31-year-old star.

The star has contributed two goals and one assist in nine matches for the Blues this season, while he has scored 54 times in total for the London club since signing from Anzhi Makhachkala back in 2013.

According to the latest reports in Spain, Barca explored the possibility of landing Willian during the summer and remain keen, but Messi has told the Spanish champions to forget a transfer for the South American.

Ernesto Valverde’s side have already lost twice in the league this campaign after struggling to find the best form, although the reigning champions are just two points off leaders Los Blancos after eight matches.

Willian, meantime, missed the start of the season with a hamstring problem but has since been heavily involved for the Blues.

Meanwhile, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, Chelsea have scouted Chievo ace Emanuel Vignato this season with the Blues planning to make a swoop for the teenager once their transfer embargo has come to an end.

The report, though, states that Bayern Munich, AC Milan and Inter Milan are also keen on the versatile attacker, who has been capped at U20 level by Italy.

Published by Footy Extras on October 21, 2019 | Permalink

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Chelsea news round-up: Abraham contract extension, Giroud crunch talks, Ruslan Malinovskyi linked

£100,000-a-week Spanish star may part ways with Chelsea

Chelsea keen on €12.5m-rated Ukrainian midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi

Chelsea chief will sit down with attacking outcast and discuss about future

Chelsea U23 youngster attracts attention from Championship

Chelsea closing in on extension with in-form English forward

Chelsea scouting 19-year-old Chievo Verona starlet Vignato

€20m Chelsea signing may continue his career in Serie A

Chelsea keen on tying technically gifted defender down to fresh contract

Argentine superstar tells his club to abandon pursuit of Chelsea star